In their dingy motel room, the morning sun had begun peeking through the tattered curtains, casting a pale light across the worn-out carpet. The walls were peeling; the carpet was stained, and the furniture looked like it had seen better days decades ago.

Jett stood up from the floor where he had slept, his body stiff and sore from an uncomfortable night. He glanced around, noticing Whimsy still fast asleep on the bed, wrapped up in the threadbare bedspread. Sheila was in the adjoining room.

Jett ran a hand through his messy hair, feeling the grime and sweat from yesterday. As Jett walked toward the window, he felt something crunch under his foot. He looked down in disgust to see he had stepped on a cockroach, its legs still twitching. He winced in disgust, shaking his foot slightly before continuing to the window. He parted the curtains and peered outside. Their car was still parked exactly where it was supposed to be, which was a relief.

"Good morning, sunshine," Whimsy mumbled from the bed, yawning and stretching. They looked at Jett with a sleepy grin.

Jett turned to look at Whimsy and replied, "Morning. You usually spend more time sleeping."

Whimsy shrugged. "My dreams can get very boring after a while." Their ring glowed pink, and with a flash of cartoonish magic, a cigarette and a lighter appeared in their hand. Whimsy lit the cigarette and took a deep drag, then lay on the bed once more, exhaling a cloud of smoke.

"That isn’t good for your health," Jett remarked, frowning.

Whimsy blew out a puff of smoke and asked, "Then why was it made?"

"Not for you, at least," Jett retorted.

Whimsy laughed lightly, "I have this ring, remember? Smoking can’t kill me." They stood up from the bed, their ring glowed pink again and in an instant, their clothes transformed into a pair of loose-fitting jeans and a casual hoodie. "While ignoring my poor life decisions, where’re we headed next?"

"Neil’s library. If I can still remember the directions," Jett replied.

"Library?" Whimsy asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It’s where Charlotte, Eric, and I were hiding out before we came to Pennsylvania," Jett explained.

Whimsy shook their head. "If that’s the case, then we’re never going to make it back to that library."

"Why not?" Jett asked, confused.

"You don’t strike me as the outdoorsy type," Whimsy teased, taking another drag from their cigarette.

Jett smiled faintly. "Yeah, but I have a great sense of direction thanks to the ring."

"And what if we aren’t able to find our way back to the library?" Whimsy pressed.

"Eric will locate us somehow," Jett said confidently.

Just then, they heard a knock on their motel door. Whimsy called out, "Come on in."

Sheila entered. "Some guy with white hair is here. He claims his name is Eric."

Jett and Whimsy exchanged surprised looks, while Whimsy snuffed out their cigarette. Jett then said, "That was quick."

Jett and Whimsy followed Sheila out of the run-down motel. The morning air was crisp and slightly humid, a stark difference to the musty motel room they had just left. Eric stood by a black sedan with his arms crossed.

Jett walked up to Eric and asked, "Where’ve you been?"

Eric simply replied, "I had things to take care of."

‘Of course, he doesn’t intend to explain any further,’ Jett thought.

Whimsy ran to Eric and slapped an arm over his shoulder with a grin. "Eric, I’ve missed you so much. Did you lose weight?"

Eric smoothly removed Whimsy's hand from his shoulder and replied dryly, "Glad to see you're still alive."

Whimsy's smile widened. "You missed me?"

Eric shook his head. "Not in the slightest."

Sheila, standing nearby, finally spoke up. "So, you must be the Eric I've heard so much about?"

Eric glanced at her and then turned to Jett with a questioning look. "Why'd you bring the kid?"

"I’m eighteen," Sheila interjected.

"She's... stubborn," Jett explained with a shrug.

"I don't have the energy to deal with two 'Jetts'," Eric remarked wryly.

"Ouch," Jett muttered under his breath.

Eric turned back to Sheila. "If you know what’s best for you, go back to your family."

"And if I don't?" Sheila challenged.

"Then you'll probably never see them again," Eric said flatly.

Sheila’s eyes darkened for a moment. "Are you threatening me?"

"Just stating facts," Eric replied coolly.

Whimsy jumped in. "Okay. Okay. This has gone on long enough." They placed a hand on Eric’s shoulder again. "Sheila, this is Eric. He’s like a coconut. Hard on the outside but filled with white and gooey goodness on the inside."

Eric removed Whimsy’s hand from his shoulder once more, clearly annoyed. Whimsy then skipped over to Sheila, patting her head affectionately. "And Eric, this is Sheila. She's the reason our handsome devil over here could kill Ryan."

Ignoring Whimsy, Eric turned to look at Jett. "Where's the Plague ring?"

Jett reached into his pocket and brought out the ring, tossing it to Eric, who caught it easily. He examined it briefly before speaking again. "I've arranged a meeting with Purge."

Jett’s eyes widened in shock. "A meeting? Purge? How did you find him? Did you talk to him? What’s the meeting about?"

"We’ll meet him at the old shipyard on the outskirts of town. If it goes well, he’ll call off the bounty hunters after you," Eric explained.

"I don't know," Whimsy interjected skeptically. "Purge doesn't seem like the type to be reasoned with."

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Eric’s tone remained steady. "Purge is mainly after Ezekiel, not Jett. That’s good enough."

Jett was still skeptical. "How do you know that?"

"That’s unnecessary," Eric replied curtly. He moved towards the car and opened the driver’s door. "Get in."

Sheila, unmoved by Eric’s earlier warning, declared, "I’m coming with."

Eric looked at her, his expression grim. "Okay. But know this: if you keep following us, you’ll most likely die in some dark alley, and no one will be there to save you."

Sheila ignored Eric’s morbid statement and climbed into the car, followed by Whimsy and Jett. Eric got into the driver’s seat and started the engine. The car rumbled to life, and they drove off, leaving the dingy motel behind.

***

Ava's eyes fluttered open, her head pounding as she took in her surroundings. The room was magnificent, with rich fabrics and plush furniture. She realized she was bound to a chair, her wrists tied securely behind her back. She struggled against the ropes, but they held firm.

Liam sat on the bed, absorbed in a game on his phone. Hearing her stir, he looked up and flashed a disconcerting smile. "I take it you had a good night’s rest?"

Ava's eyes darted around the room before settling on Liam. "W-Where did you bring me?" she stammered, her voice weak.

Liam leaned back, stretching his arms. "I can’t tell you that. But hey, it beats being a hostage in a dingy old warehouse. That’d be cliché, don’tcha think?"

Ava tried to feel for her ring behind her back, but it was gone. Panicking slightly, she glanced at Liam, who lifted his hand to show her ring now on his own finger.

"Safety precautions," Liam said with a smirk. "Can’t have you running my perfect bait trap, can I?"

"I don’t even know where Jett is," Ava protested, her voice trembling.

Liam paused his game, placed his phone on the bed, and walked over to her. "Yeah, that’s where the problem lies, darling." He fiddled with her hair, causing Ava to flinch away as much as she could. After a moment, he returned to the bed and resumed his game. "And it would be even harder to reach Eric. That bastard’s harder to track than Ezekiel. And that’s saying something."

Suddenly, Liam’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen and answered it with a smirk. "Hey, Black D. How’s it going?"

"Cross," Ezekiel’s voice growled through the phone. "It's been over a week, an' I ain’t seen no cosmic ring yet. Mind explainin' that to me?"

Liam chuckled softly. "Well, you know what they say, Zeke. Good things come to those who wait... and wait... and wait."

"I ain’t got time for yo' jokes, Cross. Keep playin', and see how fast I make you disappear."

Liam chuckled. "Just making light banter, that’s all. I’ll admit, for a fish outta water, Jett’s pretty slippery, but I have the perfect plan to get him this time."

Ezekiel's patience was clearly wearing thin. "I’m tired of hearin' excuses, Cross."

"This isn’t an excuse, big guy… it’s more of a strategic delay," Liam replied.

Ezekiel's voice turned cold. "A day. I’m only givin' you a day. Fail me, and you gone, just like I promised."

The line went dead. Liam sighed, dropping the phone on the bed. "He never lets me have any fun."

Ava tried to engage him. "That your boss?"

Liam chuckled. "Yup, it’s difficult being a working man, y’know?"

"You won’t be able to reach Jett or Eric," Ava said defiantly. "Just give up."

Liam’s expression darkened as he walked over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. The ring on his finger gloweed with a multi-colored light, and suddenly, fire engulfed his palm, searing into Ava’s shoulder. She yelled in pain, the fire’s heat unbearable. After a moment, the ring’s glow faded, and the flames disappeared. Liam gave her a deranged smile.

"This is going to be fun, sweetheart. And by fun, I mean for me, not you," he said with a twisted grin.

***

The shipyard was a massive area of rusted metal structures and abandoned boats, with a low mist clinging to the ground. The occasional sound of waves lapping against the dock and the distant call of seagulls broke the silence. Eric, Jett, Whimsy, and Sheila stood amidst the decay, waiting.

Sheila spoke first. "So, who the hell is this Purge guy, anyway?"

Whimsy smirked. "My stalker with a crush who had a fetish for long tortures in his attic."

Sheila looked at Whimsy in confusion, and then turned to Jett. "You’re the sensible one. Mind explaining to me?"

Jett ran a hand through his hair. "He wants to get revenge on Ezekiel. One of his plans involved kidnapping Whimsy and me at one point. Short version, he’s bad news."

Sheila raised an eyebrow. "And you expect a guy like that to show up? This could just be a trick."

Eric, standing with his arms crossed, cut in. "That’s rich, coming from someone who knows nothing about him."

Sheila glared at Eric. "I don’t remember talking to you."

Whimsy cracked a joke, trying to lighten the mood. "So, what do you guys think Purge does during his free time? Needlepoint? Maybe a little light gardening?"

Sheila and Eric gave them cold stares.

"Purge will show up," Eric said with finality.

Sheila scoffed. "Oh, right, because your superpower is seeing the future?"

Eric’s voice was cold. "No, I’m just smarter than you are."

Sheila's face flushed with annoyance. Before she could respond, Purge emerged from behind a stack of old crates. His presence was commanding as he calmly walked towards the group.

"Showing up was the right choice," Purge said, his voice cold.

Eric stepped forward. "We want you to call off the bounty hunters."

Purge's expression didn’t change. "I will, but I have a condition."

Eric’s eyes narrowed. "Which is?"

"I need you to help me capture or kill Ezekiel," Purge stated plainly.

Jett suddenly burst out, "Are you insane?"

Purge’s gaze turned icy as he looked at Jett. "Desperate times call for desperate measures, Jett. An eye for an eye, right?"

Whimsy chimed in with a grin. "You aren’t still mad at us leaving you to die in that building, are you?"

Purge’s voice was cold. "I hold grudges, but I’m practical."

Eric then asked, "Why don’t you go after Ezekiel yourself?"

"Because I can’t. I don’t have any threads to pull, but you do," Purge replied, gesturing at Jett. "You have him, and you can use that to lure Ezekiel."

Eric pressed further. "Then why did you put up the bounty? If Ezekiel had captured Jett, you would never have gotten this opportunity."

Purge’s smile was chilling. "I was certain that you’d protect him. The bounty was just an excuse to have this meeting."

Whimsy chuckled. "I didn't know this meeting would get so... intimate. Someone’s been missing me."

Purge’s gaze turned colder, if that was possible. "Shut up."

Eric turned back to Purge. "And why should we go after Ezekiel for you? We’d only be putting ourselves in danger."

Purge’s voice was calm, almost too calm. "Because it’s the only way I’d get rid of the bounty I placed on Jett."

Eric’s eyes narrowed. "I could just kill you right here and get it over with."

Purge smirked. In an instant, he grabbed a dagger from his belt, moved towards Eric, and left a faint slice on Eric’s neck before returning to his original position. "You can’t kill me even if you wanted to."

Eric touched the faint cut on his neck and glared at Purge, his eyes cold.

Purge continued, "If you refuse to help me, it will only be a matter of time before Ezekiel captures you, anyway."

Jett spoke up, "Even if we agree, how do you propose we lure Ezekiel?"

"You’ll figure something out," Purge said dismissively.

Eric took a deep breath. "We’ll accept your condition. Give us three days. During that time, I want you to call off the bounty temporarily so that we won’t have any distractions."

Purge nodded. "Deal."

As they turned to leave, Jett suddenly felt a sharp chill up his spine. He quickly turned back, just in time to see Purge lunging at him with his dagger. In a flash of blue, Jett vanished and reappeared behind Purge.

Purge’s voice was almost disappointed. "I was hoping it’d be over in an instant."

Sheila looked at Purge, alarmed. "What’re you doing?"

Purge turned his gaze to Jett and then spoke to Sheila without looking at her. "The last time we saw each other, he injured my leg. I’m simply trying to return the favor."

Sheila’s eyes widened. "You want to kill him?"

Purge shook his head. "That would be stupid. I’m simply going to injure him."

Sheila protested, "If you injure him, how would we capture Ezekiel?"

"Ezekiel’s only interested in his ring. He wouldn’t mid an injury or two," Purge replied coldly.

Eric shrugged and kept walking. Sheila called out, "Hey! Aren’t you going to talk some sense into this guy?"

Eric ignored her and kept walking towards the car. Sheila muttered, "That guy’s an ass."

Purge struck at Jett again, but Jett instantly teleported a few feet to the left, leaving Purge's attack slicing through empty air.

"Purge, this is unnecessary—" Jett began, but Purge didn’t listen, striking again at his shoulder. Jett activated his space barrier, blocking the attack. He then delivered a kick to Purge’s chest, sending him backward.

'I’ll handle this quickly, like last time,' Jett thought.

Purge’s expression remained cold. "I won't underestimate you like I did last time." Veins bulged around Purge’s body as he took a deep breath. Then, suddenly, Purge seemed to vanish, reappearing instantly in front of Jett. Before Jett could react, Purge delivered a powerful punch to his face twice in quick succession.

Dazed, Jett barely kept his balance as Purge's hand shot out, gripping his throat. With brutal force, Purge choke slammed Jett to the ground, the impact knocking the wind out of Jett.

Quickly, Purge's blade slashed across Jett's shoulder, blood welling from the wound. Jett winced from the sharp pain.

Purge stood up, looking down at Jett. "Done. Good luck capturing Ezekiel," he said coldly, turning away and walking off, leaving Jett on the ground, clutching his bleeding shoulder.

Whimsy and Sheila hurried to Jett’s side. "You okay?" Sheila asked, concerned.

Jett stood up, wincing. "Yeah, I’m fine."

Whimsy shook his head. "Purge always was a complicated asshole."