"How much ya wanna bet those government dogs lied and will try to catch us the second they can?" Will awkwardly scratches his head while Harry doesn't hesitate for a moment to respond. "I bet nothing because I don't trust myself to be right!" Silence hits…followed by laughter from both Crim and Will as Harry watches on with clear confusion. After a few seconds the trio calm down, Crim being the first to speak. "So do we really have to stay inside the manor?"
Will looks at the sky, seeing the priest and shifter still floating and nods to Crim. Annoyed by his inability to explore the town, Crim can only let out a sigh. Harry on the other hand doesn't really care. "Harry, it's your turn." Looking at Harry's heavy eye bags Crim moves to say something but is stopped by Harry. "Sure." Despite his concern Crim follows Will inside.
"Tha man didn't get sleep. I don't mind stickin round nother few hours." Seeing Crim stumble in clear exhaustion Will doesn't hesitate to respond. "Not happenin, besides tha man wouldn't stick if 'e didn't think 'e could take it." Seeing Will be so cold Crim can't help but sigh. "Besides, ya look like ya's bout ta pass out. Better ya get a good rest." Guess he does have a heart, Crim thinks to himself as a smile takes over his face.
Soon the duo find themselves back in that living room. Crim decides to grab the pillow and blanket Harry was using and tosses himself on the floor close to the fireplace. Will on the other hand simply sits down and falls asleep near instantly. A bit surprised, Crim stares at Will. 'E fell asleep pretty fast in the coach on tha way 'ere too didn't 'e? It takes a few minutes of struggling but eventually he falls asleep. At least he thinks he's asleep?
"Tommy?"
Suddenly Crim finds himself in the middle of a massive labyrinth. Red brick walls reaching beyond the pitch black sky line the area as iris flowers bloom and fade from the glowing grassy ground. In front of him the severed head of a small hairless girl lies sleeping in a gazebo, Tommy dressed in casual attire sitting next to it. Ignoring the severed head, Crim walks up to the gazebo and sits next to Tommy. "So is this how ya always find me?" Tommy nods, looking Crim up and down after. "Tell me, have you been doing your daily practice?"
Stillness.
"I uhhhh….I may 'ave forgotten a day or two…"
Glare.
"...You know what to do."
No hesitation!
Shamelessly Crim throws himself onto the ground and starts doing pushups, not even bothering to take off his coat. As he is forced to do a punishment work-out he starts talking to Tommy. "So, will I wake up tired or does this count as a dream?" Scratching his head Tommy hesitates to reply. "That's your question? Not, why is there a severed head in a magical maze gazebo?" Stopping for a moment, Crim looks at Tommy and shrugs. "You know nothin can break me after seein a crack." Tommy nods in response. "Does this place remind you of the crack at all?" Expectant, he stares at Crim.
Unfortunately for him Crim can only shake his head. "Nope. Still, it feels familiar? Ya know. Ya always ask about the crack but I get tha feelin if I remembered I'd be too crazy ta tell ya anythin." After getting a hundred pushups Crim starts doing sit-ups. Looking at the strangeness around him, Tommy can't help but wonder what exactly Crim is thinking. "Anyways, I can get you out of there in a few days. I just need you to avoid a certain man. Name's Harry, he's the one you always listen to."
Silence.
".....So…what if, by complete accident, me and him happened to make a group and become friendly?"
"...."
Tommy immediately facepalms. As Crim gets his last set of sit-ups Tommy speaks, signaling at him to rest. "Just make sure to keep him calm and make sure he doesn't intervene with the calamity at all." Crim, now a bit tired, lazily gives Tommy a thumbs up. "See if you can convince him to leave with you too." And yet another lazy thumbs up is sent Tommy's way. Seeing Crim already tired he lets out a heavy sigh. After a moment's hesitation he waves to Crim, telling him to take a break and come over
"I'm sorry I missed your birthday. As an apology, just ask and I'll answer any one question, no matter what it is."
Looking around Crim takes a few minutes to think. Should I ask how we ended up here? Or, what he is? He's always had a few questions in mind but Tommy always had his secrets. Despite attempt after attempt he could never figure him out. In the end, after thinking things over he decides.
"What am I to you?"
Silence.
Crim remembers how they first met four years ago. Tommy was out shopping and decided to take a new shortcut through a back alley. Carrying a few heavy bags in his thin arms he walked on with a smile, humming a small tune. At the time Crim was your standard back alley urchin, forced into a tough life with no one to depend on. Seeing a seemingly weak old man he decided he'd take a risk after not eating for a few days and rob him.
"Drop tha food and ya get away with ya bones intact old man."
Tommy, same as now, wouldn't take a threat lying down. So in response, he promptly put the bags down and clocked Crim's jaw hard as he could, instantly knocking him out. When Crim woke up he was in a clean house, wearing a proper set of clothes instead of his usual raggedy outfit. Tommy was in the kitchen preparing a nice soup for him while humming that same song.
Silence.
Should he escape? Should he say thanks? Should he accept the meal?
Confusion.
"Don't overthink it and just relax. I'm not out ta getcha kid."
After eating Crim snuck out, at least he thinks he did. Fact is Tommy could've easily caught the old him. Crim used to be so weak and skinny as well as much shorter than kids his age. Tommy simply chose to let him go. For a few days Crim would follow Tommy, choosing to try and protect him despite the ass whooping Tommy gave him showing Crim Tommy doesn't need any protection. Every time Tommy would notice him and every time he would invite Crim to join for a meal. Eventually, they started living and traveling together.
Finally, Tommy answers Crim's question.
"You're the most precious thing in the world to me."
Crack Crack Crack.
As the last word leaves his lips the dream starts to break, resembling the shattering of a mirror. Opening his eyes he sees the same familiar manor roof. "Sigh, who woulda guessed tha old bastard can feel love?" Sitting up he sees Will fast asleep. Just as he stands up Will immediately wakes up, relaxing after he sees it's just Crim. Somewhat annoyed he wordlessly pulls a pocketwatch out from his backpack and checks the time. "Ya still got eight hours to ya shift, 'ead back to sleep and I'll wake ya up when it's ya turn." Crim shrugs and shakes his head.
"Insomnia's a bitch."
"...just don't wake me up unless it's my turn."
"Sure thing mate."
Yet again, another lazy thumbs up, this time sent Will's way. Seeing Will fall asleep so fast Crim decides to try and sleep again. First, he takes out his radio and sets it to a late night jazz station and puts on his headphones. After a few minutes he falls asleep, this time without dreaming. While the two sleep, Harry stands guard outside.
"Who's a good boy? You are! And you are too!"
At least he's supposed to be. After the trio were hired the initial two guardsmen haven't shown up since, leaving them as the only defense. After talking with the shifter and priest though, there's been a noticeable rise in patrols in the area. One or two shifters also seem to be watching the manor, trying to remain hidden. Unfortunately for them nothing can escape Harry's eyes.
"Hm?"
Fog rolls in as the ground and sky start to darken, a gazebo and red brick walls violently jutting from the ground. Suddenly he finds himself in front of a familiar face. Seeing it he can't help but be annoyed. "Harold, what is it?" A lone knight stands leaning against the gazebo, greatsword out. "I simply desired to speak to a friend, simple as that." Harry scoffs in response. "What happened to me being an honorless brigand?" Shrugging, Harold choosing not to answer, instead walking up to Harry and offering him a handshake. Despite his clear annoyance Harry takes him up.
"It's time Harry."
Still rage.
Glaring at Harold, Harry resist the urge to punch him. "I will not be just some part." Seeing his Harry so angry Harold puts on a somber expression. For a few moments the duo just stare at each other. Eventually though Harold breaks the silence. "Of all people you are the only one to treat me without care." Harry only nods, waiting for Harold to continue. "When we first met I thought your head was supposed to fall. Those eyes returned but you...tell me, what was it that drove you?"
Thoughts abound.
"Why embrace death?"
"Because at the time I had no hope. Here though, away from earth I can be what I want."
"Do you still desire to be a hero Harry?"
"Nah, I tried and failed. It's clear I'm not cut out for it. So instead, I'll live a carefree life. I may never be the person I want but I can at least be someone I can be proud of."
As words leave his mouth his eyes start to brighten, emitting a dreamy starlight like glow. A crack starts to form directly in front of him. After a few moments a wooden door appears from thin air, emitting an otherworldly aura. Seeing Harry prepare to walk through and return to the manor Harold says a few final words.
"You can live, simply become an anchor."
"I'd sooner die than hurt the victims of your mistake."
Alone.
With Harry gone Harold is left to his nostalgia in the maze. Just as his thoughts start to overtake him the maze starts to change, turning into a familiar scene. Within moments Harold finds himself in Lindbourough from half a century ago. The night moon shines in the sky as the back then it was just a small town
Crack.
Despite the loud and violent sound of shattering the people sleep soundly. In the center a rift forms, the ground violently quaking and the stars blinking as a man is thrown out from it. He's covered in cold sweat, shaking in clear fear. He tries to stand up but the overwhelming pain coming from his eyes leaves him roaring on the ground, gripping his face so hard he leaves deep red and purple marks. All Harold could think was how pathetic he was, how easy his job would be. At least until the insanity begun.
As the man looked up his eyes burned a bright light. Reality itself started to change rapidly and randomly as his thoughts were contorted by the pain. Otherworldly buildings exploded out from the ground, the ground rose and fell at random, and meteors appeared and disappeared. The end of a world flashed in and out of existence all across the continent. Harold, despite his immortality couldn't risk getting close to Harry, the influence of his pain induced madness leaving his abilities so rampant it was as if a god of madness was playing with the fabric of existence within this small area so Harold ran. For days upon days the madness continued, then, without a sound it stopped.
Lindbourough was gone. The continent was drowned in overwhelming fear for those days. But no one remembered, no one except the two. So they decided to investigate, at least they tried to. Gone, as if he and the madness he brought never existed.
One more day until the wave hits