After several minutes of Jayden filling Aiden in on everything, they both stared at the scythe. Aiden, still looking shocked, leaned in closer to inspect it.

“T-That’s the Scythe o-of Null…” Aiden stammered, wide-eyed. “You just k-killed the Primal God of Death...”

Jayden burst out laughing. “Yeah, right. Nice one, Blitz.”

Aiden’s face turned red, clearly flustered. “Hey! I told you to stop calling me by my middle name!”

“Whatever, Blitz.” Jayden smirked.

“Look, seriously,” Aiden continued, still a bit embarrassed, “this scythe has umbraportation.”

Jayden raised an eyebrow, confused. “Uh, in English, please?”

Aiden sighed. “It means ‘void travel.’”

Jayden tilted his head. “Void travel? What the hell is that?”

“You don’t know?” Aiden blinked, surprised. “It’s the void—the place from all those fairy tales, outerbounds and stuff. The void is part of that. It's basically the outerbounds of the outerbounds.”

Jayden's curiosity got the better of him. “Really? Let me try it!”

“Wait!” Aiden warned, “You need to concentrate—”

Before Aiden could finish, Jayden grabbed the scythe like a walking stick and tapped it on the floor. He focused on somewhere along the shore and tapped the floor again. In an instant, everything shifted. Jayden was sucked into the void, his breath knocked out of him as he fell through a pitch-black expanse. Massive boulders floated around him, and nearby, he saw the scythe tumbling through the air. Aiden was falling too, looking just as freaked out.

Jayden's heart raced as he lunged for the scythe, grabbing it just in time. He closed his eyes, concentrating on anywhere in Newfoundland, praying to whoever would listen. Suddenly, they were sucked into a swirling vortex of light. With a loud crash, they landed on a sandy shore, somewhere Jayden immediately recognized as Wesleyvile.

Breathing hard, Jayden felt an overwhelming sense of exhaustion, like he’d just run a marathon with a fever. Before he could even react, he heard footsteps approaching.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“OH CRAP! OY, CEDRIC, WE GOT A COUPLE OF LOST PEOPLE HERE!” shouted a voice from nearby.

“You hoser, no one’s—oh crap, you’re right, eh...” a second voice called out.

And then darkness. Jayden passed out.

---

In his dream, Jayden found himself standing near a house, and there was Jacob, looking grim.

“I don’t wanna burn this place down... but I gotta,” Jacob said, sadness in his voice. He traced a golden circle in the air, with an upside-down triangle and a star in the center. Then, with a heavy heart, he muttered, “Menel orna glaur…”

A giant beam of golden light engulfed the house, and when the beam faded, it was nothing but charred ruins.

---

Jayden jolted awake, his head throbbing. He blinked, disoriented, realizing he was on a bench outside of a McDonald's. To make matters worse, he was somehow leaning on Ronald McDonald’s lap.

“What the hell…” Jayden grumbled, trying to sit up, only to bang his head on Ronald’s arm. “Ow! Damn clown!”

Looking through the window, Jayden spotted Aiden inside, ordering food. He glanced down and saw the scythe still by his side, causing him to jump, only to hit his head again on the clown statue.

“Why won’t you go away… you almost killed me,” Jayden muttered to the scythe.

Just then, Aiden came back, grinning with a bag of food in his hand. “Ah, great, you’re awake!” He handed the bag to Jayden.

Jayden eagerly opened it, finding his favorite—a 10-piece nugget meal with fries. While Jayden devoured his food, Aiden explained what had happened.

“So, there were these two guys—Cedric and, uh, Justin? Or maybe Harry? I can’t remember. Anyway, they helped me carry you here. You’ve got some fractured ribs from when that freak hit you with the keyblade. Did a real number on you, man.”

Aiden stood up. “I’m gonna hit the pharmacy, be right back.” He hurried off.

Jayden looked around while waiting, his eyes landing on a casino across the street called "The Palace of Felix." A giant, flashing, pointing hand beckoned people to the door, and it looked like there was a hotel inside.

Five minutes later, Aiden returned, pushing a wheelchair. Jayden’s eyes widened.

“You’re kidding, right?” Jayden said.

Aiden shrugged. “Nah, it’s fine. Besides, we gotta find a place to sleep for the night before we can get back to the Alpines. I got tickets, and—"

Jayden cut him off, his face turning red with fury. “YOU DID WHAT?”

Aiden flinched, clearly nervous. “I... I bought tickets…”

Jayden growled in frustration. “Well, if you’ve got money, there’s a casino right there. Usually cheap to stay in one of those.”

Aiden’s face lit up. “Awesome! Let’s go, then!”

Reluctantly, Jayden sat in the wheelchair, and they made their way across the street to the casino. Once inside, it was way bigger than it looked from the outside, with an interior that reminded Jayden of the Bellagio. A giant fountain of coins shimmered in the center, but before they could reach the counter, a man in a black vest and white shirt approached them.

He looked like a bartender, with slick Kevin Garlick shoes and a black fedora that cast a shadow over his eyes. His pale skin and mischievous grin didn’t exactly make Jayden feel at ease.

“Ah, welcome to the Palace of Felix! I’m Felix, the owner,” the man said, his grin widening. “What are you handsome fellas doing here, eh?”

He extended his hand, and Jayden reluctantly shook it.

“How ‘bout a poker game?” Felix asked, still grinning. “What you got to bet, eh?”

Jayden was tempted, but Aiden shook his head quickly. “Uh, no thanks, man.”

“Awh, come on! What about you, handsome?” Felix looked at Jayden with that unsettling grin still plastered on his face.

Jayden hesitated. “Uh… I got two bucks?”

Felix’s grin turned darker. “I’m thinking…” He pointed at Aiden, his voice dropping to a demonic tone. “I’m thinkin’… your friend’s soul.”

Suddenly, green light traced a circle around Aiden, and wisps of energy flowed from his body. Aiden collapsed to the ground, his eyes white as snow.

Jayden jumped up, panicking. “W-What did you do to Blitz?!”

Felix chuckled. “Oh, not much. Just took his soul. He’ll be watching the match.”

With a snap of his fingers, two attendants appeared. One grabbed Jayden’s scythe, while the other wheeled him to a poker table. Jayden tried to fight back, but the pain in his ribs was too much. He winced, feeling like he was being impaled with each breath.

Felix followed behind, snapping his fingers again. “Alex! May! Go back!”

The attendants nodded eagerly, disappearing back into the shadows.

Felix took his seat across from Jayden, still wearing that sinister grin. “So, kid... you know how to play high-stakes poker?”