"Goblins!! P-Please don't eat me!!" Henry cowered inside an open locker, shivering from fright.

I looked at Fae and chortled, swallowing my anger for a bit of brevity. He called you a goblin! I pointed my hoof at my goblin friend.

She swatted it away, clicking her tongue. "Goblin Horse."

We identified the man at the same time and he flinched from the sensation.

[Rogue - Lvl 25]

Wow. I expected nothing more.

Pathetic.

Hell, I'm surprised the jackass even survived. Must've yelled at the others here to fight for him or something, act all leader-like, and then he got them all killed because he's stupid, all the while hiding and being the sole survivor. I'm 100% certain my assessment is true. Totally unbiased.

Hell, I'm surprised people even listened to him when he doesn't have his staus or laws or norms to wave around to get them to listen. I'd just have stomped his head

I spat on the floor in annoyance. Flaze noticed this, but chose to show no reaction. Henry... he's still shaking in fear, failing to notice my souring mood. The bloody idiot.

His mood was improving though, his assumption that we were no goblins.

He was still wrong. Flaze is just a very slightly smarter goblin, with a rare mutation that changes her skin tone.

I snorted, then quickly tried to hide it.

She elbowed my side. "Shut the fuck up, Jackal."

I didn't even say anything. Truly, a brute of a goblin.

"Ah... Ummm..." Henry began, looking confused at Flaze conversing with herself. An interpretation I wholly approve of. "You're not goblins, are you?"

"He is." Flaze thumbed at me.

I tried to bite her, but I only tasted the metal of her helmet.

I spat.

Nasty stuff.

"He's also a pervert. A perverted horse."

What!? I neighed, indignant. Maybe you're into horses, but I've no interest in humans, fool!

Henry looked lost as he watched us banter, clearly unable to keep up with an actual intellectual conversation. Still, he dusted himself, and stood up, somehow finding the courage to open his stupid mouth.

"Well..." he said, "I'm Henry. You mentioned Jackal... And I think I recognize your voice. Do you mean Jackal Dolmer? And are you his friend that sometimes visits?"

Flaze paused for a few moments, thinking. She and the rest of my friends would often come here to sneak in some entirely-too-large tips, as I was quite unwilling to take charity from them. They even did it stealthily, to make sure I do not attract the wrong kind of attention.

Those were perhaps the only positive memories I have of this place. The rest being whatever this fucker in front of me is about.

Finally Flaze answered Henry in a flat and neutral tone. "Nope. I didn't say any of those things. And I don't know any Jackal Dolmer. Sounds like a fucking stupid name, to be honest."

Hey! I tried to neigh, but only a rasping breath came out as my friend's elbow connected with my chest.

Bitch...

"Really?" Henry looked even more confused. "I thought for sure I heard you say that..."

"You must be in shock. With all that's happened." Flaze responded smoothly. I followed her gaze, and saw the corpses all around, of people and monsters. A shame that they died, while my fucker of a boss lives. "Who would I even be talking to?"

Henry's eyebrows raised a bit, he took in his surroundings, finding one woman, an ethereal woman that very much looks like the other one, clad also in a samurai's garb, and then a horse both angelic and demonic. What a stud, that last one.

"I... hmm... Yeah, maybe I'm just... in shock." He shivered a little and then took a seat by the floors. "I'm Henry. I already said that. Fuc- Damn."

"It's okay Henry," Flaze reassured. "I'm Salandra. Nice to meet you."

I can't see her face, and I doubt it shows, but she's treating this like a performance and having fun again.

Not that it's a bother. If Henry finds out, if he tries to get violent because of it... Well, we're far scarier that the monsters whose name he keeps on invoking.

"Ah." Henry hurriedly got up and clasped Flaze's offered hand. "Nice to meet you too."

He turned towards Flaze Clone that was just standing there. "What about her?"

"A clone." Flaze didn't bother to lie about that. They were also wearing the same thing.

"I see..." Henry thought in silence for a few moments. "Then who were you talking to earlier?"

She thumbed at me. "Jackie over here."

"Ah. You were talking to your pet."

A growl escaped my throat. Shut the fuck up, Henry.

Henry stepped back, looking at me with his now drooping eyes, fear visible in his gaze. He turned to Flaze for help, and she only sighed.

I sighed as well.

"He's a person," Flaze explained tiredly. "And his name is Jackie. Turned into a horse because of all of this." She gestured all around. The meaning was easily understood.

Henry looked at me and he lowered his head. He lowered his head.

"I'm sorry, Jackie. I didn't realize." And he apologized. He apologized.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

Sure. Whatever. I neighed and nodded my head, my mind still reeling.

Magic, I can understand. A system? Perfectly reasonable. But this fucker admitting to any mistake or fault? Jesus, I know it's the apocalypse, but there must be a fucking limit. I won't believe this. I won't. This was all just a fucking dream.

An elbow landed on my side. The silence had stretched on for too long.

"He's saying that it's perfectly fine, Mr. Henry." Flaze said on my behalf.

I don't think I worded it quite so... kindly? But well, whatever.

Henry nodded, relieved. He picked himself back up and we went back to the dining area to give Flaze some space to change her true clothes.

So now I'm alone with this fucker.

Great.

~~~

The rain stopped, it abated. The world had truly gone quiet.

Because I and Henry had just been sitting here awkwardly without saying shit for the past minute.

I looked back at the man, sat and leaning against the wall. He noticed my gaze, and then shifted his own away.

The change he'd undergone is more unbelievable than me becoming a horse. Wild.

Or well, perhaps that's my just my own biases. I feel like I'm the one changing the least.

Flaze finally came back out after a few minutes. She had our old uniform on, which made me chuckle.

"So." She spoke, grabbing our things, and then transforming back into her knight form. The large bag disappeared, along with the rest of her original outfit. A new clone was made just shortly after. "What do we do now?"

I thought about it for a second, a hoof placed on my head to show that I was thinking. Henry opened his mouth, but then closed it again, choosing not to speak of whatever came to his mind.

It'd usually bother me, but I care not for what he has to say.

I pointed towards the door, and walked. The road was still wet, but the rain had stopped, no point staying here any longer.

Flaze shrugged and got on my back, her clone following suit. A tight squeeze it was, but it's important so that we have an extra clone to spare in case of an emergency.

"W-Wait!" I had just gone through the door when Henry suddenly shouted. I craned my neck halfheartedly, a roll of my eyes.

"P-Please! Take me with you!"

I heard the pleading voice of Henry. Not a command, not an angry demand.

A plea.

Flaze looked at me, her head tilted. Her eyebrows were probably raised underneath all that helmet.

A questioning glance. An inquiry. No words were spoken.

I shook my head, sideways. No.

Flaze nodded, and relayed my feelings on the matter. "No."

Henry balked. He stuttered. "B-But... I can't... I can't fight these... these monsters. Please! I have nowhere else to turn to!"

Flaze briefly turned to me again, a similar exchange to what we had prior.

I gave another weak shake of my head, and Henry noticed.

"You!" Henry shouted, his hand pointed at me. I saw the familiar rage in his face, but it was quickly bottled up. "Ah, I mean... Jackie. Please. I'll die if you leave me behind."

He's right.

He will die.

Indeed.

I shook my head, and pointed at my back. All seats occupied.

Henry wasn't smart enough to understand my simple gestures, so Flaze had to interpret.

"There's not enough space."

"But one of them is your clone!"

"Yeah. You're right."

"So..." Henry prompted, but got no response. I only walked away.

Flaze sighed, seeing his struggling form. "The clone is there for emergencies. The seat is taken."

"Then your clone could run! Or use one of those cars. Or, or... I could just follow behind you! I have skills, and a class..." Henry was about to suggest that he could actually be of use to us. Flaze's cold gaze behind the slits of her helmet shut him up.

"You'll only get the way."

I stepped into the middle of the road, observing my surroundings. I noticed monsters, coming out of buildings. For some reason, they had taken shelter from the rain. Few indeed had been the ones that chose to attack us while we showered.

I wondered why they cared.

"Wait! Please!" He shouted again. "Would you really leave someone for death? I cannot survive this on my own. Not the apocalypse. But you guys are clearly strong. Level 68 and 70! You could help people. You could help me!"

What a fucking self-serving prick.

Despite that, I felt Flaze hesitate, she stiffened behind my back.

"If I die..." Henry weakly said, traces of hatred in his voice. "It'd be on you. It would be because you chose inaction."

A single cold moment passed, I considered if i should just end him. I cannot stomach ever helping this asshole, but Flaze has been forced to make choices difficult for her far too much already.

She suddenly disembarked from myself before I could come to a full decision, alarming me for what she may decide to do.

My former boss quickly brightened, having a completely different read of the situation. "I'm glad you understand. I'm sure there are other places with survivors, nd I would just need you o escort me--"

"No." Flaze cut him off. "You are correct, actually. The first time." She leveled her gaze on myself. "I do choose inaction."

She quickly disappeared into a nearby cafe after saying so.

Well, shit.

I've been given free reign.

~~~

A scene from the past reflected back into the forefront of my mind. A dream that I'd no doubt was real.

I'd asked back then, to take some time off work. It's just some fucking diner, yet Henry wouldn't let me, no matter how much I insisted. So I just disregarded the lack of permission. Better that than miss a play we've been working on for months.

The day after the performance, I came back to work, finding a very angry manager. He was so enraged at my disobedience that the following bout of beration reached the costumers far beyond the kitchens.

I stood there, trying my hardest to filter out the words, just grunting at what I thought were appropriate times. Instead, my focus was on a nearby table, a knife atop that looked like it was about to fall.

I imagined using that knife, over and over, to stab Henry and finally shut him up. A dream that now repeats in the present day, except it may no longer remain in the realm of delusion.

"Uhmmm..." Henry, the subject of my reverie, was the one to break me out of it, the absolute self-assuredness he once had now gone.

I smiled.

For once, let me be honest.

To Henry. And to myself.

Having come to a decision, I finally turned back to face my employer, neighing loudly for all to hear. He looked like he had something to say--A lot, actually. But I took initiative before he could, just so we were on the same page.

I am not Jackie. I'm Jackal.

His eyes widened in recognition, the filthy mouth below hanging agape. "Jackal... The one who worked here?"

I smirked, noticing a gremlin creeping its way closer, likely having heard my earlier call.

He bottled his surprise and breathed deeply, throwing me a beaming smile, despite the all-too-obvious internal turmoil. "Well then, that makes things simple! Convince your friend, and let's get out of here."

I shook my head, irritated at the commanding tone.

Henry's smile twitched, but he kept his cool. "What? Surely you can't mean no. Or is this because of what happened last time? Need I remind you that you're the one who quit?"

I questioned the choice to try and antagonize me further when he's the one asking for help. I growled, and made the man back off a little, but he collected himself, once more speaking in that detestable tone of superiority.

"Come on Jackal. Don't be a child. You should know what the right thing is to do here, what's at stake."

And you should know that only you are at risk, not me. I scoffed, unconvinced.

Henry frowned, not having understood any of my actual my argument. His desperation started to show, in the mania behind his voice.

"You can't... You can't do this Jackal. I will die! Do you not know what that means!? My blood would be on your hands!"

And I'm perfectly fine with that.

I walked away. Henry saw me do so and gave chase, the next words so out of character for the man that he actually made halt for a second.

"Please!"

Son of a bitch. He can actually develop some manners.

Unfortunately for him, that ship has sailed.

Henry gritted his teeth, the more gracious demeanor disappearing as he's become unable to hide the disdain. And yet he still tried to hide his true feelings on the matter. "Jackal... Is this really what you want? To leave someone to die? Over some petty grudge? Really?"

I looked back at him, and smiled. Yes. Really.

Henry opened his mouth, about to further say something, but his pleas were cut short as blood sprayed all over the road.

A gray shadow latched onto him, a small and lithe figure wielding a crooked dagger. A monster, a gremlin, its weapon displaying far more power than one would presume s its bent edge sunk repeatedly into Henry's flesh, leaving him both screaming and gasping for breath.

I looked at this scene, serene. I watched the life slowly fade out of my former employer's eyes as our gazes met. He spat out a large volume of blood, speaking to me in rasping tones. "Jackal!" He shouted. "Don't... Don't just stand there! Help me!"

I walked closer upon his prompting, Henry had a brief look of hope. I lowered my head to be at level around his, as he had fallen to the ground, unable to remain upright from recent developments.

I mouthed the next word, and somehow, I felt that he understood.

No.

"Fuck you--!" The gremlin's dagger found its way to Henry's throat at that very last second, giving him some last words with at least a modicum of dignity.

A dream, fulfilled.