The creature on the bodies guard head was hard to make out entirely due to the excessive fog puffing from the guards large orange smoking pipe but I managed to catch a glimpse of the creature on the bodyguards head peering over it’s tail. The creature made a nest out of the guards unruly brown hair. It’s eyes staring at us from over its curled nested tail, resting with a vigilance of pure animalistic conviction. It’s pupils glowed a radiant yellow and it’s snout is as pronounced as that of a racoon; it definitely snarled at me the same way. The creature and the man smiled and frowned alongside one another, it was hard to tell for sure because of all the hair and fog arounds the mans face but I could see an occasional grin appear from beneath the fog, and ofcourse, the creature would grin right alongside him; or at least it would try to. I could see it fumble with facial expressions seemingly impossible for it's kind...even becoming increasingly frustrated as it grabbed it’s cheeks in an effort to make itself a convincing smile.

“Eh?... Who... are... you?” Spoke the guard with intervals of deep breaths and flem covered snorts.

“I don’t trust anyone who stares too much.” Said the low raspy voice from within the fog above.

The bodyguard crouched slightly and hovered his face just in front of Taylums. There was so much fog from his pipe, it appeared as though he descended from the sky itself.

“You smell DIFF-ER-ENT?” He said with a loud exhale.

A large wave of even more fog descending around Taylum’s face, dancing around it like clouds over a mountain tip. It wasn’t much, but I caught a glance at his face as the fog began developing our immediate area. Taylum seemed flushed of color and his posture grew stiff and unmoving. His hands just continued shaking as he slowly shifting his gaze towards mine.

“Sir! We’re looking...uh...our names… are… Li-” I said in an attempt at bravery.

I couldn’t help it, the excessive fog felt paralzying. Just what kind of pipe was is this person smoking? I don’t know if it was the fear of what could be at the other side? Or the look Taylum gave me. I just can’t move.

The guard soon swerved his head in toward mine. I could watch as his shape of head protruded from the fog like someone pressing there face onto rubber. All of a sudden, a pulsating animalistic pink nose poked from between the tufts of seemingly unending fog in the air. There was so much fog around me, I felt as though this guard had trapped Taylum and I into individual fluffy cocoons. Maybe he enveloped us in thick fog so it’s pignose creature could sniff us out in grotesque detail. It had to be it. I felt it’s nose brush up against my forehead but I couldn’t help but keep my eyes open as it examined me closely. It’s nose felt like a moist sand paper brushing against my skin with the occasional sticky hair touching me. I could feel my breath staggering anxiously. What creature is this!?

“CU-RI-OUS.” Said a voice from beyond the fog.

“A youngin and his BRO-THER I presume.” Said the voice accompanied by a strong gust of wind and a large whooshing breath.

Clouds of thick fog rushed into the two nostrils of the pig-like nose like a powerful vacuum, momentarily giving Taylum and I a clear picture as to what the hell we may be looking at.

“What were your names?” He asked in a slow sing-song, making sure to brush away the remaining fog with his left hand.

I could now see it’s face! It wasn’t just another animal pinching around the fog. It was a man! I felt myself instinctively jumped into a defensive posture as I examined the guard with no eyes! Before me was someone who has a large rounded pig-like nose and a mouth about three times the size of an average persons. It didn’t even appear as if he was in an accident! There is only a smooth glide of skin over where his eyes would be, as if a set of eyes were never planned. The guard's nose was something between human, a pig, and a dogs combined. After crouching a tiny bit lower, he smiled at me, showing off a small set of human teeth in his wide mouth.

Taylum and I peered at each other between the smalls spots of fog that remained. His face was a no different from my own, both of us appeared to be checking what reality was by seeing if we were still next to one another. However, he seemed to gain his composure pretty quick. He somehow cracked a smirk towards me, perhaps a sign telling me were on the right track.

“Scorples! My name is Scorples.” I said loudly.

“And I’m T...-Oiggis!” Said Taylum, trying to avoid eye contact with the beast on his head.

“My name is CHUC-K.” Said Chuck in a loud snort.

“What business do you guppies have up here?” He continued, standing up once again.

“Sir. Lian and I know Drock’s brother?” Said Taylum, his voice quivering slightly.

“Ya do!? Welcome in! I’m here to give you the red carpet guppies!” He said excitedly in his raspy voice.

“You will?” Said Taylum, eagerly smiling.

“No. The elevator or stairs are behind you GEN-TLE-MAN..” He said with a stiffened tone.

“How can you see?” Asked Taylum casually.

I felt my face twitch anxiously as Taylum whipped his brutally upfront questions at Chuck without second guessing. He didn’t even notice. Oblivious as usual.

“I can’t.” Said Chuck surprisingly calmly.

“My Darbi can. D-A-R-B-I. She’s a wild Crycher I took in when I was boy. She’s got no real legs, I have no eyes.” Said chucking, rubbing the skin over where his eyes should be.

“However my nose smells ALL. Even without Darbi, I can see with a kind of vision, so-to-speak, exclusive to ME. Everything I can see is contained in a bubble around me and I can see everything in there. Say, old Darbi helps me see a little further than the bubble I grow used to.” Said Chuck ominously, his smile reaching ear to ear.

“What does that even mean?” Said Taylum scratching his head.

“You had a UN-FOR-TUN-ATE bathroom accident earlier today. A couple of hours ago? Hygiene is important you know. You have room for improvement Oiggis.” Said Chuck softly with a churning cackle inbetween.

“You know… normally I’d been embarrassed but I so I’m impressed I can’t feel it.” Said Taylum while puffing his chest outward.

“Explains the rancid smells on our way in here.” I laughed quietly.

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

“Nevermind. I can feel it.” Said Taylum, his face glowing red.

“My turn to ask questions! GEN-TLE-MAN. Why do you carry an animal in a basket? It’s smell is... unknown to me. “ Asked Chuck while snorting the air loudly.

“You know. You could of just said proven yourself with that first. Why-” Said Taylum cheekily.

“Shhh!” I said, hushing Taylum.

“Well. If your not going to tell me. Best make your to our many EX-ITS available to you.” Said Chuck.

“We’re here to see Drock’s brother. We didn’t just climb up the stairs here for nothing.” I said, annoyed at the guards disregard for us.

“Should of taken the elevators then.” He laughed loudly, his laugh oddly hollowed and strained.

Taylum looked at me while rolling his eyes at Chuck’s jokes. As much as I felt the need not to do the same at this crucial time, I couldn’t help but to do the very same thing.

“I’d rather not take RE-SPONSE-IBILITY for your...lack of developmental MEN-TAL developments.” Said the guard continuing to laugh.

Everything Taylum and I have been saying to Chuck had apparently been one joke after another to him, even the animal on his head appeared to be snickering at us from time to time.

“With all due respect! I’ve met Drock’s brother’s secretary! She let me in! She is taking care of someone we know in there! Listen.” Tried saying Taylum before being interrupted by the guardsman hand on his shoulder.

“Darbis.” Said the guard in a deepened voice.

“What?” Said Taylum confused.

“That’s my name. You know it now.” He said smiling, his grip tightening on Taylums shoulder.

“I thought Chuck was your name?” Asked Taylum.

“Chuck’s the name I got around here. Darbis is my real name. D-A-R-B-I-S.” Said Darbis confidently.

Taylum and I looked at each other, checking into each others confusion. Taylum visibly uncomfortable with Darbis’ tight grip on his right shoulder.

“You said you didn’t come here for nothin'. I gave you my real name. Now you guppies can leave.” He said releasing his grip on Taylum, laughing loudly, so loud in fact he turned some heads all around the floor.

I felt a strange kind of rage burn from within myself, as if someone had just spat on my face, stepped on my foot, and laughed it off. This thing thinks it can just walk away with my only ticket home. This smug bastard thinks he can just dismiss us without giving us a chance to meet with Drock’s brother. The fool can’t see, maybe we can stab him with something around here. Maybe Taylum and I can push him off the balcony, down into the atrium below and storm in there. I can’t sit still knowing this ass-

“Hey Lian! Relax! Grit your teeth any harder and you’ll break them. I have a plan.” Whispered Taylum as he bumped his shoulder into mine.

All of a sudden, this strange rage that had been building up simply just faded into the back of my mind. This excess energy, vanished; leaving only my foot tapping up and down in a fury of impatience.

“What’s the plan?” I said, my voice mellowing down to something normal.

“The truth.” Whispered Taylum confidently, gesturing Lian to back up.

“Look at him, he’s dying in laughter. He’s not in any mood to listen to us any further. Wouldn’t bringing a baby up here get us in trouble?” I asked, dodging my gaze with that of Darbi.

“True. But the secretary said:

Luckily you got it up here without a problem so I don’t see the harm in pretending it belongs here, like a long lost heir. Plus, I don't think you'll be so lucky twice.

She said while laughing. She was in good spirits. I happen to catch her when she was stepping out of Drock’s brothers office.” Recalled Taylum, rubbing his index to his chin.

"So you just handed her the child!?" I snapped loudly, my chest puffing in a fit of rage.

I could see Taylum stagger backwards, caught off-gaurd by my sudden retreat into rage. His usual confident eagerness and excitement in his eyes vanished like a thin fog. Taylum appeared afraid yet again.

"Sorry." I sighed with a deep breath.

"Do you have anger issues?" Said Taylum, his smile inching back nervously.

"Something like that." I answered.

"I'm really sorry Taylum. That baby is really important to me. It's my only connection to home.... It just seems like I'm putting it in too much danger lately." I muttered.

"It uh... happens to the best of us." Taylum reassured nervously.

“Did you get her name?” I asked in a spark of hope.

“No. She did all the talking.” Replied Taylum hunching over in defeat.

“Sure I was nervous, but Drock's brother's secretary just seemed eager to help me. Kind of like she already knew I was coming. She practically shoved me into the door and I’d still be in there if I didn’t have to get you.” Thought Taylum aloud.

"Maybe if you didn't shi-" I tried saying.

“Shhh! We'll talk later! Look he’s finishing laughing. Are we doing this or not!?” Whispered Taylum frantically.

“Alright...let’s tell him.” I commanded hesitantly.

Taylum and I stepped toward Darbis again as his laughter began to give way. We were at arms reach from Darbis yet Taylum and I struggled tremendously to get any closer. His pet Darbi seemed to get more agitated the closer we got, enough so that it began to expose it's small teeth and even bury it's claws into Darbis' head and draw blood.

“Eh!? Still here? You guppies still want to swim? Darbi up here likes clawing the eyes off of people who don’t follow directions when there told. She helps them appreciate what they have.” Taunted Darbis, his mood changing like a flip of a coin.

“There is blood coming from the top of your head. She is clawing you.” Said Taylum under his breath.

“Her balance isn’t great.” Said Darbis nonchalant while blood generously dripped down from the tip of his nose.

"We know there is a baby back there Darbis. It's uh... Scorples' baby brother." Said Taylum defiantly.

"Woah! Quiet down boy! There aren't supposed to be children up here! Let alone babies! Are you trying to get the Arc in here!?" Said Darbis in a panicked whisper.

"Armanto's girl said she wanted some privacy for 10 minutes. NO-ONE gets past until that time is up. DO YOU HEAR?" Continued Darbis.

"What is she doing in there!?" I couldn't help but yelp in a rush of anxiety.

Darbis giant monster nose flared up as if he was angry. His lack of eyebrows or eyes made it difficult to gauge him for sure but I could hear him heave a large gust of wind tunnel through his giant nostrils.

"I can hear the real CON-CERN in your voice BOY. However, she is busy. You will not pass for 10 minutes and that's the end of it." He said calmy, the animal on his head now lying back into a sleeping position.

"WHAT IS SHE DOING to that baby!" I said, my voice trembling with a bubbling rage.

Something felt wrong. I felt a rage burst from deep within myself like a tea kettle scalding over a stove. This rage felt like an impulse, a reflex of somesort, a violent out. But why? The child...the child...the child... the child... the... child.  I could feel tears begin to drip from my eyes and my lip quiver with rage.

"So you believe us now!?" Said Taylum, shoving me to the side.

"I've got no choice, les you continue to babble on about the tiny BAB-BLER inside. Besides, Scorples was it?" Darbis asked suspiciously, navigating around Taylum to look me right in the eyes,

"I can hear his heart beat FER-OUS-CIOUS-LY. Something between a mixture of great sadness and an even greater rage. That baby is special to you. That, I do not doubt." He continued.

"However, something inside of you wants to smash your way through this door. So here's your chance Scorples. Choose." Taunted Darbis.

"You're a smart child. You know that if you were to do anything, I would toss you over the glass barrade into the bar down below. That is...if my Darbi doesn't tear you apart first." He threatened, his voice lowering in pitch with every word.

"Right? Scorples." He said, holding his arm to my chest.