“What happ- where’d he go?!” Dez demanded, suddenly finding the strength to climb to his feet with the others. K merely shook her head, stepping away from the others, cursing. Mug and Goof seemed to be in some sort of argument. It was Hooks who spoke first.

  ?

  “That thing, it came for you, brother.” Hooks said with a frown. “It flew around like it was trying to terrify us, but when it swooped, it was gunning for ya…”

  ?

  “And you got out of the way!” Hector yelled, shoving Hooks back angrily.

  ?

  “Now, now, calm the heat, amigo. You heard that crazy old guy, we can’t harm each other.” Hooks shrugged. “Besides, what was I supposed to do, die for him? You and that crazy cracker tried that; it was costly.” Hooks gestured to the gruesome yet small remains of Harry.

  ?

  “You watch your mouth!” Hector began to drop into a boxing stance.

  ?

  “Aye! I’d ask you avoid beating the bastard, I’d be forced to intervene!” K yelled from a distance, though she noticeably kept her distance. After their little clash earlier, Dez was under no impression they could take her, even if Hooks randomly decided to help them.

  ?

  “And what’s your deal?” Dez asked her with a raised brow, placing a hand on Hector’s shoulder to warn him. “Why the hell do you care so much?”

  ?

  “I have leverage.” Hooks candidly admitted with a shrug. “Let’s just say it’s in her best interest that I survive this all, meaning it’s not too late to let go of our little grudge and join team Hooks! Mug over there already has.”

  ?

  “Team?” Hector said, shaking his head toward Hooks as if addressing a particular silly child.

  ?

  “Come on now, the two of you aren’t naive, we’re all the same sort here. Meaning we’ve all realized this is a life and death situation, one where we thankfully don’t need to worry about violence between each other. But one where our lives are at risk. Power matters right now, numbers matter.” Hooks explained, before pointing towards the five Woods milling around a table staring at them. “And if you haven’t realized it, they’ve already united; we need to band together here, brother.”

  ?

  “You’re out of your damn mind,” Dez said with a sneer. “You keep showing me your true colors and still expect me to follow you along? Why, so you can betray me whenever it becomes convenient again?”

  ?

  “Talk all you want, Dez, but you don’t have the full damn story.” Hooks said icily. “If you did, you’d be thanking me, but for now I’ll take that lip. But remember this, Brother. You’ve always been a follower; you were my lackey all of high school, and outside of it, too. Before me, you were nothing, and without my help, now you’ll die nothing.”

  ?

  “The only reason I’m not gonna do you right here is those damn turrets," Dez assured Hooks with a glare of his own. “I won’t be helping you with shit.”

  ?

  “Then good luck to ya.” Hooks said with a shrug, with a call to K and Mug, the three walked off as a unit. Leaving a stunned Hector, Goof, and Dez alone next to the fragments that were the remains of Harry.

  ?

  “?Valió madre!” Hector cursed. “I just can’t believe this. He died right in front of me, and I couldn’t do a damn thing! It happened so damn fast!”

  ?

  “I… what even happened?” Dez asked. “I didn’t see anything, I was too out of it.”

  ?

  “I saw the whole thing,” Goof said with a shake of his head, as if he couldn’t believe it all. “That… that damn thing, that monster flew around like a bat out of hell. Swooped in right for you guys, and I think Hooks may have been right; it did seem like it was gunning for you. Then that nutcase-”

  ?

  “Watch it.” Dez and Hector said in sync.

  ?

  “Whatever. When it came close, Hooks got out of dodge, and Hector attempted to shield you like a nutcase, then the real one came barging in and drove you two out of the way. I couldn’t make out what it was or what happened, but it picked him up and somehow removed his damn arm. He was screaming so damn loud…”

  ?

  “Then it took off with him…” Hector concluded. “He gave his life for us… Why?”

  ?

  “Cuz he was batshit crazy-” Dez interrupted the man with an elbow to the side.

  ?

  “He was odd.” Dez amended. “The things he was saying, he seemed to realize what was happening before any of us?”

  ?

  “Did he know something we did not?” Hector mused.

  ?

  “If he did it, it didn’t do him any good.” Goof quipped.

  ?

  “And that thing, it tore him apart with ease. It looked massive. What the hell was it?” Dez questioned out loud.

  ?

  “Something with wings, I think.” Goof chimed in. “I mean, it was flying and looked stupidly wide, gotta be wings.”

  ?

  “The thing was bigger than any of us. I can’t think of a bird the size of a man, let alone bigger, my friend.” Hector replied.

  ?

  “Olaf called it a-”

  ?

  “I called it a tito or something?” Dez said.

  ?

  “It’s a t-y-t-o for the record.” Olaf’s voice sounded out, the whole room freezing as they noticed the screen had returned and showed their apparent host. “I see you’ve had your first encounter with it. The Supreme Tyto is a marvel indeed, isn’t it?”

  ?

  None of them bothered to respond. Between the show of force with the turrets and the ambush they had just survived, the group was more than aware that they had no control or say here.

  ?

  “I don’t expect cretins like yourself to understand the glory you just witnessed,” Olaf said with a heavy sigh, sounding genuinely disappointed in them. “But you should expect that meeting to not be the last or the worst yet. That beautiful creature there is the main reason you were brought here. This estate of mine needs repair, and its tenant needs feeding. But fret not, its hunger should be satiated for a short while. And we’ll spend that time accordingly, for busy work begins now!”

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  ?

  “We haven’t rested!” Mug complained. “I don’t feel like working.”

  ?

  “Well, my beast is fed, but I can still use my Golden Spears if you’d like,” Olaf said with a shrug, the silence following being more than enough of an answer. “Very well then, your first assignments begin now. Desmond, Ryan, Vance, and Markel will be assigned to cleaning up the mess my beast made. Hector, Kiana, and Darnel will be set up to start cleaning up the outer yard. Derbius, Michael, and Spencer shall begin working on getting the kitchen back up. It has been far too long since I had a proper home-cooked meal.”

  ?

  “Dead if we do, dead if we don’t.” Hooks said with a shrug, glancing over at him. “So much for having nothing to do with me, huh, Desmond?”

  Dez ignored the bastard instead settling a glare at the screen. “And how the hell are we to do any of that?”

  ?

  Olaf didn’t bother answering, didn’t have to, as four masked men carried various carts of supplies with them. Sponges and rags, bleach and polish, brushes and scrapers, nails and hammers, screws and screwdrivers, even protective gear and gloves. It was strange to Dez that, despite this seeming to be a setup, the man seemed adamant that they proceed with the front. Dez supposed it must truly be his estate if he cared so much.

  ?

  Dez sighed, grabbing some gloves, a few buckets, and a mop. “And what the hell are you to do with Harry’s… body… Can we bury him?”

  ?

  “You’d think I’d waste your precious work hours on such useless nonsense?” Olaf asked with a bark of forced laughter. “No, throw him away in one of the cans; it will take care of itself.”

  ?

  As the men unloaded the carts, they separated them into the groups Olaf had spoken of earlier. K, Hector, and Mug were taken one way, while Derby and the other Woods were taken another. Leaving Vance, Hooks, Goof, and Dez behind to clean the area.

  ?

  The others took one look at the arm, the scraps of unidentifiable meat, and his gloves, and pointedly ignored the main mess. Dez realized with a small amount of humor that he had inadvertently signed up for such. Though the humor died an ugly death as he picked up the arm and tossed it into one of the bins provided.

  ?

  There was something surreal about it all. It had only been a day since he had accepted his death. Now he was here and wanted nothing more than to live, and his life had been spared already. Hector, his recently made friend, had attempted to save him, only for Harry. A man seemingly disturbed by his own demons to save them both, seemingly at the cost of his life. Now here Dez was cleaning it up as if it were nothing more than an inconvenience. Harry’s story amounts to a pile of meat to be thrown away and blood spatters to be scrubbed away.

  ?

  While he worked on the heaviest area, the other worked on the thrown about furniture and random blood splatter. It was horrifying just how much blood there was; it painted a certain picture that Harry had died terribly. It was likely the height he was taken to that made it this bloody of a kill. However, Dez’s dark thoughts were disturbed as an unwelcome guest sat on a knee next to him.

  ?

  “Keep it pushing, Vance.”

  ?

  “Now is that any way to treat your fellow sacrifice?” Vance said with a chuckle. “Besides, I come in peace.” Even now, the man seemed relaxed and calm, as if his own life hadn’t been in danger mere minutes ago.

  ?

  “Last time you came in peace,” it led us here.” Dez pointed out with a grunt. “So hurry up and get on with it before I lose my temper.”

  ?

  “That temper of yours is fitting. But temperament is the exact matter I’d like to discuss with ya-self.” Vance elaborated. “See, I think you're clever enough to realize what my boys and I already have. That this little situation is set up for us to die, apparently, to some sort of strange creature. But they plan for some of us to live…”

  ?

  “And I’m sure you plan to make sure it’s you and your boy Derby,” Dez said with a roll of his eyes. “So why are you coming to me with this?”

  ?

  “I was right after all, even an inferior like yourself can see the truth when it’s plainly presented to you.” Vance gave the backhanded compliment with a smile nearly charming enough to hide it. “So, because of that little fact, our little stay has become a struggle for survival. One where the clever and mighty will survive, while the sheep are slain. And you're right on the mark for me, intending to survive this with one of my boys. Though I don’t much care which one. However, there is a priority list, if you will, see while I wouldn’t mind any of you impures dying, there’s certain ones I wouldn’t mind seeing going first… and to further that goal, my boys and I will be controlling the kitchen…”

  ?

  Dez shot a glare at the man, seeing Hooks pretending to mop nearby, listening in. Even without Vance saying he knew what it meant. And for once, his sense wasn’t flaring; somehow, he knew that meant something. Ever since the attack earlier, it had calmed. In fact, it felt like he understood it better somehow, instinctively. The fact that it didn’t go off alerted him that he was telling the truth.

  ?

  Vance was attempting to control the flow of food and supplies. By doing so, he would ensure his own group was well-fed and well-cared for. It would make them stronger and the others weaker, the longer this stayed on. And it was clear the man seemed to be targeting Hooks, K, and likely even Hector. Not only because of their race, but also because of perceived slights against them.

  ?

  It had been Hooks who had started the fight between the groups. If Dez’s gut was right, he had done it in order to compel him to side with him against a bigger, equally personal threat. K and Hector also participated and wreaked havoc against the Aryans in defense of Hooks and him.

  ?

  But Dez had focused his attention on Hooks and even K. In fact, he hadn’t struck a single one of them. As far as Vance would surely reckon, he’d assume Dez was no friend of theirs, but an enemy of Hooks. The man wasn’t wrong, and it would be ironic justice for Dez to betray Hooks as the man had him.

  ?

  But the idea of working with the man put a sour taste in his mouth. Along with putting Hector firmly in danger while saving his own skin. But it was K’s reason that confused him. His sense flared violently at the idea of her being in danger. It was strange that she had beaten the tar out of it. But he went along with it.

  ?

  “I wouldn’t shame myself by working with your lot,” Dez said, spitting at the man. “And you can’t stop us from eating.”

  ?

  “Olaf said nothing of the sort. As long as we don’t hurt one another, it’s fair game.” Vance said with a chuckle, standing himself up and theatrically dusting himself off. “Of course you don’t realize the leverage I have, you will realize real soon though, boy.”

  ?

  “Don’t call me boy,” Dez warned gravely. “If I attack you and hold you real close, we’ll both die. I don't think those turrets or the man controlling them seem to care much about digression.”

  ?

  “Ha!” Vance barked out a laugh. “I almost like you, Dez, I almost like you… think over the offer, your stomach would appreciate it~!”

  ?

  “He’ll be a good cracker.” Hooks sneered as he walked over, sitting on a table in front of Dez, who began to clean up his supplies as the mess was mostly gone. “Hey there, Dez, just wanted to check in with you.”

  ?

  “You mean trick me.”

  ?

  “Only if necessary.” Hooks with a shrug. “However, I don’t really see it as such here. Those good old boys are making a play with the food, and seem content to stack the deck to give them the best chance. Meaning we brothers and sisters need to stay together.”

  “I won’t make the mistake of trusting you again. I’m getting tired of saying it.”

  ?

  “I’m not trying to win over your trust, I’m trying to impress how dangerous a situation we’re in, and how much we benefit from working together. You don’t have to trust me, just trust we can’t trust them Woods.”

  ?

  “Get away from me, Ryan,” Dez said, his sense calming with his decision.

  ?

  “Whatever you say.” Hooks said with a shake of his head, walking away from Dez.

  ?

  He smirked, knowing Hooks would be enraged that Dez had pulled over his cart to the guard waiting within the staircase cage. As he did, Goof arrived as well, Dez noting idly that the man was much too clean to have actually helped much.

  ?

  “How the hell are those white boys gonna control the grub?” Goof asked, looking over to Dez, concerned. “And is it wise not to work with Hooks? I don’t know your history with each other, but there are six of us and five of them. There’s no way they can bully us together.”

  ?

  “Well, you don’t know Hooks,” Dez said with a shake of his head. “The bastard is only worried about himself; grouping up like that makes us easier to control.”

  ?

  “That would make sense, I guess,” Goof said with a sigh. “Everyone calls me the dumb twin, but Mug has a terrible taste for friends. Always working with snakes and flakes. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if Hooks were more of the same. So what does he do?”

  ?

  “He snitched on me.”

  ?

  “A rat, then,” Goof said, shooting Hooks a glare. “There isn’t a player in the game who fucks with that.”

  ?

  Dez rolled his eyes but nodded to the man all the same. Goof was an odd one to be certain, but was seemingly street solid if nothing else. It meant he may not be the best person, but Dez would know how to deal with him easily enough. Besides, it was becoming apparent that friends would be a commodity here.

  ?

  The guard emerged from the staircase, leaving the cart in the cage and leading the group away.

  ?

  “Sir Olaf has asked for you to join the outside group to help them finish their task before rest time.” One of the guards explained as they opened the doors to the hall and led them inside.

  ?

  It became clear that Olaf clearly wasn’t joking about their renovation being somewhat important. For the hall was in much worse shape than the lobby. The wood floor had buckled and warped over the years, some boards even split upwards over time, and likely water damage. The wall had been recently sanded and cleaned, at least appearing sanitary and stable, and even somewhat painted, but a blood stain left on one of the walls made it clear someone working here before had been slain, the same as Harry. Were they not the first?

  ?

  However, they weren’t given the chance to commit as they were led deeper into the building. They crossed multiple abandoned bedrooms and common areas. Medical rooms rotted and stained by mold and dust, remnants of the past left to fester in waste. Then there would be the oddly cleaned area. A room full of human-sized cells, chains, and shackles. A room full of cleaning supplies, the guard must have been there earlier. Until they were brought to an exit that led to an empty greenhouse, which led to an exit outside…