Chapter 48: The Stage Is Set

Feeling his pulse racing, Blue’s chest aches at the realization of how helpless he currently is. Immobilized, injured, debilitated, and unable to find the strength even to stand up straight.

“Blue! The pond!” shouts Cliff.

Veering his concentration off the chain that's restricting his ankle, Blue’s gaze lands on the lake. Blue only looked away for a split second, but the image he saw could only haunt him for the rest of his life, as the horrifying visual of Crow ingrained itself into Blue’s conscience.

“Hold on, Blue, I got this!” says Cliff, raising the ax over his head.

As Cliff brought the axe crashing down to break the chain wrapped around Blue’s leg, Blue noticed the chain lying along the ground. These metal links formed a trail that connected the chain to something out of view, most likely attached to something strong enough to endure Cliff’s brute force. A glimmer of hope starts to rekindle for Blue.

If Cliff could quickly break these chains off, we might be able to make a run for it!

Deeply grunting as he lifted the ax again, Cliff prepared to deliver another blow. Once more, he slams it down onto the chain, but again... no break. Upon closer inspection, the little hope Blue had vanished as he saw there wasn’t even a good dent made. Refusing to give up, Cliff repeats this process for a few more swings, his breathing becoming more labored with each go.

Eventually, Cliff became too fatigued from his persistent efforts to snap off the chain. Hunching over with his arms, face, and neck slick with sweat, Cliff rested his hands on his knees. Just then, the chain constricted, and Blue’s knee buckled, making him lose what little stability and balance he still maintained.

Quickly comprehending that the chain is reeling him in like a fishing rod toward its unknown origin, Blue thrashes around, shrieking as he attempts to latch onto something nearby to stop his momentum. But, there was nothing to grasp, and as Blue eventually arrived at this random tree, he was gradually lifted off the ground feet first. With his lower body being raised into the air, Blue swung his arms to propel himself toward the tree. Wrapping his legs and arms around the trunk was a courageous but pointless effort to try to halt his momentum.

For a brief moment, there was a glint of hope again when Blue initially grasped onto the tree; however, he soon felt the friction of the tree bark scraping against his body as he was once more hoisted upward. While bearing the pain, out of the corner of his eye, Blue detected more chains streaking his way from behind the tree. Immediately recognizing that he couldn't avoid them, Blue flailed in the air in a pitiful effort to resist while his body twisted upright again.

“Damn it!” yells Blue as the chains start to wrap around the upper half of his body, binding his arms to his body.

CLANG.

Instantly dropping his gaze to where the sound had come from, Cliff heaved as he reeled the axe behind his head in preparation for another swing.

“I’m… going to save… you…”

CLANG!

Persevering through the aching in his upper body, Cliff’s tenacious efforts at slicing the chains in two were already taking their toll. Nonetheless, Cliff shouts as he thrashes the head of the axe down again. The chains don’t even budge. Continuing to squirm, Blue squirms his body just enough to give Cliff a better angle to strike at, encouraging him as the pace of his swings further falters.

“Come on, Cliff! These chains will break! Keep going!”

“I’m… I’m trying…” pants Cliff as he closes his eyes and deeply inhales, gathering whatever strength he has left as he rests the axe on the ground momentarily.

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With his fingers fiddling with the handle, Cliff refreshes his grip to be comfortable. With seams on his fingers cracking open, Cliff constricts his grasp, the veins on his forearms popping out as he rewinds the axe again. But before he can strike the chain, Blue catches the sound of a singular footstep behind him.

Blue wasn’t the only one who heard it either, as Cliff was completely frozen mid-motion, his eyes gazing past Blue at the mysterious wilderness. With the axe dropping to Cliff’s side, the kinkling of chains swinging back and forth starts to complement the footsteps.

As if he appeared out of thin air, Cliff caught sight of Crow far away just as the sound of leaves crunching found its way to Cliff's ears. Advancing into view, both of Crow’s hands held onto these handles, each attached to a chain ripping through the air toward Cliff. As Cliff moved to evade, he immediately understood that Crow must be able to control the chains currently restraining Blue.

“Perhaps I was too generous letting you both live the other day,” says Crow.

Wrapping his hand around one of the chains, Crow tugs on it, and the chain around Blue’s ankle contracts. Blue's breathing stifles momentarily as his brows knit together in agony. Still, he quickly returns to displaying a grim, straight face.

He must be trying to hide the amount of pain he’s actually in, putting on a front for Crow while simultaneously making sure I wouldn’t be worried about him. Thank you, Blue. Because of your tenacity, I can keep tabs on Crow, for your sake.

“I watched you both for a while. I've noticed you are still attempting to keep it a secret...”

Cliff takes a few steps back, wanting to keep his distance. As of now, Cliff’s wingspan and reach give him the upper hand in a one-on-one battle. However, Cliff knows that if he allows Crow to get too close, his advantageous reach will become a hindrance, and he’ll be forced to fight conservatively. More importantly, Cliff understands he must draw Crow away from Blue. He won’t let Blue get caught in the crossfire.

Recognizing my change in position, Blue shoots Cliff a look, his eyes wide with fright, “Cliff, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing, it’s just–”

As if Crow had taken the air out of his lungs, Cliff couldn’t find himself capable of uttering another word as he helplessly watched Crow put a hand on Blue’s shoulder.

“Why didn’t you tell your friend here the truth?”

Blue’s eyes drag back toward Crow, watching him closely as he ambles around the tree. Not a word was said by anybody until Crow stopped, standing directly in front of Blue, glaring down at him like a teacher scowling at a misbehaving student.

“Why didn’t you tell anybody?” demands Crow.

Blue attempts to spit at Crow, making Crow sneer as his body mirages away. Walking out from behind another tree, Crow says, “Today, you put your friend at risk by not being honest. You're not in a good enough condition to fight, and you knew that.”

Following those words, Crow throws a dagger right above Blue’s head, some strands of hair getting cut off as it staggers into the tree trunk. Blue gapes down at some of the hair strands that have just fallen and are now resting on his shoes.

“I- I didn’t– I didn’t think…”

Yanking on the handle he's grasping, Crow's chains compress as the dagger he just threw loosens and returns to Crow like a boomerang. Promptly seizing the dagger, Crow inspects it, turning it away from the sun to reveal his own reflection on the blade as he asks, “Didn’t think… what?”

“If I talk, if I tell you what I know, will you let us both live?” asks Blue.

Not aware of what Blue meant by that, Cliff ponders about Blue’s motives as he transfers his attention to Crow, who appears unimpressed by what Blue just said. Not giving Cliff any time, Crow hurls the dagger again, throwing it between Blue’s legs.

“We’re the ones asking the questions here, kid, understand?”

Gazing down at the dagger, Blue immediately complies, his tenacious spirit already lost, “Y-yeah… I understand.”

Wait… we’re?

Trying to hide his sudden paranoia, Cliff’s eyes frantically dart around, looking for a second or third individual. Cursing under his breath, Cliff realized numerous people could be working with Crow, not just a couple, and they may be surrounded from all sides.

There’s no escape...

Before Blue can process the same thoughts as Cliff, Crow says, “The stage is set, partner.”

In a state of confusion, Blue and Cliff gape behind Crow as a shadow takes shape amongst the heavy fog settling around the area.

It can’t be…

Cliff’s jaw slacks as Ace gingerly emerges from the misty abyss.

“Quite the welcome you gave me… partner.”