“He was rather nice.”

“Yeah.”

“Think it was my charm and good looks that made him give us a freebee?”

“Charm and good looks?”

Jackson looked at Angela. Had she not been carrying two heavy glass containers; she would have struck him across the face. Jackson, even now, could only see her as a part of Joseph’s harem, and his own bully. Most did find her very attractive, many had crushes on her and dreamed she’d forget the great and mighty hero and become theirs. Jackson never had such a desire.

“What are you trying to say?”

Angela sounded dangerous as she spoke to Jackson. Veins appeared on her forehead, and her eyes were tightly closed while her teeth were gritted. Jackson could feel the danger in the air and knew his next statement might be his last.

“Oh, hey look, it’s your party!”

“Don’t change the subject. Hey it’s my friends.”

Jackson had never been so happy to see Joseph and his little band. They were heading to the Madame’s, probably to pick up Kevin. Joseph had a pained looked and seemed lost in thought. Jackson guessed it was about him. They hadn’t spoken, or really seen each other since the day Joseph learned he wasn’t dead. Angela looked nervous, as she’d spent so much time with Jackson, that she hadn’t been with them. She didn’t know their plans, nor did she know the turmoil Joseph was feeling, or that her friends were annoyed by the fact he cared more about Jackson then them. It was for this last reason that Carley and Alice both had a glare when they notice Jackson heading towards them. Franklin looked defeated, being the only one they could take their anger out on. Neither of them being fighters, Carley started sending Franklin on little jobs and quest for her that mostly involved getting her random items and Alice would force him to do most of the manual labor, such as cleaning or getting food. He was also the only one in the correct state of mind to collect Kevin every night, sometimes in the early morning after finishing his list of chores.

“Don’t you two look cute together.”

Franklin joked, taking the moment to rejoice in the fact Carley and Alice might take out their anger on Jackson.

“Don’t say dangerous things.”

Jackson’s flat tone killed the conversation before it got started.

“Picking up Kevin?”

“Hey Angela. Yeah, he’s been missing for a day now.”

“Why is everyone coming this time?”

“I’m tired of arguing with him. He’s impossible to deal with. Poor guy is in love.”

“Don’t say that like it’s a bad thing!”

Carley snapped at Franklin, growing red in the face. Jackson agreed with Franklin, he turned slightly pale thinking about the conclusion of the last time someone fell in love with Scarlet.

“Jackson, do you need a hand… oh shit… I’m sorry I didn’t mean that.”

Franklin took a step forwards, but when he realized what he said he retreated and covered his mouth.

“I’m good, thanks for asking.”

Jackson shook his head, ignoring the rest of Franklin’s reaction. He then looked to Joseph, who couldn’t meet his gaze. That angered him. Joseph was the type of person who’d blame himself for other peoples’ problems and had taken the burden of Jackson’s lost limbs onto his back. To him, he had failed a friend and worst of all Jackson refused to come whimpering back with his tail between his legs. Joseph also couldn’t blame Jackson, as he had finally found some happiness in this strange new world and escaped the people who spent the last few years insulting and tormenting him. Carley, Alice and Angela, whom all been with Joseph a long time, could tell he was in pain. Franklin wasn’t blind to it either but didn’t know how to help.

“Hey, as we’re all going to the same place, why don’t we go together? I’m sure Jackson won’t mind.”

“Please don’t speak for me An… Ugg! Hey that wound never probably healed!”

“I know.”

Angela had stopped Jackson’s complaint by striking him with the jug in the stomach, in the same spot the Berserker once cut into.

“Wow, you two are just like a…”

“If you finish that sentence, I will kill you.”

“Yes sir, never saying it again.”

“Please don’t threaten our friends.”

Joseph finally spoke, giving Jackson a weird smile. He seemed to be lacking his normal spunk and charisma. Jackson was about to say how they weren’t his friends when a sight stopped his thoughts. He couldn’t help but let a sigh of relief out when he saw Gypsy and Barbara heading his way. He had been worried that he might have unleashed the Berserker on Border Town. Jackson then felt danger from Gypsy, as her smile was full of murderous intent.

“Simple, easy, no worries? That what you made it sound like!”

Gypsy exploded on Jackson, slightly shaking in both fear and anger.

“Never again will I do that! You insane hero!”

“Jackson, what did you make her do?”

“I just asked her to check something. I take it…”

“Yes, it’s still very much there. Never again!”

“Man, you shouldn’t be sending your companions to do things for you.”

“Thank you. Maybe you should try to be more like blondie here.”

“Your right, maybe I should check on it. Right now, in fact.”

Jackson felt an evil smile grew across his face. Barbara instinctively hid from Jackson’s line of sight, fearing he might actually do it. Alice was slightly scared while being used as a human shield. Gypsy went pale, hoping he was joking while the heroes looked lost.

“I’m sorry. So, so sorry. Please, I’ll do anything.”

Gypsy pleaded with Jackson, who relaxed. Barbara let her breath out and came out of hiding. Barbara then growled at Jackson as she moved to Gypsy’s side.

“Do you ever feel like your left out of the loop?”

Franklin asked, earning him a glare from Angela. He hit the nail on the head, and this one happened to be a sore spot for the hero. Angela gave Franklin a friendly smile, telling him how he was going to die soon. Jackson started walking again, tired of carrying two one-gallon jugs with his single hand. If he didn’t set them down soon, he feared he’d drop them. The others sped up, keeping a few paces behind him. Silence overcame the group, no one being able to come up with an idea for conversation.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“Hey, idiot, we came to get you!”

Franklin ran over to Kevin, dragging him from the same seat they had party together not that long ago. The rest of the heroes wondered why they were dragged along, as he seemed to have it under control. Scarlet was seated next to him, and Jackson didn’t like the look on her face. She didn’t seem all that upset her client was removed from her presence, and even wiped sweat from her forehead.

“You brought everyone, that seems a bit excessive.”

“Excessive? Excessive? You bit me last time! No way was I coming here alone again!”

“Do you two need a room?”

Jackson asked them flatly. Gypsy started to tally up prices for them, going over single or double bed options, and how much a night costed. For the record, the Madame could double as an inn, for a much higher price. However, everyone knows what it is a person normally did there if one stayed the night.

Joseph looked around the room. It had been several days since he last stood in this establishment. He felt uneasy, shaking slightly. In the corner, he spotted the one person he did not wish to meet. Lilim licked her lips at him, giving him a dark smile. Yet, she made no motion to speak to him, or call him over. Neither did she rise to meet him. She just stared hungerly at him. Carley and Alice felt chills run down their backs, but assumed it was because of the type of place they had entered. It wasn’t a hidden fact that most of the girls here would gladly ‘entertain’ Joseph if they were given the chance. Jackson’s and Barbara’s eyes were also drawn to Lilim. Her predatory like gaze alerted their honed combat senses.

“Come on guys, we got planning to do.”

Joseph started to rush the proceedings along, fearing his actions from a while ago would come out. Kevin, who didn’t want to upset his leader, bowed his head and started to follow. Gypsy looked mad she lost a potential customer.

“Angela, aren’t you coming?”

Joseph asked, surprised she was still standing next to Jackson.

“No.”

“What, why?”

“Someone has to protect this idiot.”

Joseph just looked at his friend lost for words. He was used to Angela, Carley, and Alice following him everywhere, sometimes they even happened to run into each other on the street. It was strange for her not to stay by his side, and stranger she chose the guy she hated the most. At school, she talked endlessly how tired she was of Jackson, how lazy he was, how he was being the school’s image down, and how Joseph should just give up on a guy like him. And now, she was standing by his side, looking happy.

“Joseph, don’t we have planning to do?”

Carley said, snapping her fingers to get his attention. Joseph made a sound of agreement and followed again. Jackson thought he looked defeated, while Alice and Carley seemed over joyed.

“Honey, we should plan as well. We’re traveling west soon.”

Gypsy said and started to lead the way up to their room. Barbara followed, slightly glaring at Jackson because of earlier. He knew he’d need to make it up to her later. Angela began to follow, seeming more cheerful than before. As Jackson went to step off, Scarlet grabbed his arm.

“Jackson, I’m-I’m…”

“Hurry up slowpoke!”

Angela cut Scarlet off from the second story. Jackson looked at Scarlet, she had a weird expression. He didn’t like seeing her with such an expression, especially while he remembered her taking the time to help him heal.

“What is it?”

“Nothing.”

Scarlet broke away from him, blushing slightly as she found a hiding place. Jackson almost ran after her, but Gypsy and Angela called for him from up above. Jackson took one final look at the girl, then started to head up stairs. He couldn’t shake this dark feeling that had overcome him. He had become very good at predicting things in this strange world, and it was a fact he hated.

After they spent some time discussing what they were planning to do for the travel to come, Jackson took a sip of the off-healing potion, and his two medicines. He would learn that night how powerful all three were. After drinking the sleep potion, he collapsed onto his remaining leg, and held himself to the side of the table. His body increased in weight, and his eyes might have well been led. Barbara, who was the last person still in the room, moved to his aid and with her incredible strength, helped him into the bed. Any further resistance proved to be impossible, and a blanket of sleep came over him.

While Jackson slept, much of a day past. When he first awoke, he thought only a little time had passed. The sun was just starting to set, and a slight breeze creeped through the open window. Jackson went to get out of bed and felt every muscle crack loudly. He was stiff, with a slight feeling of death as he slowly got to his feet. He opened and closed his hand until the joints stopped making sounds, then took his first step. It was almost a hobble, one that almost landed him face first onto the floor. The sun had long since set by the time he managed to get his gear on, and Jackson took a deep breath while making his way for the door.

“There you are boy. Got a job for you.”

The Madame called up to Jackson as he started to limp down the stairs.

“Yes Ma’am?”

“Need you to go pick up Scarlet.”

“Pick up Scarlet?”

“Yeah, she’s with that hero again. I got a bad feeling about that boy; I don’t want her staying the night away from here. I’ll get the heroes’ rooms information for you, just a moment.”

“Jackson, you’re awake?”

Angela moved over to him, a look of relief spread across her face.

“Yeah, I’m up. I’m guessing you know where Kevin’s sleeping.”

“Yeah, just at the inn down the road. Why?”

“I got to go pick Scarlet up.”

“Well that makes things a little simpler.”

The Madame smiled as she sipped her ale.

“I’ll grab Barb and Gypsy; they’ll be happy you’re awake.”

“Sure.”

Part of Jackson wanted to just leave, as he still had a dark feeling in his gut. The night he fought the Berserker for the second time came to mind, he could see it so clearly. Jackson jumped to his feet the moment he saw the girls heading his way. They had to jog to keep up with him as he exited the establishment.

“It’s good to see you awake. Had us slightly worried when you didn’t wake up for a day.”

Jackson didn’t respond, his breathing had increased as he watched his memories play in his mind.

“You should have seen little miss hero. She thought you were poisoned. I had to stop her from destroying the herbalist’s place.”

“I was not about to destroy his place. I simply had some questions as to why he didn’t wake up.”

“Do you question most people with a blade to their throats?”

“I don’t remember you complaining this afternoon.”

“How would you know? You stormed from the place so fast I had to use Barb to find you.”

“How did she find me?”

“She’s a soldier after all, they are trained to sense death and killing intent from a mile away.”

“That seems a little convenient and impossible. And I can’t imagen Barb as a soldier, she seems so… meek.”

“The girl that duel wields broadswords is meek? Shoot, they’re practically claymores.”

Jackson tuned their conversation out at this point. He needed to focus on finishing this job, so he could do a double check on his gear for the trip tomorrow. The inn wasn’t a long walk from the Madame’s, and with Jackson pace the walk only took four to five minutes. The inn was a large three-story building made of mostly wood. It had an old western feeling and design, complete with a balcony and rocking chairs. The inside was decorated nicely, with a large oak counter and an old couple manning it. The look of excitement died when they saw Gypsy, and knew she was here to pick up one of her own. The old woman clicked her tongue at the sight of Gypsy, cursing her under her breath. Gypsy, who was used to this, just kept moving as Angela led the way.

The types of rooms a person and a group could get differed. A person, or a small group could simply rent one to two rooms based on needs and of various sizes. If the group would require three or more rooms, they’d be given a room on the third floor. These rooms were like small apartments, having a small common area with even smaller rooms branching off. This was because Border Town often got a lot of travelers, who stayed for several weeks. It was more attractive to try and give them a little house than to keep them spread out among the three floors. These rooms were also more expensive. Joseph and his party were staying on the third floor. Angela used her key to open the door, surprising the hero party inside.

“Where here to pick up Scarlet.”

Angela answered their confused look. They all nodded and returned to their nightly tasks. Joseph was sharpening his sword, dubbed the great sword or holy sword of the Kingdom of man. Franklin was busy doing the dishes, a task that was forced on him by Carley. Alice and Carley were simply watching Joseph sharpen his blade, taken in with the beauty of the golden sword. Angela pointed to Kevin’s room, and Jackson rushed to it and knocked. He waited a moment, but no reply. He knocked louder, drawing the attention of the heroes, who moved around him.

“Kevin, wake up. Your girlfriend’s father is here!”

Franklin stepped up to the door and knocked. The dark feeling reached its peak, and Jackson felt his breathing grow heavy. Joseph went to knock on the door.

“Break!”

On Jackson’s order, the door collapsed into a pile of splinters. The group was silent, they all looked to Kevin who was on the floor rocking back and forth holding himself. He was murmuring to himself. Joseph was first to enter the room and stopped after a few steps. The sound of a pin dropping could have been heard when the rest entered the room. Jackson eyes went wide, he lost all humanity in that moment. His body didn’t move, nor did his eyes leave the sight he saw. Scarlet was laying on the floor, her head was sitting at a hundred and twenty-degree angle.

“What did you do?”

“It wasn’t my fault!”