Jayson and Derrick watch Lexia run through the forest, leaving a trail of kicked up leaves and twigs. After she is a good distance away, Derrick looks at Jayson sternly.

“I told you to relax,” says Derrick.

“I was until Lexia went bonkers. Is she on meds or something? Because she is far from normal,” says Jayson.

“Maybe. I haven't seen her take any though. But you still need to relax.”

“I was!”

Derrick looks at the wrecked campsite.

“Who was here?” asks Derrick.

“Oh, the Fixers. Me and Lexia took care of them easily, though. Honestly, Mama Bear probably paid cheap for them. They really suck. But, if you don't mind, I'm going to try relaxing again. Maybe sneak into a movie theater or something.”

“You go do that. I got some figurines I need to paint.”

Jayson grins teasingly. “You paint toys?”

Derrick's eyes flare with a burst of darkness erupting from him. “They're not toys!”

Jayson holds up his hands defensively. “Alright, my mistake.”

Derrick relaxes with a heavy sigh, and then reaches into his wallet. He pulls out a wad of money and puts it in Jayson's hand.

“It's fine,” says Derrick. “Here's some cash so you don't go sneaking into the theater. Buy a ticket and enjoy the movie. Whichever one it is.”

“Nice. Thank you!” says Jayson.

“Uh huh. Try to stay out of trouble.”

“Say, since you’re in a giving mood, can you give me a lift to the theater?”

“Nope. I got figurines to paint.”

Then Derrick flies off, and Jayson sighs heavily, waits until he no longer sees Derrick, and then hops down to where Mortimer is. He has concealed himself with bits of shrub and twigs, but Jayson can see his eyes peeking at him.

“You can relax. The eagle's gone,” says Jayson.

Jayson keeps walking, and the bush rustles as Mortimer crawls out, looking worse for wear.

“Wait just a minute, Hobo!” calls Mortimer.

Jayson stops and turns around, and Mortimer adjusts his raccoon mask while keeping his eyes focused on the Hobo.

“You could have ratted me out, and yet you didn't. Why?” says Mortimer.

Jayson shrugs. “What can I say? I like you too much. I mean, you're a pain in the ass and shot me, but I still like you.”

“Well, that's your big mistake. I'm getting paid to kill you, and I will get paid!”

Mortimer draws his pistol and Jayson draws his cosmic wood sword, creating a light blue aura around him. The area in the aura slows by a couple of seconds as Mortimer shoots at Jayson. Jayson dodges the shot. And he dodges the next shot, and then hits Mortimer.

Mortimer sails in the air, and then crashes into the creek. There, the water carries him away, and Jayson shakes his head and keeps walking.

***

Claribel’s head snaps out of the cold creek water. She gasps for air, her lungs plagued with frozen icepicks poking it from the inside out. She paddles to the shore and claws at the dirt as she crawls her way out. She flops on her back, chest heaving from her heavy breathing and the mud clings to her clothes, blonde hair and scales as she stares at the sky. The water makes her clothes feel fifty pounds heavier and it gradually trickles out, seeping into the wet ground.

She doesn’t know how long she has been laying there until Mortimer staggers next to her and falls on his knees. Then he falls face first on the ground, putting his muzzle next to her cheek and getting a thin amount of her golden blonde hair as a cushion.

“I hate him,” grumbles Mortimer.

“I hate her,” says Claribel.

“The Hobo is going to the movie theater.”

“How can he afford that?”

“The eagle gave him money.”

“Oh… Will the Bazooka Bunny be there.”

“Probably.”

“Good enough.”

The two remain motionless on the ground. Birds chirp and bugs buzz around them, and the water laps at the riverbank. If the situation was different, it would be a tranquil scene that Mortimer would be reluctant to leave. But alas, they have work to do.

“Ready to go?” asks Mortimer.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“Yeah,” replies Claribel.

They stay motionless on the ground.

***

Jayson drags himself down the rotting veins of Bliss Town, his boots grinding against the filth-encrusted pavement. The sun, a relentless tyrant in the late morning sky, sears into his white fur with a ferocity that matches his unyielding grit. He's a phantom in this world of chaos; vehicles, corroded and gasping for breath, whip past him like blurs of rust and neglect. Their riders, cocooned within their own existences, are oblivious to his existence.

Foot traffic swerves around him as though he were an inconveniently placed street sign; their faces buried deep in handheld screens or distracted by the mundane rhythm of their lives. Not even a fleeting glance is directed towards Jayson - he might as well be invisible.

In spite of it all though, there's an odd spring to his step. A spark flickers in those bright blue eyes beneath the layer of grime; today was far from perfect but there was something invigorating about being ignored - it meant no trouble and no fights. His tired body may protest every step but inside Jayson Hopper was humming a merry tune.

Jayson's boots grind gritty gravel underfoot until he's looming before "Cindy's Cinema". It’s styled with a 1950s, neon marquee and sun-bleached posters of cinematic legends. But like everything else in Bliss Town, it wears its scars openly. The once brilliant paint is flaking off in stubborn patches, baring the weathered wood underneath. The neon lights stutter on and off, painting an uncanny luminescence on the fractured pavement below. The ticket booth is a patchwork of plywood and duct tape, its glass pane replaced by a makeshift window of clear plastic.

Yet despite its worn state, Cindy's Cinema still breathes life. Its marquee proudly displays the current roster of films, spanning all genres of films. Against all odds, this relic continues to flicker defiantly in the face of decay and desolation.

Jayson ambles towards the outdoor kiosk, an extension of Cindy's Cinema. It's a retro-futuristic booth, its metallic structure echoing the cinema's art deco styling, with neon lights flickering in sync with the main marquee. Mariana is stationed there, her triangle checkered vest a stark contrast to the gleaming chrome. Boredom has etched deep lines into her face.

Jayson browses the films until he spots a title.

“One ticket to ‘Cyborg Cop versus Deathbot’ please,” says Jayson.

“Thirty bucks,” says Mariana.

Jayson pays, and Mariana gives him the ticket. Jayson goes inside.

The inside of the movie theater, a throwback to the 1950s with its red velvet curtains and art deco sconces, is awash in harsh fluorescent light. A colossal concession stand dominates the space, but it's mostly devoid of life. The employees tucked behind the counter cast skeptical glances at Jayson as he ambles towards their domain. The faded paint on Cindy the Caribou, their mascot who'd seen better days, peels off in chunks, mirroring the overall disrepair and decay of this once vibrant place.

“Large popcorn and drink, please. Extra butter on the popcorn, and load it up with barbeque powder,” says Jayson.

The workers give Jayson his popcorn and large drink, and after he fills up his cup, he goes to the ticket master.

The ticket master tears his ticket and points to where he needs to go. Jayson thanks him with a nod and goes to the theater.

Jayson enters Theater Room 5. It is a dimly lit room, and he takes a seat at the very back. He sets down his popcorn and drink and stares at the large screen displaying advertisements and trivia.

While Jayson watches the ads and trivia, he munches on his popcorn and sips his drink.

Then like a bat from the void, Lexia lands next to Jayson. He jumps and his hand snaps to his cosmic wood sword while Lexia yanks out a camera and tripod and sets it down next to her. Once that is set up, she reclines on the chair, props her boot-covered feet on the chair in front of her, and aims her pistol at his side while she fiddles with the camera.

Jayson huffs irritably and releases his grip on his weapon, prompting Lexia to put hers away.

“Lexia, what are you doing?” asks Jayson.

“The movie theater is on my side. I'm making sure you don't ruin it,” says Lexia.

“This is neutral territory. By the way, is the gun fake like your chainsaw?”

Lexia holds up her pistol again and turns it so Jayson can see the cartoon cowboy on the side and the orange tip of her barrel.

“Looks fake to me,” says Lexia.

“Do you take meds?” asks Jayson.

“What's it to you?”

“Because you're nuts.”

“She wants to kill you,” whispers Lexanne

Jayson’s ear twitches and he looks to the side. He jumps in his seat and curses. The world is darker, and Lexanne is sitting next to him. Her black silhouette a shadow in the dark, and her bloody hands gripping the arm of the chair while her pale white eyes white void grin stares at him.

“Get rid of her before she gets rid of you,” says Lexanne.

Jayson shakes his head and looks back at the large screen.

“No, she's just being dumb,” says Jayson.

“Who's being dumb?” asks Lexia.

“You are.”

Lexia gasps. “Am not.”

“She tried to kill you in the forest,” says Lexanne.

“With a fake chainsaw,” retorts Jayson.

“Who are you talking to?” asks Lexia.

“My dead wife,” replies Jayson.

Lexia leans over but doesn't see anything. She looks at Jayson.

“You aren't possessed, are you?” she asks.

“No. Of course not. Not even close,” replies Jayson sharply.

“So, you are insane! I knew it!”

Jayson bangs his head against his chair. “I just want to watch a movie, alright?”

“Why not a romcom?” suggest Lexanne.

“I hate romcoms,” says Jayson.

“I didn't say anything about a romcom,” says Lexia. “But this is a nice choice. I love the Deathbot and Cyborg Cop movies. I can't wait to see them fight.”

“Get rid of her. She's ruining our date night,” says Lexanne.

“I just want some alone time!” snaps Jayson.

“No can do. I need to record this movie for my mom and make sure you don't wreck this place,” says Lexia.

***

At the alley bordering the movie theater, Claribel and Mortimer approach the side entrance. Mortimer has a rifle slung on his back and Claribel clutches her weapon tight. Mortimer uses a lockpicking kit to open the door. With the door open, Claribel tightens her suppressor on her pistol and Mortimer goes in. Their first encounter is a lanky rabbit employee counting stock, and his ears perk and his body stiffens when he sees Mortimer and Claribel approaching him.

“Hey, you're not supposed to be in here,” says the employee.

Mortimer punches the Lanky Employee in the face, and uses nearby tape to gag and hogtie him, and then he puts him in the broom closet.

“Let's go,” says Mortimer.

***

Back in Theater Room 5, the ads and trivia disappear, and a sign appears:

ENJOY THE SHOW!

3

***

Mortimer and Claribel walk down the hallway while employees scatter and seek cover. The duo spread out, open theater doors and sniff the air with their noses and tongues.

***

In Theater Room 5, Jayson tightens his hold on his sword, and Lexanne grins as the dark theater gets darker.

“You can feel it, can't you?” says Lexanne.

2

***

Mortimer opens the door to Theater 5 and sniffs the air. He whistles to Claribel, and when she looks at him, he tilts his head to the room. Claribel hurries over and they go in with their weapons drawn.

***

In Theater Room 5, Jayson and Lexia see light spill into the room and watch two shadows stretch across the floor. Then their eyes bulge and their ears perk when they see Claribel and Mortimer come into view

1

“Showtime,” giggles Lexanne.

“SHIT!” yells Lexia.

She leaps up and yanks out her bazooka, and Jayson grabs her arm.

“Lexia, no!” shouts Jayson.

Too late. Lexia pulls the trigger.