An explosion shakes the room, and fire and debris are flung into the neighboring theater room while dust rolls everywhere. Jayson and Lexia duck for cover as Claribel and Mortimer shoot back at them. An alarm rings and the lights flash on.

Lexia gets up again and shoots another rocket at Claribel.

Claribel evades the rocket and seeks shelter in the chairs while Mortimer runs up the stairs with his rifle raised.

Another explosion tears apart the theater floor, and Mortimer shoots at Lexia. The bullets hit her armor, dropping her to the ground.

Jayson leaps from cover and hops on top of the chairs, and takes a flying kick to Mortimer, hitting him in the shoulder. Mortimer hits the wall, Jayson lands awkwardly on the stairs.

Mortimer quickly recovers, as does Jayson.

Jayson draws his cosmic wood sword and hits Mortimer with it, breaking him through the stairway barrier and smacking him against the wall on the other side, where he tumbles down and lands flat on the floor.

Claribel then shoots at Jayson, striking him in the arm and shoulder, dropping him.

Lexia throws a grenade at Claribel, which she leaps away from. The explosion destroys a bundle of chairs. Then Lexia draws a mini-gun, and she screams like a maniac as she unloads in Claribel's direction.

Claribel slithers through the chaos and shoots at Lexia.

Lexia drops down to avoid the gunfire.

Jayson gets up, clutching his arm, and he growls and runs towards Claribel, just to be tackled by Mortimer.

Mortimer and Jayson roll and bounce down the stairs, and it ends with Jayson on his back and using his cosmic wood sword to hold Mortimer back.

Jayson kicks Mortimer off, and another rocket streaks by and blows up more of the theater.

Mortimer grabs Jayson and throws him into the stair wall, and he goes for fast punches, which Jayson blocks with some difficulty. Jayson sweats and grits his teeth, and his arm becomes red with blood.

Jayson ducks under a punch, punches Mortimer in the side, and then grabs his cosmic wood sword off the floor and hits Mortimer with it. Mortimer zips through the air, breaking into the projection room. Then Jayson runs to Claribel, takes a flying leap, and kicks her in the chest, sending her tumbling down the stairs.

Jayson lands and stumbles to regain his footing, and Lexia shoves him aside and shoots another rocket at Claribel.

Claribel dodges the attack. The explosion destroys the stairs and its wall, and Lexia climbs on top of the wall while reloading and shoots at Claribel again while Claribel attempts to escape through the door.

Claribel flies out into the hallway with an explosion and debris following close behind. Claribel rolls to her feet, grabs her hat and puts it back on. As this happens, a group of police officers run towards her.

“Freeze!” barks a police officer.

Claribel curses and runs down the hall, and the cops give chase.

Back inside the theater room, Jayson and Lexia go through the emergency exit and run into the alley. Both are panting, and Lexia runs to her car and throws her bazooka in the back seat before jumping into the driver's seat.

“Get in!” orders Lexia.

Jayson jumps in the passenger seat and they speed away.

Inside the car, Jayson and Lexia stare ahead while police cars and fire trucks zoom by them.

“The movie theater is on my side, you said. I don't want you to ruin it, you said,” says Jayson.

Lexia frowns and tightens her grip on the steering wheel.

“I don't want you to ruin it, you said,” repeats Jayson.

“I know,” says Lexia through gritted teeth.

“You did more damage to the theater than I ever could.”

“Yeah? Well... You're bleeding all over my seat.”

“Oh, sorry! I didn't mean to get shot again! I was the one trying to relax and you were the nut who chased me with a chainsaw and then launched rockets everywhere!”

Lexia sharply veers the car back and forth, making Jayson hit his head on the window.

“Ow! Damn it, Lexia! You're a psycho!” says Jayson.

“You're literally talking to your dead wife,” says Lexia.

“Because I'm lonely and actually care about people! It's a loss that I will never get over.”

“So you admit that you're a sap who can't let go?”

“You clearly never cared about anybody.”

“Hey, I care about people.”

“Oh really? Like who?”

“Not you. You're not on my list. My mom is on my list and oh my God I left my camera and mini gun at the theater.” Lexia bangs her fist on the steering wheel. “Dang it!”

Jayson snorts a laugh. “Well, you're getting arrested now.”

“Please, they never arrest anybody here. If they did, I wouldn't have to kill criminals with rockets.”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“That you shoot really close to me. Honestly, I'm surprised your antics haven't killed me yet.”

“Same. Maybe one day I'll get lucky.”

Jayson glares at Lexia.

“Do you want a taco? I want a taco,” says Lexia.

Jayson sighs heavily. “You know what? Yeah, I can use a taco, too.”

“Great!”

Lexia takes a sharp turn and the tires squeal as she zooms towards the Taco King drive thru. Then she slams on the breaks when they are near the speaker box. Black streaks stain the asphalt and the vehicle jerks to a stop with Lexia’s window directly bordering the speaker.

“Welcome to Taco King. What do you want?” says Mariana, her voice crackly and barely understandable through the speaker.

“I want a taco,” says Lexia.

----------------------------------------

Back at the Safe House, Ramsey, Rolland, Shae, Dacre, and Cyrus are playing Uno.

“Okay, after this, I really need to get back to work,” says Ramsey.

“Yeah, yeah, just play the card,” says Rolla d.

Ramsey puts down a card. “Uno.”

Rolland puts down a card. “Uno.”

Shae puts down a card. “Uno.”

Dacre puts down a card. “Uno.”

Cyrus puts down a card. “Draw four, wild. Red. Uno.”

Ramsey puts down his last card, a red reverse. “I win. I need to get back to work.”

The front door suddenly opens, and Mortimer and Claribel stumble in, bloodied and bruised and livid. The others cease all movements and stare at the pair with wide eyes.

“Holy shit... What happened to you two?” asks Rolland.

Mortimer takes a deep breath. “We need… Tacos.”

----------------------------------------

Back inside Lexia’s car, Lexia is eating a taco, and Jayson is eating a burrito. They are quiet while Lexia drives with one hand. Behind Jayson is Lexanne; her white grin nearly severing her jaw from the rest of her face.

“She doesn't care about you,” says Lexanne.

Jayson looks at Lexanne through the mirror.

“We're forever and ever, remember?” says Lexanne.

Jayson blinks and Lexanne is gone, and he looks at Lexia.

“So, Lexia...?” says Jayson.

“Yeah?” says Lexia.

“About what you said.”

“One hundred percent true. I don't care about you. At all. Not even close. I care about my mom, though.”

“What about Derrick?”

Lexia shrugs. “Eh... Kinda. He knew my dad. They were friends on the police force, so I kinda like him. But you're encroaching on my turf, and I'm only sort of tolerating you because Derrick wants me to.”

“I see... Stop the car.”

Lexia slows the car to a stop at the edge of the forest, and Jayson gets out, closes the door politely and leans against the window. Lexia rolls it down, and he props his elbows on the rim.

“Thanks for the ride, and the burrito, but I’m going to go home now,” says Jayson.

“Do you seriously live in the forest?” asks Lexia.

“Where else am I going to live?” Before Lexia can respond, he taps the car door and walks away while waving farewell with his back to Lexia. “Have a good one. I’ll see you sometime in the future.”

Lexia watches him quietly, and Jayson hops down a ravine and resumes walking with his hands in his coat pocket, keeping his eyes locked ahead and his jaw set. He can feel Lexia watching him, and he picks up his pace. It’s only when he passes through the treeline does he hear her vehicle rev and drive away, and when that happens, he takes a deep breath, dips his head and kicks a random rock as he walks through the forest alone.

Inside the car, Lexia stares ahead, her hands tight on the steering wheel, her wrapper tossed aside, and her other hand on the stick shift. Her grip tightens and her lips quiver, and her breathing becomes heavier as her eyes become wet. But she holds it in and keeps driving in silence.

----------------------------------------

Back at the safe house, Mortimer and Claribel are laying on Mortimer's bed. Claribel is snuggled on top of him, her tail wrapped around his torso and his arm over her shoulder. Mortimer stares at the ceiling, and Claribel stares at the wall. Both haven’t said a word, but their holds on each other speak enough. Minutes tick by before Ramsey pokes his head in.

“Hey, we just ordered delivery from Taco King. We got a big meal coming our way,” says Ramsey.

Mortimer gives Ramsey a thumbs up. “Thanks.”

Ramsey leaves, and Mortimer sighs heavily and rubs Claribel's shoulder, and she rubs her head underneath his chin and closes her eyes. Then the radio in Mortimer’s room crackles on and a firm voice breaches the silence.

“Electroboy, are you there?”

Mortimer and Claribel’s eyes snap open, and their heads turn to the radio.

“You better be there,” says the voice.

Mortimer gently removes Claribel from his body and goes to the radio. His hands tremble and his throat tightens as he reluctantly reaches for it.

“You have ten seconds to pick up. Starting now,” says the voice.

Mortimer snatches the radio and leans against the wall, putting on a cool smile.

“Hey, Thaddeus, is that you?” says Mortimer.

“You know it’s me,” says Thaddeus. “What’s the update on the Hobo Warrior Bunny and Bazooka Bunny?”

“Oh them? Me and Claribel are handling it.”

“So, they’re not dead yet.”

“Not yet. But we’re getting there.”

“Am I going to have to come down there?”

“NO!” Mortimer clears his throat and wipes his face. “I mean, no, it’s fine. We’re fine. We got this under control.”

“Mama Bear thinks otherwise.”

“Is Mama Bear with you now?”

“What do you think?”

Mortimer’s eyes are wide and staring ahead, and Claribel holds the pillow against her body as she stares at Mortimer with worry suffocating her.

“Get it done. Or I’m coming down there. And if I have to come down there then I’ll be dealing with you and your snake personally,” says Thaddeus.

The radio clicks off, and Mortimer hangs up the radiohead and looks at Claribel. She stares at him with watery eyes, and he offers a comforting smile.

“We’ll be fine… I promise,” says Mortimer.

****

The sun shines high in the cracked sky. Birds chirp, leaves rustle, and flowers sway in the wind. Jayson Hopper limps through the forest and collapses next to a tree. He shifts around until his back is pressed against the trunk and he stares ahead, clutching his cosmic wood sword tight. Jayson stares ahead, in pain. His nose and ears twitch, and his heavy blue eyes stare ahead.

In front of Jayson is Lexanne. Her solid black shadowy figure towers over Jayson. Her torn fabric and hair float as if in water, and her pure white eyes stare at Jayson while blood drips from the red lines trailing the length of her forearms.

“Are you winning Jayson?” teases Lexanne.

Jayson nods.

“Are you winning, Jayson?” repeats Lexanne.

Jayson nods again. “I am.”

Lexanne holds out her hand. “Then come see with me.”

Jayson shakes his head and winces as he stands up, using the tree for support.

“I can't,” says Jayson.

“You can,” says Lexanne.

“I don't want to.”

“Why not?”

“You know why.”

“Where's the harm in seeing one last time?”

Jayson walks away, shaking his head and using his weapon as a cane.

“I'm not dealing with this, right now,” says Jayson.

Lexanne giggles and floats next to Jayson, her cold hands rubbing his shoulders and her mouth next to his ear.

“Running again?” taunts Lexanne

“I'm not running,” says Jayson.

Lexanne giggles. “Righhht~ You’re not running. You never run. Or, are you sad because I was right about Lexia?”

“I’m definitely not sad about that,” says Jayson.

Lexanne shifts in front of Jayson and grabs his shoulder and hand, her grin taking up his entire field of vision.

“Well, you have nothing to worry about, Jayson. I’m here. I’ll always be here. And when Mama Bear and her organization pays for what they did to us, then we will finally be properly reunited. Won’t that be great?”

Jayson glares at Lexanne, and she giggles and brushes Jayson’s cheek.

“I’ll leave you be for now. You had a long day, and now you need to relax. It’ll only get harder from here on out, and we can’t have you falling apart just yet,” says Lexanne.

Lexanne vanishes after that, and a coldness envelopes Jayson as all noise fades in the woods. He exhales a shaky breath, his back thudding against the dying tree trunk. With a heavy heart, he sinks to the forest floor, pressing his forehead into clenched fists. The words of Lexanne linger in his mind. The air becomes thick and Jayson's breaths tremble as he realizes that Lexanne is right. The torment will continue until his mission is accomplished.

There can be no freedom until Mama Bear is destroyed.