The Black City ch.4 (Patreon)

Author's Note: Been a while since I've gotten to do this, and really happy to put out a new installment! Raine Leclair, Zazkoroth, and Syssyx are back after recovering from an attack by one of the Young, and continue their sojourn towards Syx's encampment....

[story] [action/combat] [fu/fu] [more tags below]

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The next few days are a strange combination of comfortable and tense.‭ ‬The‭ ‬138th St.‭ ‬Liquor Store that’s become our temporary home has enough to keep us content for a few days,‭ ‬and we end up needing every day we can get.‭ ‬It seems like every time we consider leaving,‭ ‬we’re given a reason not to‭ ‬--‭ ‬the sound of massive footsteps,‭ ‬that creature wandering back past us,‭ ‬maybe looking for us.‭ ‬I know so little about the Young Ones that I’m not confident making any assumptions about their level of sentience‭; ‬obviously Zazkoroth has a weird sort of self-awareness,‭ ‬but I don’t know how similar these things are to each other.‭ ‬Trying to get any answers on the subject from Syssyx leads to more uncertainty and vagueness,‭ ‬and Zaz seems to know less about his own kind than I do.‭ ‬Maybe when we get to the camp I’ll get some answers,‭ ‬I guess...‭ ‬or,‭ ‬at least,‭ ‬I hope.

‭“‬We should leave tomorrow,‭ ‬I think,‭” ‬Syx says softly as the third day here draws to its end.‭ ‬She approaches with a small electric lamp and sits beside me as I arrange the most decadent meal I can muster:‭ ‬slices of cold spam on crackers,‭ ‬with old ketchup packets as the‭ ‘‬sauce.‭’ ‬May not be much,‭ ‬but at least it isn’t rotten,‭ ‬waterlogged,‭ ‬or worse‭ ‬--‭ ‬harvested from some sort of corrupted insect or other small creature Zaz could catch.

‭“‬Probably,‭” ‬I shrug,‭ ‬cramming one of the loaded crackers into my mouth and starting to make one for Syx.‭ “‬I haven’t heard that thing at all,‭ ‬today,‭ ‬and Zaz said the crazies are starting to act a little more normal.‭ ‬I think it may have moved past us.‭”

“Where is he,‭ ‬anyway‭?” ‬Syx arches a brow as she takes the cracker from me,‭ ‬looking unenthusiastic about it,‭ ‬but eating it nonetheless.‭ “‬Something as big as he is,‭ ‬I’m surprised he slips in and out of the store so unnoticeably.‭”

“He’s quiet when he wants to be,‭” ‬I chuckle glumly,‭ ‬then give her an actual answer,‭ “‬He’s patrolling again.‭ ‬I keep telling him we don’t need any more supplies than we have here,‭ ‬but...‭ ‬I think he just gets restless,‭ ‬or something like that.‭ ‬Honestly,‭ ‬it’s actually been nice to have a food supply I don’t have to worry about depleting.‭”

Syx frowns thoughtfully.‭ ‬It’s true,‭ ‬since we can’t carry much more with us,‭ ‬we’ve been eating what’s stashed here with unusual abandon.‭ ‬I feel healthier than I have in years,‭ ‬and if what Syx says about the camp is true,‭ ‬I’m really looking forward to feeling like this more often.‭ “‬How did you make it,‭ ‬all this time‭? ‬It seems like you’ve spent so long struggling,‭ ‬many would have...‭” ‬she pauses,‭ ‬thinking over her next words only for a moment,‭ “‬...given up.‭”

I furrow my brow,‭ ‬eating another cracker and scooting across the overturned shelf we’ve turned into a makeshift bench,‭ ‬pressing my body gently against Syx’s and laying my head on her shoulder.‭ “‬Big question.‭ ‬I’ve been alone‭ ‬--‭ ‬besides Zaz‭ ‬--‭ ‬since the Cracking first happened.‭ ‬What few people I met along the way have died,‭ ‬or...‭ ‬worse.‭ ‬Between the running,‭ ‬the fighting,‭ ‬the starving,‭ ‬the sickness,‭ ‬and holy‭ ‬shit the boredom,‭ ‬it’s odd that I haven’t managed to press that big red Exit button.‭ ‬Just stubborn as fuck,‭ ‬I guess yeah‭?”

“Well,‭ ‬I am glad you’re still here,‭” ‬Syssyx smiles softly,‭ “‬and that I found you.‭” ‬She wraps one arm around my small frame,‭ ‬then brings her other hand to my face,‭ ‬tilting it up towards hers so that she can softly kiss me.‭ ‬I let my eyes slip shut and return the kiss,‭ ‬lips pressing into hers as she wraps her arms around me,‭ ‬pulling me gently into her lap.‭ ‬I make it easy for her,‭ ‬crawling up against her and straddling the bigger girl,‭ ‬my hands moving to her hips as we embrace.

‭“‬Nnnn...‭” ‬I coo quietly into her lips,‭ ‬brushing her tentacle-like tongue with mine,‭ ‬relishing the gentle touch.‭ ‬It’s strange‭ ‬--‭ ‬while I must admit that the sex has always been the most rewarding part of my unusual relationship with Zazkoroth,‭ ‬I never realized how much I needed‭ ‬this,‭ ‬this softness.‭ ‬When your partner is composed entirely of writhing,‭ ‬slippery appendages,‭ ‬intercourse typically begins and ends with penetration,‭ ‬which is obviously fun,‭ ‬but...‭ ‬there’s just something so exhilarating when Syx’s hand starts sliding up my shirt,‭ ‬dexterous fingers caressing along my small chest,‭ ‬teasing one of my pierced nipples and sending a shudder of pleasure down my spine.

She breaks the kiss,‭ ‬only for a moment,‭ ‬to pause and pull my shirt up above my head,‭ ‬an unexpected commitment to an unexpected bout of playtime,‭ ‬but I’m not complaining.‭ ‬I lunge back into her,‭ ‬locking lips with hers as her hands slide up and down my chest,‭ ‬fingers teasing circles around my sensitive nipples around and around,‭ ‬making me quiver with excitement.‭ ‬I trace my tongue along her lips only for her to invade my mouth with her own,‭ ‬the suckered tendril teasing the back of my throat,‭ ‬exploring the inside of my mouth.‭ ‬I never cease to be surprised by the dexterity she has with what thing,‭ ‬even more impressive than the nimbleness of Zaz’s tentacles,‭ ‬which...‭ ‬honestly,‭ ‬has given me a lot of thoughts about how else she may be able to put it to good use.

‭“‬Syx,‭” ‬I pant as her tongue slides free of my mouth.‭ ‬I dot it with a little kiss after I breathe her name,‭ ‬then nuzzle into the corner of her lips,‭ ‬clinging to her waist.‭ “‬Do you think you could,‭ ‬erm...‭” ‬I swallow hard,‭ ‬kissing her again,‭ ‬then steeling my resolve.‭ “‬I’ve never had someone use their tongue...‭ ‬down there,‭” ‬I finally whisper.

‭“‬Say no more,‭ ‬little Raine,‭” ‬Syssyx coos back,‭ ‬bumping her nose into mine and stealing another kiss,‭ ‬this one softer.‭ ‬I can see the corners of her lips tighten into a small,‭ ‬subtle smile,‭ ‬one of anticipation,‭ ‬sympathy,‭ ‬or some other emotion is difficult to tell.‭ ‬For the time we’ve spent cooped up together here,‭ ‬as well as on the road towards her camp,‭ ‬Syx is still a closed book to me in many ways,‭ ‬even more difficult to read than the literal gibbering blob I live with.

I wind one hand up along her back,‭ ‬letting my fingers weave into the tangle of fleshy tendrils cascading down from her scalp as I kiss her back‭ ‬--‭ ‬then let out a soft gasp as she takes hold of my hips and begins to lay me backwards onto the flipped cabinet.‭ ‬I steal one last little nibble at her lower lip,‭ ‬and she glides downwards,‭ ‬bringing her mouth to my chest and letting her long,‭ ‬suckered tongue tease back and forth along my nipples,‭ ‬tugging and rubbing along them,‭ ‬coating them in her cool,‭ ‬tingling saliva and sending a shiver of pleasure back through me.‭ “‬Fuuuck...‭” ‬I breathe out,‭ ‬closing my eyes as I lay back,‭ ‬leaving my hand tangled in her‭ ‘‬hair‭’ ‬as she molests my stiffened pink nipples with gentle pleasure.

I grit my teeth as she starts to descend,‭ ‬unfastening my skirt and tugging it down,‭ ‬then taking my ankles in her hands and lifting them up,‭ ‬exposing me to her.‭ ‬She opts,‭ ‬first,‭ ‬to keep teasing me,‭ ‬dotting a trail of kisses down my narrow midsection,‭ ‬to my hips,‭ ‬then letting her tongue coil around my dick,‭ ‬slithering in a lewd spiral around the small,‭ ‬mostly-inert nub.‭ ‬There’s another shudder of excitement in me,‭ ‬even if I’m not able to‭ ‘‬react‭’ ‬the same way someone else would,‭ ‬but the enduring tingle has me continuing to chew restlessly at my lower lip,‭ ‬hips squirming from side to side as I prepare myself for the main event...‭ ‬one she seems unexpectedly eager to get to.‭ “‬But this isn’t what you were asking for,‭ ‬was it‭?” ‬she purrs,‭ ‬licking along my member again,‭ ‬kissing it,‭ ‬planting another kiss at my tiny balls before lifting my ankles even higher,‭ ‬effectively folding me in half so that I can watch her through the frame of my own legs.

And watch her I do,‭ ‬a moan escaping my lips as she brings the tip of that outrageous tongue towards my back entrance,‭ ‬at first just tantalizing me with light,‭ ‬loving flicks of her tip.‭ ‬It’s already enough to have me twitching,‭ ‬trying not to writhe as her tongue caresses around the sensitive rim of my ass,‭ ‬leaving a shimmering ring of her spit to ease me into what I know is soon to come.‭ ‬Careful,‭ ‬teasing licks and flicks are followed by a long lap along my asshole,‭ ‬and it’s now that I feel those little suckers for the first time‭ ‬--‭ ‬the way they drag along my skin is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before,‭ ‬sealing against me for just an instant before popping away.‭ ‬Not entirely unlike pulling velcro,‭ ‬if velcro were really sexy instead of...‭ ‬well,‭ ‬velcro.

‭“‬Holy shit,‭ ‬that’s...‭ ‬Syx,‭ ‬that feels...‭ ‬really,‭ ‬really...‭” ‬I pant,‭ ‬never quite completing a thought,‭ ‬only rarely finishing entire words,‭ ‬my hand still at the back of her head even though I need to stretch my arm out to keep it there.‭ ‬She licks me again,‭ ‬and again,‭ ‬long laps like she’s trying to eat an ice cream cone before the bottom edge melts.‭ ‬It’s such a different experience from being fucked,‭ ‬being filled‭ ‬--‭ ‬especially since everyone seems to be under the impression that my asshole is a‭ ‘‬seats two comfortably‭’ ‬kind of ride.‭ ‬Not that I dislike that by any means,‭ ‬I’m coming to embrace my distinct anal pliability,‭ ‬and at this point I consider my butt to have fully replaced my penis as my primary sex organ.‭ ‬Still,‭ ‬this is a welcome experience,‭ ‬more teasing,‭ ‬more tender,‭ ‬but still satisfying...‭ ‬especially as Syx’s tongue starts to grow bolder,‭ ‬its tip easing inside of me as the damn-near-prehensile thing curls and twists against my snug,‭ ‬sensitive opening.‭ “‬H-holy‭ ‬fuuuUCk....‭”

Syssyx muffles out a response I can’t make out,‭ ‬pressing her forearm up against the inside of my knees to hold both my legs up,‭ ‬bringing her other hand between us to gently massage my dick between her thumb and forefinger.‭ ‬More boldly,‭ ‬she forces her tongue deeper into me,‭ ‬inch after inch of writhing,‭ ‬suckered flesh driving into my ass until I’m forced to wonder how long it really is,‭ ‬if it has an end at all‭ ‬--‭ ‬it’s not much different than one of Zaz’s tentacles when he’s in a gentler mood,‭ ‬in all honestly.‭ ‬Not that I’m complaining,‭ ‬if I hadn’t watched the world split in half I’d probably have found religion right here and now,‭ ‬my eyes widening,‭ ‬body trembling as she thrusts her tongue into me again and again,‭ ‬hot pulses of pleasure radiating from my stomach to my fingertips in these trembling,‭ ‬inescapable waves.

Then...‭ ‬it happens again.‭ ‬Those ripples of energy,‭ ‬shaking the walls,‭ ‬shaking the store.‭ “‬NnhhhAAaahh...‭!‬” I clench my teeth,‭ ‬trying to muffle my cry of climax,‭ ‬my best effort not to alert anything outside our temporary sanctuary.‭ ‬The wave of power isn’t as intense as last time,‭ ‬not as...‭ ‬significant,‭ ‬I guess.‭ ‬But I feel it.‭ ‬For a moment,‭ ‬I try to catch it,‭ ‬like I did before,‭ ‬try to grab it and hold on,‭ ‬this surge of psionic energy I have so little control over,‭ ‬but it slips away,‭ ‬dissipates like salt in water‭ ‬--‭ ‬still very much present,‭ ‬but no longer detectable.‭ ‬Finally,‭ ‬I flop backwards onto the shelf,‭ ‬panting,‭ ‬staring at the ceiling as Syx’s tongue gradually slides free of me,‭ ‬the eldritch scavenger finally letting my legs topple back down in front of me.

‭“‬Did you...‭ ‬did you get another surge‭?” ‬she asks softly,‭ ‬moving to my other side,‭ ‬lifting my head to lay it in her lap in a rare gesture of comforting.

I don’t say anything,‭ ‬but nod,‭ ‬still catching my breath from the orgasm alone,‭ ‬not to mention the psychic‭ ‘‬accident.‭’ ‬I curl into her,‭ ‬still naked and shuddering from the aftershocks of my climax,‭ ‬a little dizzy.‭ ‬Fuck,‭ ‬if I don’t figure out how to deal with these‭ ‬--‭ ‬I don’t know how much I like‭ ‘‬surges,‭’ ‬I’ll try to think of something better‭ ‬--‭ ‬I don’t know what they’ll eventually become.‭ ‬I just hope whatever it is,‭ ‬I can deal with it.‭ “‬Thank you,‭” ‬I finally say,‭ ‬the most I can really get out until I’ve had a moment to rest.

She frowns thoughtfully,‭ ‬caressing my cheek and letting me continue to rest on her lap.‭ ‬It’s a little while before I truly fall asleep,‭ ‬briefly distracted by the sound of Zazkoroth’s return and subsequent settling into a profane,‭ ‬gelatinous heap of dark jelly,‭ ‬but sleep does finally find me.‭ ‬Tomorrow we finally set out again,‭ ‬accepting the risk that the creature in our path may still be nearby,‭ ‬but praying to whatever foul thing now dictates the destiny of this broken world that it’s finally moved on.‭ ‬We can’t stay here forever.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o

‭“‬What’s today‭? ‬Today Wednesday‭?” ‬I mumble aloud,‭ ‬awkwardly shouldering my crossbow as I walk beside my two strange companions.‭ ‬We finally hit the road again this morning,‭ ‬and have managed to make it several more hours without getting into any serious trouble,‭ ‬the sky only just now threatening to start darkening.‭ ‬Just glad for the rest before getting back on my feet‭ ‬--‭ ‬fuck do I need some new shoes,‭ ‬ones without holes in them.

‭“‬I stopped keeping track long ago,‭” ‬Syx muses,‭ “‬why does the day of the week matter to you‭?”

“This ZAAAz would assumes’t she wishes to‭ ‬0bserve scheduled trapped-life,‭”‬ Zazkoroth borbles,‭ ‬my telepathic abilities simultaneously digesting his meaning even as he‭ ‘‬speaks‭’ ‬aloud for Syx.‭ “‬Yonder dr0plet gains much stabilities by adherence to a routine of entertainings.‭ ‬Once shE even tried to call in to vote for her fav0ritest contester on‭ ‘‬Whomst Wishes Vasectomizing,‭’ ‬but our phone was not in WORking.‭”

I sigh.‭ ‬Now I have to explain in...‭ ‬more detail,‭ ‬if I don’t want Zaz’s decidedly botched extrapolation to hold any kind of water.‭ “‬Some TV programs kept going after the Cracking.‭ ‬Not,‭ ‬like...‭ ‬the normal ones,‭ ‬but some fucked up ones.‭ ‬Look,‭ ‬it’s been just me and this chucklefuck the past who-knows-how-long,‭ ‬I need something to think about beyond impending doom.‭”

“And...‭ ‬what significance does Wednesday hold,‭ ‬then‭?” ‬Syssyx says cautiously,‭ ‬now looking like she’s drawn too near to a hornet’s nest,‭ ‬unsure either to take further action or to back away,‭ ‬for fear of enraging its inhabitants.

‭“‬Tonight was the season finale of‭ ‘‬The Adventures of Billy and the Rest of Billy’s Fingers,‭’” ‬I huff.‭ “‬Index and Pinky had just gotten married and we were waiting to see if Billy’d had a miscarriage.‭”

“And these...‭ ‬shows you watch.‭ ‬They’re...‭ ‬good‭? ‬They’re actual shows‭?”

“Oh,‭ ‬not at‭ ‬all,‭” ‬I confess,‭ “‬I think they’re the fever dreams of what few mutants still had access to studios and just couldn’t get out of the limelight,‭ ‬no matter how badly their minds decayed.‭ ‬No special effects,‭ ‬either.‭ ‬All the mutilations and whatnot are very,‭ ‬very live.‭”

“And whaT mutilations they are‭!”‬ Zaz rejoices.

‭“‬Well,‭” ‬Syx pauses,‭ ‬then shrugs,‭ “‬perhaps we can set up a television system at the camp,‭ ‬once we arrive.‭ ‬I think everyone there has either not heard of these shows,‭ ‬or lost their taste for them a while ago.‭”

“Hey,‭ ‬I was always really into horror movies,‭” ‬I offer a rare chuckle,‭ “‬the goth getup isn’t for nothing,‭ ‬after all.‭ ‬So,‭ ‬if you have the right sense of humor,‭ ‬some of the stuff the crazies turn out is...‭ ‬well,‭ ‬I’d say‭ ‘‬unironically good,‭’ ‬but....‭”

“NausEAtiNgly h0rrendFul‭!‬” Zaz chimes in blithely.

‭“‬That.‭” ‬I laugh again,‭ ‬quietly,‭ ‬cracking my back as we make our way past crumbling buildings and overspilling rivers of glistening cyan ooze where a roadside ditch‭ ‬should be.‭ ‬Part of me’s gonna miss this piece of shit city.‭ ‬Still,‭ ‬while the subject’s on entertainment,‭ ‬I try to pry a bit into the newcomer to Zaz and my twisted duet,‭ ‬and see if I can get Syx to spill any of her secrets.‭ “‬How about you,‭ ‬Syx‭? ‬What do you guys do for fun at the camp‭? ‬You said there were like ten people there,‭ ‬yeah‭? ‬You have movie night‭? ‬Orgies‭? ‬One big,‭ ‬revolving game of Dungeons and Dragons‭?”

“Dungeons and Dragons‭?” ‬the hybrid shoots me an incredulous glance.‭ “‬What is that‭?”

“You pretend to be knights and shit.‭ ‬Used to play a lot as a kid,‭ ‬pre-Crack.‭ ‬Tried to give it a shot with Zaz but,‭ ‬ah...‭ ‬he ate the dice.‭ ‬And the character sheets.‭” ‬I pause,‭ ‬sigh.‭ “‬And all the pencils.‭”

“AnD scrumPTATIOuS penCils they were,‭ ‬ooh00hoo‭! ‬Given an opportunity of approximation opp0rtunacity,‭ ‬This Zaz would do the same with hesitations-unexisting.‭”

“Yeah,‭ ‬so I kinda gave up trying.‭”

Syssyx lets out a small laugh,‭ ‬but finally shrugs.‭ “‬The encampment is new,‭ ‬and little is yet settled.‭ ‬Many share stories of their old lives,‭ ‬or of their desires,‭ ‬fears.‭ ‬A deck of cards was recently found,‭ ‬and has seen some use.‭ ‬Orgies,‭ ‬no...‭ ‬but I have yet to notice a shortage of sex.‭ ‬It does seem that when any amount of humans find themselves in close proximity,‭ ‬their priorities shift to what orifices they’re able to invade.‭ ‬A quality that I‭ ‬--‭ ‬as you’ve seen‭ ‬--‭ ‬definitely share from my old life.‭”

“Boy,‭ ‬fuckin‭’ ‬tell me about it,‭” ‬I smirk,‭ ‬but then furrow my brow in thought a moment.‭ “‬The way you say‭ ‘‬humans,‭’ ‬do you not consider yourself human‭? ‬Or do you think you’re closer to what Zaz is,‭ ‬one of the Young‭?”

“In all honesty,‭ ‬I have had too little contact with either to form any sort of tribal connection,‭” ‬she admits after a pensive hum.‭ “‬I am always with one hand in each glove,‭ ‬so to speak.‭ ‬But perhaps,‭ ‬with time,‭ ‬I shall learn more--‭”

“Fuck‭!” ‬I yelp as something whizzes past my face,‭ ‬ducking backwards on pure reflex an instant soon enough.‭ ‬Recoiling,‭ ‬I look down to see what appears to be a wooden spear‭ ‬--‭ ‬or some sort of farming implement fashioned into one‭ ‬--‭ ‬sticking out of the asphalt about a foot to my right,‭ ‬still wobbling from the force of its impact.‭ ‬I backpedal,‭ ‬slinging my crossbow out from around my back and whirling leftwards to get eyes on whoever threw‭ (‬or launched‭) ‬the weapon,‭ ‬and my companions,‭ ‬too,‭ ‬are beginning to react.‭ ‬Syx summons that pair of spectral daggers into her hands,‭ ‬then steps backwards out of her astral form to take a defensive stance beside me,‭ ‬the mirage darting forward with blades in hand.‭ ‬Zaz,‭ ‬on the other hand,‭ ‬begins to ripple and shift his bloated,‭ ‬eggplant-colored body,‭ ‬swelling in size and beginning to unspool waves of his deadly tentacles as his single baby-blue searches for prey.

Another spear rushes past,‭ ‬and I close my eyes for a moment,‭ ‬searching out with my mind.‭ ‬How did I not sense any incoming intention‭? ‬Are our assailants somehow mentally silent,‭ ‬or simply drowned out by the nonstop white noise of the crazies‭? ‬I concentrate and try to search past it,‭ ‬finally feeling the hum of other thoughts,‭ ‬violent thoughts,‭ ‬though blurry and indistinct.‭ “‬West‭!” ‬I shout,‭ ‬loading a bolt into my crossbow and wheeling around to aim,‭ ‬searching for the source of these projectiles and finally spotting them‭ ‬--‭ ‬humans,‭ ‬mutated,‭ ‬though different from the shambling,‭ ‬gibbering crazies I’ve come to know.‭ ‬These ones have taken cover and,‭ ‬after having been pointed out,‭ ‬begin to charge out from their hiding places,‭ ‬their ambush having failed to either disorient the group or pick off an easy kill.‭ ‬Whoever they are,‭ ‬they fucked with the wrong people.

I loose a bolt,‭ ‬narrowly missing a charging would-be highwayman,‭ ‬and frantically start to load another.‭ ‬Predictably,‭ ‬with a proper target,‭ ‬Syx and Zaz are doing far better,‭ ‬with the betentacled monstrosity I call a roommate easily deflecting blows with cleavers,‭ ‬hatchets,‭ ‬sharpened shovels,‭ ‬and pointed pieces of rebar with his impenetrably malleable body.‭ ‬Tentacles lash out in all directions,‭ ‬snatching up onrushing brigands‭ ‬--‭ ‬then either crushing them like a great purple python,‭ ‬or shoving it under the main bulk of his body,‭ ‬into the range of his inescapable maw.‭ ‬Screams echo out around us,‭ ‬some of rage or hunger or pure madness,‭ ‬I’m not sure...‭ ‬others of agony as Zazkoroth enacts his profane rampage,‭ ‬a cutting loose I can only assume has been long in coming.

Reloaded,‭ ‬I shoot another bolt,‭ ‬this one hitting its mark as one of the crazies rushes towards me,‭ ‬and it’s now that I actually get a decent look at one of them.‭ ‬He’s clearly mutated,‭ ‬but...‭ ‬definitely different.‭ ‬All the other mutants I’ve seen,‭ ‬with the obvious exception of Syx and myself,‭ ‬were glassy-eyed and pallid-skinned,‭ ‬generally slow-moving,‭ ‬barely sentient.‭ ‬This one bears the similar complexion,‭ ‬with the slightly greenish hue of some sort of rot,‭ ‬but his eyes are sharp‭ ‬--‭ ‬intelligent,‭ ‬purposeful.‭ ‬Strange,‭ ‬circular patterns are scarrified into his face and along his arms and hands,‭ ‬symmetrical,‭ ‬intentional.‭ ‬Whether these are some kind of new breed or something I just haven’t seen before,‭ ‬I don’t know.‭ ‬And I’m not sure I want to.

Fortunately,‭ ‬the bolt hits his chest and staggers him,‭ ‬but doesn’t kill him‭ ‬--‭ ‬though even as I load my next bolt I notice him go stiff,‭ ‬shudder,‭ ‬then slump to his knees,‭ ‬a spurt of greenish-black blood spurting from the back of his neck.‭ ‬As he falls,‭ ‬he reveals the projection of Syssyx,‭ ‬who smirks at me before vanishing like a heatwave.‭ “‬Fuck,‭ ‬fuck,‭” ‬I whisper under my breath.‭ ‬Lucky save.

I unload a few more bolts while Zaz and Syx clear out the rest,‭ ‬mostly hitting my targets but only getting two meaningful killshots.‭ ‬Still,‭ ‬at least I contributed,‭ ‬and neither of my companions look injured.‭ ‬I feel the dark hum of their presence fade from my telepathic radar as the last few are put down,‭ ‬and at last,‭ ‬I think we’re safe again.‭ “‬What were those...‭ ‬things‭? ‬Those people‭?” ‬I pant softly as the adrenaline drains out of me,‭ ‬leaving me fatigued.‭ ‬If my psionic abilities having any intention on turning into focusable blasts,‭ ‬they can start doing it‭ ‬any time now‭ ‬--‭ ‬that’d be way preferable to a shitty crossbow my noodle-arms can barely use.

‭“‬Uncertain,‭” ‬Syx says,‭ ‬bending down to flip one body over and onto its back,‭ ‬this one a woman.‭ “‬They all bear these same markings,‭ ‬though.‭ ‬I’m surprised you weren’t able to sense the ambush with your abilities,‭ ‬Raine.‭”

“Drowned out by the others.‭ ‬Not totally silent,‭ ‬but they think...‭ ‬quietly.‭ ‬Couldn’t make out individual thoughts.‭” ‬I frown,‭ ‬fitting the crossbow back into place on my back.‭ “‬Anything good on them‭?”

“Just rusty weapons,‭ ‬the occasional grim keepsake.‭ ‬Teeth,‭ ‬locks of hair,‭” ‬Syx sighs as she rummages through the belongings of a second one,‭ ‬clearly not relishing the task.‭ “‬So no,‭ ‬I’d say.‭ ‬But I am quite concerned that whatever this...‭ ‬faction is,‭ ‬they’re uncomfortably close to the encampment.‭”

“Wait,‭ ‬close‭?” ‬I almost gasp.‭ “‬Are we almost there‭?”

Syssyx turns,‭ ‬points north,‭ ‬and I see it.‭ ‬Not sure what I was expecting,‭ ‬tents and trailers I guess,‭ ‬maybe a crude wood wall.‭ ‬What I see,‭ ‬though,‭ ‬looming maybe some two miles away,‭ ‬fluorescent lights flickering ominously from its interior...‭ ‬is a mall.

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[fu/fu] [kissing/foreplay] [rimming] [tentacle tongue]