As for the high level rewards, naturally Bruce also wanted to get them. However those were not in New York.
This normally wouldn't be a problem, but this time, he could only be active in New York. As for the other places, their main problems were time and distance related.
And so, albeit regretful, Bruce could only give up on them, and start concentrating on implementing his plans.
Since I have confirmed what my goal is, I can begin preparing.

 
After his previous encounter, Bruce thought that there was a possibility for the three he picked this time to have special abilities that  S.H.I.E.L.D. didn't know about as well.
Everything had to be put on hold until he did his homework on each of them clearly and get the results he wanted. This would definitely help Bruce in dealing with them.
As he got promoted, his access to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s information had gotten higher, which meant that doing research on a couple of contracts should definitely go over smoothly. Bruce's ident.i.ty in this world had indeed been a huge convenience for him.
After about an hour, the three's habits, ident.i.ties, personalities,etc., had been thoroughly studied by Bruce.
And after doing that, Bruce opened Parker's page, which he hoped would have some changes. But as always, there was no problem at all.
Tomorrow he would go to Midtown High School, so he decided to look at the curriculum as to not go in blind.
Oh, in seven days at the latest, Parker must join an extracurricular activity.
When Bruce saw this, there was a hint of surprise on his face. In the movies, Parker's mutation came about during this extracurricular activity.
But Bruce could not be sure it would be the same this time around.
Well, when the time comes, I will know. 
Once Parker got his super power, he would be the first to know.
Early the next morning, Bruce went to Midtown High School as usual. Because he was a P.E. teacher, there were not many courses. No matter in which country you were, physical education courses were not very valued.

 
As nothing special happened that day, Bruce went home after cla.s.s as usual.
In front of the computer, the red dot representing Parker had just gotten back home. After confirming that he was not in danger. Bruce closed the tracking tab.
'Oss Jackett, level 7 threat, specialty is counter-tracking. In a particular battle with the police, he caught bullets with his bare hands.'
On the computer, there was a picture of a middle-aged man with all the information recorded by S.H.I.E.L.D. 
Being able to catch bullets with his bare hands, that was definitely related to a hidden special ability. Whether it was a speed ability or other type of special ability.
Bruce currently had Pig Iron Body and was not afraid of an ordinary cold weapon, but should he be faced with bullets or automatic weapons, he could only escape.
Not to mention Hulk, even if he had Parker's abilities after he went through his mutation, he would be more than strong enough for some automatic weapons.
He must constantly keep getting new abilities. And this Oss in front of his eyes was his first goal. The bounty on him was also 500,000 USD.
After everything was ready, Bruce drove away from home.
...
Near a dark street with no light nor figures, there were a bunch of abandoned factories.

 
A man who was not very tall, was wearing a hoodie and had his face hid in the dark.
His skinny body seemed to blend into the whole night.
"d.a.m.n S.H.I.E.L.D., making me unable to live normally." The man whispered.
Although in his heart he was very angry, his face looked very calm. Even if he was facing the police, he would not be afraid at all.
But S.H.I.E.L.D. was too mysterious and powerful, and there were too many powerful agents.
Even if he had some special abilities , he dared not face S.H.I.E.L.D. He could only be like a street mouse, hidden in the dark.
The man continued to move forward and wanted to return to his temporary home. But at this time, he felt a cold breath that suddenly made him sweat.
In this narrow street, a man in a suit stood near the end of it, and the moonlight stretched his shadow long.
The man seemed to be waiting for him. After seeing him, he directly turned around and made his escape without any hesitation.
His felt the danger that man posed.
The man at the end of the street was naturally Bruce. When he saw the man turn around without hesitation, he immediately narrowed his eyes.
"Shrill,shrill,shrill~~" Under Hawkeye's Marksman ability, even in the dark, he could hit any target!

 
The five darts were thrown out directly by him, and there was a sound of something bursting coming soon afterwards.
The man's face changed, and he dodged, narrowly avoiding the dart.
The moment he ducked, Bruce used Super Speed , which made him appear in front of the man in an instant.
"Bang!"
He punched directly, with precision and ferocity. Oss was furious and soon counterattacked.
"Bang!"
Bruce only felt a sharp pain in his fist, and was slightly taken aback.
And his target Oss, under the influence of Bruce's power, retreated at full speed. He still wanted to run away. 
Bruce's eyes turned cold, and he instantly untied shirt, making dozens of darts appear in his hands.
"Shrill,shrill,shrill~~" Under the powerful strength of Bruce, the speed of the sharp darts had exceeded a bullet.
And with the distance between the two being so close, Oss could not dodge.
"Oh!"
Oss bellowed, opening his gloves. His hands instantly showed the l.u.s.ter of metal.
"Bang,bang,bang…"
Every single dart was caught by his hands, either making them break, or lose their power.
Seeing this scene, Bruce's eyes showed a faint happiness.
Sure enough, it was a special ability .
After that, Bruce moved again without hesitation.
His hands caught Oss's shoulders in an instant, and Oss's message was clearly presented to him.

Walking in the dark night, I do n't know how long I have n't had such a leisurely walk. Li Si enjoys this rare leisure and tranquility.
 It didn't take long for Bumblebee to turn into a sports car form to catch up, but neither of them got on the car, so slowly and purposelessly walked forward, Bumblebee followed in step with it.
 Now it is dark at night and there are no other pedestrians around. Otherwise, if you see a car stop and go but there is no driver, you have to be scared out of cold sweat.
 "Li, what do the indigenous people in that population just mean? Are they aliens?"
 Walked a long distance in silence, Max hesitated for a long time and finally asked his own question.
 "It's not an alien ..." Li Si hesitated and asked back: "Do you know the parallel world theory?"
 "Do you mean that they are all humans in parallel worlds?" Max stunned.
 "Almost ... I didn't figure it out."
 Lisi did not mean to hide Max, anyway, these things will be noticed sooner or later as the players become more and more influential, and the aboriginal people of Marvel Earth.
 But in fact, he did not know what kind of existence the player belonged to. This matter did not reach a result until he was reborn. I am afraid that only the game developers behind Star World Game Company would know.
 The only certainty is that this world is definitely not a virtual game.
 It may not be felt in the non-real virtual mode, but in the real virtual mode, there is almost no difference between the world and the real world. Every NPC is flesh and blood, even a passerby on the street has his own thinking.  And life.
 Maybe thinking can be simulated by artificial intelligence, but billions of artificial intelligence, I am afraid no computer can achieve this level of computation, let alone the simulation of various real rules.
 Even if there is some kind of computer beyond understanding that can do this, I am afraid that no game operation will be willing to waste such extravagant computing power.
 Not to mention the achievement redemption system that will be opened in the future. The items, strength, and even characters in the game can be brought into reality. If it is only a virtual game to achieve this level, who else is sure to be alive?  In reality.
 "The parallel world also has a place ..."
 Max was obviously very interested in this topic, but he was stunned for a moment, and stared at the front.
 I don't know when they have left the avenue and come to an outdoor parking lot, but there are two people who seem to be arguing not far in front.
 It's just that these two people are a bit strange, one is a white man with blond hair and a red masked tights, and there is a weirdo with a black spider on his chest.
 There seemed to be a quarrel between the two. When Max looked over, the blonde and white man had pulled out a folding dagger, but his face was neither angry nor cruel, but a look of fear.  His mouth kept saying "let me go".
 "Is this a knife?"
 "No, what I am most afraid of is this kind of knife ..."
 The weird man in the red tights knelt down on the ground with a nervous look, his hands covering his face, and his mouth clearly said the words of begging for mercy, but there was no fear in the tone, but a madness and play  Abuse.
 And the fact is the same. The weirdo in the red tights quickly put away his nervous and poor performance, and suddenly ejected a suspected spider web from the wrist, sticking the right hand of the blond white man with the knife to the back wall.   
 After successfully disarming the blond white man's weapon, he still didn't stop. While taunting and teasing him with words, he ejected several spider webs one after another and glued the whole person to the wall.
 "Is venting enough?"
 After watching this farce quietly, Li Si came over and looked at him coldly.
 The weirdo in the red tights suddenly turned his head when he heard the sudden sound from behind, and the wrist that fired the strange spider silk had been raised and pointed at Liz.
 But after seeing Li Si's appearance, his movements suddenly stagnate.
 "Are you the righteous Spider-Man in the news?"
 Although he knew that it was Peter Parker hidden under the tights, Lisi did not pierce him.
 "Hey, yes, I am your good neighbor in New York, Mr. Justice Boy Spiderman!"
 The momentary Peter Parker reacted, first made a hip-hop gesture, and then swayed to Lisi's side, leaning Lisi's shoulder against him. 
 "Justice Boy?"
 Li Si seemed to be disappointed and shook his head, sneeringly: "All I see now is a wounded and fierce beast, a poor worm hoping to use violence to vent his negative emotions."
   "I..."
 Peter Parker opened his mouth, but he could not refute the silence.
 "There is a sentence I don't like very much, but I think it should be given to you."
 Lisi patted Peter Parker on the shoulder: "With great power comes great responsibility, no matter if you don't understand, you can do it yourself."
 After finishing this sentence, Li Si did not wait for his response, and led Max back to the Hornets' cab, and then drove away directly.
 "With great power comes great responsibility..."
 Peter Parker murmured this sentence.
 He didn't care about leaving Lis, and for a long time, he silently took out an old mobile phone to play a recording.
 "Peter, I know you have been very upset recently, I'm really sorry, I think I understand how you feel ..."
 On the phone was a message from his dead uncle Ben Parker, and now I think of it as a dream.
 On the evening of two days ago, he ran away in anger because of a dispute with his uncle, but his uncle was killed by the robber who had just robbed because he came out.
 What made him more regretful was that he was in a convenience store that was robbed by the robbers at that time, and he did not stop the robbers because of the bad attitude of the owner.
 He has the ability to stop it. Since he was bitten by a spider, his strength and response have surpassed that of ordinary people. As long as he wants to, he can easily catch the robber, and his uncle will not be killed by the panicking robber.  Dead, but he didn't do it.
 "Maybe Li is right, I am really crazy now ... a crazy dog ​​who vents wildly after being injured, hehe ..."
 "With great power comes great responsibility..."
 "If you can hear this sentence earlier ... how good!"

This is the Redo. Link for Raw is https://www.uukanshu.com/

The following day, Parker and Violet went back on their way on foot back to their allies. After traveling for an hour, all they saw was a blasted house, everyone inside was annihilated! 
Violet fell on her knees as Parker consoled her, "What on earth-" then all of a sudden, a soldier drenched in his own blood appeared out of nowhere and called for help behind them. Both of them felt a cold high voltage of chill run from their toes, climbed their spines, to their brains. Violet was so scared the she nearly fainted, "Soldier, what happened?!"
"Black... 
"Black... what?"
"Tiger... attacked us... last night... "
Parker glanced at Violet, who had just recovered from her shock, her face turned dark, "Lieutenant... " the helpless soldier spat a mouthful of blood, gasping for breath, "... run" then he fell dead in Parker's arms. 
He then covered him with a piece of cloth and said, "I'm going to kill him" he turned towards Violet, who's face had been no better, "No matter what... "
After burying the bodies of the remains of his men, Parker and Violet headed back to where Dog company is stationed. 
"Ah, my brother, you have returned!" Ryker said as welcomed the two back to his camp, "You still hanging' out with that little girl with you aren't you?" He teased
"One more word outta you, you're dead meat... " Parker growled at his younger brother, Anyways, do you got an extra tent?"
"Huh? What do you mean? Where's your camp? Shouldn't you with your company?"
"Annihilated..."  He simply said. Then he threw his satchel at Ryker's hands. When Ryker opened it, his strength nearly left his knees. It was nearly all the tags of Parker's men. Charlie company was indeed, annihilated. 
"What on earth happened?" Ryker asked
"There was this black Tiger... " then he told Ryker about how that "thing" massacred his entire company, "You better be careful brother, he prioritizes tanks and vehicles as targets. You're holding an armor company must I remind you... "
Ryker's face became dead serious, "Black Tiger, huh? I know that unit very well." Ryker said, "We've been hunting that beast for months. It once nearly destroyed my company, and haven't seen any sight of it ever since. I'm glad you mentioned it. Now I can claim revenge for half my company's deaths." Even Ryker, was also holding a grudge against Peter. 
"He wasn't easy to deal with... " Violet said, who has been quiet all the time, "In a battle with him, we'll always be the hunted, and he's the hunter." Violet showed a face like she was certain of what she was saying. 
"Sergeant Violet, this is my company we're talking about. No one messes with the big dogs. Yes, we were weak before, but were talking 'bout the present." 
Parker kept quiet. He never doubted his younger brother's abilities, but the ferocious "Black Tiger" was different from all the rest. 
"Both of you get some rest... " Ryker told the two, "There's two more beds in my tent. They used to be my sergeant's and my second lieutenant's beds. Though, they were killed in action just yesterday. There should be extra blankets in there as well."
"Then we should be going." Parker said
Again as usual, Violet couldn't get herself to sleep and wandered outside the tent, while Parker was fast asleep. She strolled along the tank depots and motorpools. Indeed, Dog company was very powerful. They even have tanks that can go toe to toe against a Tiger tank. 
Then she notices a lit bonfire a few yards away from the camp. She went, and finds Ryker sitting beside it, looking dispirited. She saw a picture of a family, consisting of a eight to nine month old child, a mother, and a father similar to Ryker, in his hands,  "They used to be my family... " Violet, naturally was surprised that Ryker sensed her presence, despite trying to hide, "But because of the war, my only reason for existence... Gone... "
"Oh, I'm sorry... " Violet replied
"To avenge them... " Ryker said suddenly

"Huh?"
"That's my reason to fight. May I ask you? What's your reason, why'd you fire a bullet against our enemies?" Ryker asked
"Well... Uhm... I-" Violet wasn't so sure
"Is it my brother?" Ryker teased
"What?! N-No! I-I... I-It's not it!" she squealed as her face burned red
"Pfft, AHAHAHAHAHA! You're reaction already told me!" Ryker laughed
"It's not! Though, he gave me a purpose... Before I met him, I can't even hold a rifle, so what am I to this war?"
"Why'd you have to be a part of this war?"
"That is because of my reason to fight. I fight to avenge my family's deaths, and for everything I lost. I couldn't been able to fight without Parker so now, every bullet I fire is also for him."
"I'm glad he's got someone like you alongside. Now, he got more reason to fight." At first, Violet thought he's teasing her again, but no, "I mean it. He would've been long dead without you. He easily loses motivation, and accepts defeat immediately. But with you beside him, he lives!"
"Oh... " she somehow felt warmth with those words, and thought of Parker. He was indeed, always looking troubled and dispirited when alone. 
"I thank you for that... " Ryker said, "He may be a badass soldier, but he's still my brother. None of us wants anyone to die right?"
Violet was silent for a while, "Yeah... Right... "

The next morning on the German camp. Stalvormund finally returned after an absence of three days, "Ah, lieutenant. You've returned!" Stefan's commander greeted
"Has anything happened while I'm gone?" Peter asked
"Not much, except that reconnaissance vehicles kept appearing everyday. They must've been monitoring this place. Not to mention we never leave this position, meaning they expect us to be stationed here on the frozen hills. Haha, none of them returned alive though... "  he replied pointing at the pile of  knocked out greyhounds
"Make sure none of them returns alive, not a soul... " Peter ordered. A while later, Peter halted. He sensed something a few yards away from them. 
"Peter, something the matter?" Otto asked
"Stefan, move to point B... " he said
"Huh? Why-"
"Now!"
Tiger tank Stefan did as told, but the commander saw nothing out of the ordinary, "Uh, all is fine lieutenant, what's up?"
Peter walked passed the Stefan, and kept on looking for something. His actions confused the other men. Then he stopped by a tree, and his expression became murderous. It frightened the others, till they cringed like crazy. Peter glanced at a bush beside the tree, and kicked as hard as he could. From it, an American soldier came flying from Peter's kick. He rolled down the hill, to Otto's and Kurfürst's feet. 
"Hiding, are you?" Peter became even more scary, and threw a radio box at the poor man, restrained in Bismarck's hands, "Since when you are here?" he questioned 
"S-Since three d-days ago... " the man answered
Peter turned towards Gustav, who wasn't paying attention and is burying something with a shovel in the snow. He snatched the shovel and returned in front of the man they just caught. He signalled Bismarck to put the man on his knees, and with one strong blow, he tore the man's neck open with the shovel. 
All the others watched in horror, and felt like their souls left their bodies, as Peter licked some blood off the shovel, "Hang that body on the tree." he said pointing at the tree where he found the man
Otto puked his guts out, Bismarck turned as white as the snow, Kurfürst fainted, and all the rest drained of color, "He's mad... " they thought
Late at night, Otto finds Peter sitting outside the tent. He covered him with a blanket and said, "Hey, I wouldn't mind you, eating our enemies literally, but I would mind you abusing yourself. Its so damn cold outta here!" He scolded
Peter remained quiet, "Like I said, I wouldn't mind you going insane on the battlefield, but don't you think Patricia won't be happy if she sees you like that...?"
"Why'd she sided with the enemy? She's supposed to be fighting alongside us. Don't she think she's like stabbing her own mother's heart?"
"Peter, she saw the other side of us. Its not like that I say, were fighting for what is right, but... "
"So are you saying we're fighting blind here?"
"No, I'm not. But I think you are. If you ask why am I beside you right now, It's because you are my brother... May you be awakened someday... " he said
Peter thought of Otto's words, "Am I blind...?"

Taking command of one of the most feared vehicles of the second word war, Peter Müller poses a serious threat to the Allied invasion of Normandy. He would mercilessly blow up every hostile living being, brave enough to cross his sights. 

But one day, during battle, he caught sight of Violet, a maiden who holds unpleasant memories with him, in the past...

Perhaps after many years, Mr. Falcone will realize that the two most admirable things he has done in his life are

First: After getting drunk that year, I had a fight with Bruce Wayne's father.

Second: let a young man named Parker lead the "Roman Empire" to capture Arkham Asylum.

These two things are almost crazy behaviors, the only thing that is a little different is that the fight with Mr. Thomas Wayne is due to the effect of alcohol, and trusting the old Joey and Parker ... is only based on an intuition .

...

...

The sun in Gotham City fell again, the gorgeous lights snickered, and a swarm of bees rushed into the night, trying to use the light to attract people's withered eyes, and by the way hide the ugly things in the dark.

People who have lived in Gotham for a long time will always develop a keen instinct, or naive guys who are not keen enough to live in this city for too long.

In short, under this natural selection, the citizens of Gotham seem to have the ability to smell the dangerous breath of the night wind, so ... today's streets are extremely deserted.

In addition to the "Roman Empire" people ... they put on the most solemn, or the most fierce clothes, picked up the most convenient guy, and turned out their most valuable things from the closet, which may be dead The brother's necklace may also be a pocket watch of his dad who is in prison. Anyway, they were so glorious in dressing them up, just like the Roman soldiers before the war.

It's hard to imagine why there are such glorious emotions among the little bastards who make a living out of evil.

Ordinary people certainly have no way to understand, because they do not live in Gotham, naturally they cannot understand the blurry line between light and darkness in the "Sin Capital", they cannot understand the deadliest cold and darkness that light brings to people. Hot tea and warm duvet.

So, tonight is destined to be a carnival in Gotham City, for freedom, for justice or evil, for money, or for whatever shit stuff, in short, tonight will be the most glorious moment in the life of the Roman Empire people ... ... they are going to capture the most sturdy and strongest city in Gotham, Arkham Asylum.

They closed the door of the small monthly rental house, walked out of the dark alley, and walked into the street against the night, gathered together, and solemnly greeted this night of their own.

However, you may not believe it ... In such a magnificent carnival night, everyone has a doubt, that is ...

"Lying trough, shall we go to Arkham Asylum?"

"Yeah, it sounds so good, but how do we push?"

"I don't know! You don't know?"

"Lying trough? I don't know? But I heard another guy named Parker, he will lead us."

"Who is Parker?"

"I do not know?"

Well, no one knows how this carnival will take place tonight, but this does not prevent self-confidence and glory from squeezing the hearts of this group of young people, because they are just a scoop of water in the torrent, they do n't need to know, they just need to gather Together, wait for someone to point them in a direction, and then rush to rush over, overturning those who point fingers at them, or will point fingers at them, that's all.

It's like the non-influential characters who never had a name in the story, but surrounded the whole story.

...

And this night, the worst person should be Parker.

He drove a seemingly ordinary car and drove on the road to Arkham Asylum. This car is a Falcone car, and everyone in the 'Roman Empire' knows it.

Tonight, this car belongs to Parker.

"I said, let's drive slower, I'm a little dizzy." Old Joey said in the back seat, barely holding the seat.

Parker's face was crying and he had to slow down the car again ... in fact he now feels that he threw the car on the side of the road, and walking may be faster than this.

"Uh ... Mr. Joey, I don't doubt your ability, but ... what are you going to do in a moment?"

Joey shook his body: "Ah? Are you asking how to pick Ziliang?"

"This ... is what this means."

"Haha-of course I have my plan!" Joey smiled. "Ziliang's guy always said that I don't use my mind. Today I'll show him how old Joey's plan works!"

This statement was magnificent, but Parker's heart had a very bad hunch.

"So ... what is the plan?" He asked.

"Humph!" Old Joey straightened up formally: "I'll chop open the door of that insane asylum first, let's rush in, I'll walk ahead, you keep up!"

"Oh, that's what it is." Parker said and opened the window to let the night wind blow in to calm himself down. He really didn't want to ask Old Joey any more questions, just thought that if it was heaven tonight After one's own test, the result must be over.

...

...

An hour later, Parker drove the car to the pre-defined meeting place. Because Joey's speed requirements were too stringent, when he arrived, all the remaining people were there.

This is a small suburban road leading to only one place in Arkham Asylum, but no one has left here since the insane asylum was expanded.

At this moment, the whole road was crowded with crowds. Although the Arkham Asylum was not far from the end of the road, because it was a bend, the view was blocked by trees and each other could not be seen.

Watching Falcone's car stop, all the people on both sides of the road were watching, Parker endured the tremor on his body and told himself that the matter had come, even if it was to catch the duck on the shelf, it could only try to keep himself The shape on the shelf is not difficult to look bad.

He took a deep breath and pushed open the door ... At this moment, the night wind blew over, slapped on the face, drilled into the sleeve ... Parker faced the hundreds of people in front of him, body He was still trembling and his heart was still panicking, but he seemed to find ... this scene was not as terrible as expected.

This is a very wonderful feeling, as if a person would never know what it tasted if he did n't eat it. Without taking a step, he would never know where he was going. In a trance, he seemed to understand why Falconi 's father would so easily hand over the entire Roman Empire to his children, and he understood why Mr. Falconi would let himself lead this operation tonight.

You think you ca n't, maybe it 's just that you have n't experienced ...

"Hey! Can you pull me out first!" Old Joey's voice sounded behind him.

Parker eased away from the emotion, quickly opened the rear door, and pulled Joey out.

...

"Haha-hello everyone!" Joey finally stood up straight, smiling and waving at the crowd in front of him.

Parker is extremely embarrassed now, because everyone looks at himself and Joey, but he doesn't know what to say. Do they tell this group of people that he is just a bastard, and this old Joey will go to The door of the Arkham Asylum House was chopped open. Let's just go in and smash it and burn it?

No one knows when this kind of psychiatric hospital is in the world appeared.

It appeared on the most prosperous street in Gotham City, and was once hidden in the darkest corner of Raccoon City. 

Some people say that the girl in the nurse's uniform are a bit like Harley Quinn. Some people say that the old man in the ward on the second floor calls himself Professor Moriarty. Some people find old chainsaws in the corner of the corridor. Some people Under the bed, there was a card with a clown drawn, the attending physician was always lazy, and there was always some inexplicable blood in the cracks in the floor.

Parker eventually finished taking her measurements. He then sat on his grass nest and sewed a top using a needle made of fishbone with a serious and focused look on his face. His round, furry leopard ears on top of his head of brown hair would shake in the wind every now and then.
Bai Qingqing thought Parker was reliable since he seemed like he actually knew how to sew. 
The clothes were finished within half an hour. Bai Qingqing was full of anticipation as she took them, but her facial expression stiffened when she actually saw them.
F*ck!
Was he embroidering a centipede at the seam? Or was that an irregular-shaped S? 
Bai Qingqing instantly felt like she'd been tricked. His workmanship was so bad that she couldn't help but wonder if Parker had done it on purpose. She couldn't help but grab Parker's skirt and look at it. When she moved the fur on his skirt away, she realized that the stitches on Parker's clothes were even more unsightly. They were several times sparser, so much so that she could see the skin underneath.
At least the stitches on hers were very tight.
Parker's face turned red and snatched away the clothes from Bai Qingqing. "If you think they're sewn badly, you can sew the clothes yourself." 
He was extremely regretful that he only learned such skills after leaving his original tribe, and even then, he didn't do a proper job of learning them. Had he known earlier, he would have practiced sewing clothes more. 
Knowing that Parker had painstakingly made the clothes for her, Bai Qingqing felt guilty about her reaction. "No, it's pretty good. The stitches are very tight." 
Parker's eyes instantly lit up, as if they were lightbulbs with increased voltage. "Really?"
"Yeah." Bai Qingqing nodded sincerely. "I'll put it on after taking a shower."
The sun was setting at this point, and the sky above Camel Hump Valley first turned dark. The temperature dropped rapidly. 
The beastmen quickly went down to the river to take a shower while the water in the river was still warm. The males were at the north end of the river, while the females were at the south end of the river. Both groups bathed separately.
Parker didn't allow Bai Qingqing to bathe at the south end of the river as he didn't want her appearance to be exposed. He borrowed a large stone basin from the village's doctor, filled it with water, and got her to bathe in the house. The water was already muddy after Bai Qingqing washed her face, but Parker didn't mind. He ran to the river and filled it with clean water without a second word. 
Bai Qingqing wet the towel and wordlessly looked at Parker again and again. Seeing that he was still in the house, she said, "I'm going to shower. Please step outside for a bit."
Unsatisfied, Parker immediately protested. "Don't you have any self-awareness? We're mates now! Mates! Who kicks out their mate during a shower?"
Bai Qingqing's face flushed angrily. She didn't want to marry at such a young age! But… she wasn't sure if she could defend herself against the group of beastmen outside. Hence, she bottled up her anger and didn't refute what Parker said about them being mates. 
"That won't do either. Get out, get out!" Bai Qingqing walked over and pushed Parker towards the door.
When Parker reached the door, he reached out and closed it.
It immediately became dark in the house. Bai Qingqing couldn't see anything as her eyes hadn't adjusted to the light.
"What are you doing?" Bai Qingqing's heart was in her mouth as she nervously stepped away from Parker.
Parker replied, "I closed the door so that other males won't peep at you. Quickly go shower. You'll catch a cold if you shower when it's cold outside." 
So that was what Parker was trying to do. She thought he was going to force himself on her. 
Bai Qingqing let out a sigh of relief. She didn't dare to provoke Parker either. It was dark inside the house, and Parker probably wouldn't be able to see anyway. Hence, she felt her way to the stone basin and faced away from Parker as she took off her clothes and washed up.
Mmm! Taking a shower felt so comfortable after sweating so much. 
Parker, on the other hand, was stunned the moment he saw Bai Qingqing's nude body. His vertical pupils dilated, allowing his eyes to absorb as much light as possible and take in the beautiful scenery in the house.


After finding herself in a beastmen world, a leopard rescues her and later abducts her. Bai Qingqing suffers quite a mental breakdown because the males in this world are as gorgeous and handsome as strutting peacocks. On the other hand, the females are ridiculously ugly, but still highly cherished by the males. 
As a beautiful high-school student, she has somehow become the most mesmerizing beauty in this world.
Worst of all, this world is a matriarchal society. She doesn’t want three four husbands waiting on her! Her life becomes about teasing a leopard, tickling a tiger, seducing a poisonous snake, and capturing an eagle. Bai Qingqing, with a full harem, is too deep for tears. She really didn't want any of this.
"Hey, hey, Brother Leopard, Brother Tiger, Brother Snake, Brother Eagle, what are you doing? Stay back!" 
There are four male leads: The young and strong leopard, the emo and silent snake, the powerful tiger, and the aloof and loner eagle.

Fina opened her eyes slowly, her vision still blurry. Her mouth was dry and patched and her limbs felt weak like her body was on lockdown. 
The room she was in was dark and darkness oozes through it. 
She was dying. 
Her body suddenly became cold. Like ice. 
And she felt something moving from her feet, passed her organs and out of her mouth. 
When, she looked up, she saw herself staring at her. 
Then, it turned and walked out of the room. 
Blood spilled out of her mouth and with a single draw of air, she gave in to total darkness. 
Fina walked past corridors. 
Students laughed and chatted on the way. 
She only have one destination in mind and that was the library. 
When she turned another corridor, she saw Bryce Parker and Kit walking towards her. 
Kit was reading from a book while Bryce walked straight. 
As Fina walked past him, he suddenly turned making kit to look up. 
"What's wrong?" Kit asked
Bryce Parker shook his head. 
"Nothing. Let's go"
Fina walked through doors before finally getting to the library. 
No one was there which made it extremely strange. 
"I've been waiting for you." 
She turned to see Xiana Kang behind her. 
"We can speak" Fina said in surprise. 
Xiana smiled. 
"Isn't it sad? I really believed in you. He hasn't been able to find me. Yet. He wants something from me"
"The book" Fina said
Xiana nodded. 
"Where is it?" Fina asked 
"It's too late now. If there's one place dark students can find you the most, it's through your dreams. Sentimincus is a common spell we use. I truly wanted out. I didn't want to do it anymore. Bryce and Xavier tried to save me. I died in Bryce Parker's arms. I wasn't mad. They made it seem like that. You do not know what dark students are capable of"
"You are a dark student. What are dark students?"
Xiana smiled and shook her head. 
"I swear on my grave,  Fina Clark. You do not want to know. Anything relating to us, is horror on its own. I'd rather die than go back"
"Where?"
Xiana shook her head again. 
"It's evil. They are taking the book there. I watched them meet every night. No matter how hard you could have tried, you wouldn't find all the clues. You'll only be left with more questions. More questions, no or few answers. They made it like that"
"Tell me where the book is, Xiana"
"I could but they'd take it easily from you. They can access you and right now, they awaits you. Either you wait until you are gone or you fight before you die" Xiana said "But remember, wandering deaths don't go anywhere except vanish completely. I knew I wasn't going to escape. I wanted to give the Guardian Queen the book but I knew I wouldn't succeed. I'd to hide it where no eyes could find it. I was cursed"
Xiana's head popped off suddenly and blue blood sipped out of it making Fina extremely terrified. 
Xiana was gone. 
Forever. 
Something begin to write on the wall. 
"It was nice meeting you, Fina Clark"
She needs to find that book. 
In dreams does it all lay. 
Translation -  in death does it all becomes real. 
Fina rushed through the library but came up with nothing. She did this multiple times but  found nothing. 
This is where Xiana Kang used to stay the most which meant that she's been guarding something for months now. 
Fina searched through shelves. She searched the whole library but came up with nothing. 
She walked slowly to the spot where Xiana stands the most and looked from Xiana's point of view. 
She didn't see anything. 
Then, she looked harder and thoroughly. 
She saw it. It was what Xiana stared at the most. 
In front of her lies a secret trap door. 
Everyone passed through it everyday. Everyone moved around it. But no one will ever knew. 
The search wasn't easy. No one said it was easy. 
Because, you have to be on death list before you find it. And once you are already on death list, you are never coming back. 
Xiana said she was once on the same page with her. 
You have to die to get the book. You have to be far from reality to get the book. 
The only way you can see something invisible is not by sensing or feeling, it's by death. 
They haven't been looking for the book, they have been knocking on death's door. 
And death have finally answer her call. 
The trap door floats in the air. Gold decorated it's rim. 
Bright light shone from it as Fina stepped towards it. The door opened by it's own and she stepped into it. 
Everything changed and she found herself in a mirrored room. 
The room was extremely chilly and she shivered hard. 
Another trap door appears in the air and she entered. She entered through twenty one trap doors with intensified chilly background before the Trapdoor stopped appearing. 
The room she was in was total ice and she knew her body was already freezing. The part of her that wasn't real. 
Her teeth clattered so hard she was scared it might break. 
She moved round the room to find anything. Anything. 
As she kept searching she felt everything tilt suddenly. 
Time wasn't on her side anymore. 
Fina stood in the middle of the room and looked carefully at the glass mirrors. 
When things becomes extremely hard to find, you wait, look and watch carefully. 
Two minutes was already gone when her eyes fixed on the fifth glass. 
Fina walked towards it and withdrew her hands, giving the glass a very hard hit with her fist. 
It cracked but didn't shatter. She tried this thrice before the glass completely gave way and shattered. Her hand covered in her own blood. 
There, in front of her, stood the strangest door she had ever seen. 
The symbol of a star shaped heptagon with a red ruby in the midst was on the door. The door was built with turning wheels. Locked wheels. 
Fina pounded on the door but nothing happened. 
She kicked the door feeling the claws of death wrapping on her neck. 
Nothing happened. 
She sat down on the chilled floor with a frustrated sigh and glared at the door. 
She was cold and the dress she wore have little impact on the cold air. 
As she touched her locket, she remembered Xiana's ring. 
Fina brought out the ring from her pocket and got up. 
She placed the ring on the ruby and it got swallowed completely. 
The wheels turned and the door unlocked. 
To reveal a second door. 
The red eye.

Fina Clark is a quiet girl who believes everything's perfect in her world until she was recruited into the ancient and mysterious magical school, Elfina.

 Elfina, the school which looked flawless to the eyes but reeked of danger. Its doors opens to a room full of secrets, its walls whispers silently, its trees afraid.

 The magical lessons with its hidden meanings. The danger of getting a spell wrong. The hidden diary, the wronged ghosts and the paintings. The piercing nightmares that becomes its own  reality. 

Fina Clark drawn by the blank paged diary, discovered the existence of an invisible coded book. A book with a demonic red eye that burns. A dark book. She thrusts herself into finding the invincible book but never knew the consequences of her actions. 

Students began to fall one after the other and their memories erased from the world. Everything became dark and bloody. And there are those who would stop at nothing to get the book even if it meant wiping out the world for it. They are the mysterious ones and are darkness themselves. And they watches.

I throw the papers my men handed me as I say "I could care less about this shit! Where is Maya? She couldn't have just disappeared into thin air!" Logan and Ace look down but don't say anything. Parker comes running into the room.

"They found her motorcycle three miles away from her house! There are a few dead beasts but we couldn't find her or Chip. It's rained since then making it impossible to find tracks... We've hit a dead end." Alec clenches his fits as he storms to the door.

He grabs Parker by the shirt and drags him as he says "Nero, You're in charge while I'm away." Alec stops at the door and turns to look at Remi. "Keep an eye on him." He says pointing at Remi. Remi flashes his teeth at Alec and says "Sorry to disappoint but I'm coming with you."

Alec wants to tell him to go to hell but he grits his teeth and walks out. He doesn't have time to fight with him. Maya is out there and she could be in trouble. Every minute could make the difference between life and death.

Parker straightens his shirt when Alec finally releases him. He sighs and climbs into the military jeep. Alec jumps into the passenger seat while Remi climbs into the back. Parker sighs and cranks the jeep... this should be fun.

It didn't take long before they made it back to the spot where the motorcycle was left but they had to walk the last bit because the trees were too dense. Alec picks the bike up looking at it and the crushed back wheel.

His dark eyes scan the woods that was becoming infected by the black goo. Something large was after her... he drops the bike and turns to look around the woods. She's going to be pissed about the bike...

Lightning streaks across the sky as thunder soon follows. It was going to rain again... She had been missing for a month... his heart felt like something was squeezing it making it harder and harder to breathe... Please be okay.

Parker, Remi, and Alec began walking around the area, splitting up to cover more ground. Something shiny caught Alec's eyes. He immediately walked over and picked up her blade. He stays crouching as his dark eyes scan the area.

He saw large dips in the ground showing a large animal so he follows the tracks and finds a large headless monster half-decayed. He scrunches his nose in disgust but keeps going. He picks up her two guns, placing both of them behind his back.

He follows the large drag marks but what he finds has his heart dropping to his feet. It was a pit... He quickly walks over as the rain begins to fall making the already cold air colder. Alec hardly notices as he runs over, looking down. 

"Maya!? Chip!!?" he yells into the pit and waits but he doesn't hear or see anything. Alec leans over about to go in when Parker suddenly grabs him from behind "Are you insane!? You can't go down there!" Parker yells as Alec pushes him away.

"If there's even a small chance of her being down there then I'm going!" Alec yells over the downpour. Parker wants to pull his hair out as he tries to reason with Alec. "Listen to me Alec, even if she fell down there she wouldn't still be down there. She would have come up with Chip's help. I know this, you know this!"

"Don't be stupid! The City needs you and Maya needs you in the City keeping things under control. The hacker has been silent but the world is going to shit! Think about all the women and children in our base that rely on us, on you to keep them safe! How do you think Maya would feel if she knew you let all those people down because of her?"

Alec grabs Parker by the throat and comes close to snapping his neck but he breathes in and does his best to control himself. Parker doesn't fight against him realizing just how close he just came to losing his life. He waits and lets Alec regain control over himself again.

Alec pushes Parker away with a snarl and looks back at the pit. Cold, hard rain beats down on them causing their clothes to stick to them. Alec's black shirt clung to him like a second skin showing off his toned body as steam rose from him, making him look demonic. Making it look like he himself just crawled out of the pits of hell.

Winter was almost here making everything extremely cold but Alec didn't even notice. His heart felt so cold that nothing came close to the feeling. Not even the freezing rain. "I want this whole area combed over, do I make myself clear?"

Parker swallows hard and says "I will get men on it immediately. We will find her." Alec gives him a look that nearly has his soul flying away in fear. "For your sake... I hope you do." Alec says in a cold, hard voice before turning away and shifting back to the City.

Maya is not your typical hacker. Ten years ago, her only living family was killed in cold blood. The killers make her take the fall but after ten years in prison, she's become stronger. Now, she hunts the very monsters that hunt others. She's untraceable until she runs into Alec, the Underworld's notorious leader who doesn't seem to be quite human. Things aren't as they seem though, as Maya is pulled into a twisted fate. Maya now has to run from the Underworld boss who wants her as his own and a mysterious hacker who seems to have it out for her. What could possibly go wrong, right? 

EVERYTHING.



I do not own the cover, the picture used is from Pinterest.

Wanna talk? Find me on Discord! Blissfullrage#3336
___________________________________

Would like to donate? paypal.me/Blissfullrage

An earsplitting explosion echoed through the air, accompanied by screams from various people. "Sylva! Are you okay?" Mary asked, her voice joined by the sound of a chair skidding against a stone floor.

"Never felt better…" The half-elf groaned in response, clutching some sand with his hands as he gazed forward.

"Five…four…three…" Esther began counting down, raising her hand up and glancing up at her professors, who were watching everything unfold from above them.

"I can still go on!" Sylva yelled, running forward and kicking up sand in his wake. The air still clouded by smoke, and now sand, made it hard to see, but the shadow of Sylva's figure raising his arm skyward was clear to see. Then, wind…

A gust strong enough to blow down trees blew away the obscuring particles in the air, also knocking down some people who got caught in its path. Sylva breathed deeply, his arm held in the air by another person's hand.

"You know, Mr.Wrylyr. The thing about the haste spell that I find interesting is its side effect." He said, his hand glowing faintly as they drained Sylva of the aura created by his spell; struggle as he might, the deed was already done. "A six-second stun due to extreme fatigue, no matter what you did in its duration."

"Fuck." Was all Sylva could say before his body locked up. Esther started her countdown again, horns blaring as she reached zero. "Good match." Free from his condition, the brown-haired magician extended a hand to his opponent.

"Good match." The two shook hands. "Not bad for a freshie, had me on my toes." His opponent, a cosman male indicated by the semi-translucent body and missing arm which was slowly growing back, walked out of the sandpit and rejoined a group of students, second years.

"That concludes the first match; consult your professors for your performance score. Next, match: Mary Silvertongue versus…Luna." Cornelia spoke, her voice reaching the other side of the massive sparring ground. Around her were not only the first years' professors, but the other years' as well. The two students in question walked to the center of the sandpit.

"Hey." Mary said, waving her hand. "How've you been Luna?"

"I've been great." The child replied, smiling ear to ear. "At first the quests were scary, but now they're really fun."

Well, I'm glad that Tyme is treating you well, she put me through the wringer when I first joined." Mary let out a long sigh. "Shall we?" Extending her hand, she gave a soft smile.

"Okay!" Luna replied, conjuring a magic hand to do the shake.

"Damn, I thought that'd work." The third-year grunted to herself as the two took ten paces, each, away from each other. The air was still, the tension palpable as both combatants waited for…

A long, droning horn sound signaled the beginning of the match proper. Mary took the initiative, quickly casting a spell that let her take an aerial approach to the battle. Luna used her opponent's altitude to her advantage, summoning a hail storm that buffeted the area and persisted as the child took steps backward. Cold and crisp, the air stung almost as much as the trauma caused by the chunks of ice crashing down towards the ground.

Crashing down, pellets assaulted Mary as she tried to evade. Ducking and diving, kicking and punching away until she sighed and snapped her fingers; Mary was done playing games. In that instant, a prismatic bowl appeared beneath her feet and began thumping against itself, creating loud shockwaves that shattered the ice into smaller and smaller pieces until they eventually touched the ground as snow.

That problem taken care of, she returned her attention to the first year. "Where'd she go?" She asked aloud, scanning the sand for footprints but finding none. "Luna?" Apprehensively, she flew down to get a closer look. Silence fell over the entire dueling ground. Then, from the corner of her eye, Mary saw the sand shift slightly to her right. "Found you!" She yelled, flying over to the spot at top speed while engulfing her hands in ice.

"Cover your mouth!" Luna yelled from behind as the sand around Mary began rising up and swallowing her up as four devil-looking elementals pushed her body down with earthen claws. Luna's own body was half-submerged in the sand, but she had no trouble escaping that.
"Five…four…three…two…one…"

The horn sounded again, but the cheers from the first year students nearly drowned them out. Luna looked up at the headmaster, who looked down with a smile as some of the professors took care of the student's summons. "Thank you." Luna said to the last remaining elemental before she engulfed it in flames; it left a glass statue that was removed in preparation for the next match.

"Congratulations." Duna said, handing Luna some water. "You were amazing out there." She added, walking with the child as they joined Sylva in watching the next match.

"That was cheeky, Luna." Mary's voice entered the child's mind, coming from a seat to her far left. She was standing next to a few buckets, furiously trying to rid herself of all the sand that crashed into her. Mary saw the kid staring, cupping her hands around her mouth. "Good job, but I want a rematch."

"That was the one you were assisting, was it not?" One of the higher year professors asked Cornelia, a dark-skinned human that seemed far too young to be in his position. "I know that Mary is a mischievous one herself, but to see her outsmarted by a child is quite the sight."

"I taught her a lot of things, but I never taught her that." Cornelia replied as the horn signaled another match's start. "And I doubt she'd learn tactics like that with her missions in forests and taigas. No, that girl…"

"Congratulations." Professor Samantha approached the child, holding something behind her back. "And my apologies." With a bow, she presented a metal hilt with runes engraved into it. It was steel, adorned with silver and gold filigree and a diamond embedded into the pommel. Along with the gift, she handed over an extra piece of paper, which Luna read aloud.

"We accept the terms of our contract. In exchange for use of her blueprints, Ms. Luna will receive…50% of all profits made from her item until the end of her life and thirty years after…" She said as the professor brushed some sand out of her orange hair.

"They're going to make it to market soon." The instructor said, gazing into the child's eyes as they filled with joy and hope.

"Thank you, professor…" Was all she could say. Still taking everything in as the horn sounded off again, Luna leaned back in her seat.

"Oh, I missed the match. Well, good luck." The teacher said, walking back to sit next to her brother and take notes on the next match. For the rest of the day, matches kept pitting student against student, each sponsored by one of the professors; around 24 matches in total since each professor sponsors two students. Surprisingly, the second-year students got the most wins, not like there was a prize for competing other than detailed combat guides.

"That certainly was interesting." Esther said, filtering out of the arena with Duna at her side. "Duna, do you want to go somewhere on our way home?"

"Well, if you have nothing else to do, why not stop by Matthew's place? I could go for some cinnamon rolls." The Dragonborn replied, walking out and touching the warp to set her on the streets of Lusterfel.

"Matthew? I suppose I should give him a copy of my notes." The blonde mulled on her thoughts. "I wonder what's been keeping him from coming to class. It couldn't have been from a quest or a mission since he's not in a party."

"Maybe he just got lazy."

"I doubt it. He's not one to be tired for long periods of time. Perhaps it's his…" Esther put her arm in front of Duna, stopping both of them as they saw Abby walking to a park with what appeared to be one of her classmates. "It's not his sister, from what we saw."

"Well, we're not going to find out if we just stand here. Let's just go and see for ourselves." With that, the two made their way to the bakery. It was closed, which was strange since it was nowhere near the usual closing time. Esther knocked loudly.

"We're closed!" Matthew screamed from inside, peeking his head up from behind the counter. He looked pale; his head red as it wobbled around uncontrollably. "Go away!" He shouted at the girls, who promptly unlocked the door with magic.

"What's your problem!?" Duna screamed while Esther glared at him from the doorway.

Matthew, son of a retired adventurer, starts his studies under one of her parents' old teammates in one of the most prestigious schools in the continent: Cosmosis Academy. When all the adventuring is finished, what is there to do?


Parker sat far more patiently than Fresco while Medley drew her blood. Her smile was constant and gentle. Fresco couldn't help but smile back. He was certain his expression came across far goofier than hers. He felt a joy within him, growing stronger and stronger as the minutes went by, a joy fed by the knowledge that Parker was free.
From the lopsided grin on Garris's face, he was no more immune than they were.
Medley remained her usual stoic self, however, as she capped off the last vial of blood. She sat back while Fresco applied a bandage to Parker's arm.
"I'll have a look," the old chemist said. "But if the boy's blood is any indicator, I won't be finding anything in the girl's either."
Fresco barely heard her. Parker's golden eyes shone, her gift touching his. Fresco felt like he connected with someone else for the first time in his life and the sensation was more addictive than Wasteland. They ignored Medley as she gathered her things and when Garris escorted the small, round woman to the office door.
It wasn't until he interrupted with a well-placed throat clearing that Fresco was able to draw himself away, although a slim thread of Parker remained with him thereafter.
"You two have made me one happy guy," Garris said. "One very happy guy. You know what this means?"
They nodded together, their excitement as high as his. They did it. Not once, no fluke after all, but twice. And now that they knew how... the possibilities were endless.
"We have to get started right away," Garris said. "We've taken the first step with a lot of the kids, but we want to identify those closest to a lull so we can focus on them." He rubbed his hands together in obvious anticipation. "We'll need the two of you to take turns helping, of course. Fres, you said you shielded Parker in the end to make it work?"
"Me protecting her while she did her thing was the right way to go," he said. "Plus, I was there to force her to finish. Having someone there to push you to the end made it easier."
"I can't thank you both enough." Garris glowed at them. "And Parker," he said, moisture rising in his eyes again, "I am so very proud of you."
She rose to her feet and hugged the tall man. He enveloped her in his arms and held her for a long time. Fresco was uncomfortable being witness to their private moment, but knew from the steady emotional presence she held with him Parker wouldn't have it any other way.
She stepped back and grinned impishly. "Well? What are we waiting for? We've got kids to save."
Parker marched to the office door as Fresco paused, motioning to Garris. She raised an eyebrow at them, but Fresco blocked her from seeing what he was thinking.
"See you downstairs, then," she said, and left. Garris turned to Fresco, forehead creased.
"What is it?"
Fresco didn't want to put a dampener on the mood, but it was important. "Kimberly," he said.
"Go get her, Fresco," Garris said. "Bring her back."
Fresco was already halfway to the door. On the other side, he literally ran into Chad. The other boy was grinning.
"Parker!" He gripped Fresco's arms and shook him.
"Yes," he said.
Chad glanced over Fresco's shoulder at Garris who slipped past, patting Chad's shoulder with one large hand before disappearing toward the basement stairs.
Chad let Fresco go, an intensity in his face Fresco never saw before. "We have to find Kimberly."
"Where do you think I was going?" Fresco said. "Want to come?"
The smile Chad beamed lit up the world.
It took a few hours to track her down. The streets were growing dark, the deep red and gold sunset glowing in the west. Fresco knew all the sugarpops, but had no way of figuring out which one Kimberly would go to. At least, until Chad spoke up.
"She went back to him," Chad's voice was deep with emotion.
"Her usual," Fresco said.
Chad choked, unable to speak. Fresco knew what it meant. He didn't need him to explain. She went to the last person she should have. Kimberly went back to her dealer.
"Who?"
"EMZee," Chad said.
Fresco felt like his friend just punched him in the stomach. All the fear, the anguish, the guilt came rushing up from inside him and knocked out his breath.
"You know him?" Chad's worry for Kimberly warred with his concern for Fresco.
Fresco managed to nod while he pulled himself under control. He shoved his hands in his pockets, trying to hide their shaking. "Yeah." He breathed out what little air he held. "I know him."
Fresco didn't want to go, but he had no choice. There was no one else. At least knowing who it was made the search easier. EMZee liked a few routes, but shifted without notice. Three of Fresco's contacts sent them in the wrong direction before the fourth got it right.
They came upon the dealer in a dim alley. Fresco froze at the sight of him, fear taking over. He would have run if EMZee saw him. But he had his back to them, bending over a collapsed body, his dark skin shining with sweat, eager hands at the girl's clothing while she begged for the blue joy.
"Anything," Kimberly's voice sobbed from the darkness, voice hardly her own, clutching the lean pusher's designer jeans. "I'll do anything."
EMZee laughed. "I know."
Chad roared and ran for the dealer. The pure rage in his friend snapped Fresco out of his terror and drove him forward. He was too late to get his hands on Chad before he tackled the dealer and flung him from Kimberly.
The sugarpop spun on them, snarling, a knife in his fist. "You asking for death, meat!" His dark brown eyes flickered back and forth between them. When they settled on Fresco, he saw the animal anger turn to vicious amusement.
"You back for more, Waster boy?" EMZee spit on the pavement at Fresco's feet and laughed again, the same cold laughter Fresco remembered from somewhere in his hazy descent into Wasteland. His blood ran to ice, whole body shaking, phantom bruises jabbing him with pain.
"I'm back for you," Fresco said before he thought better of it. It was true, though. As much as he cared for Kimberly, there was a score to settle, guilt to purge, and fear to banish. And standing there, staring at the sugarpop who caused him so much horror, Fresco felt the old anguish ease. He wasn't much to look at, really. He devolved in his own addiction, just enough he no longer looked terrifying. Now that Fresco was free, EMZee just looked pathetic. Fresco felt the agony he carried around with him spin downward, converting to fury. He wanted very much to hurt EMZee, to torture him as much as he himself endured.
"Your boys left you all alone." Fresco's hands clenched into fists, the shaking subsiding. He forced them to open, pushed down his fear and humiliation.
Chad didn't give him the chance to go on. "If you touched her, I'll kill you." He looked willing to do it.
EMZee snickered at him. "Yeah, I had her." His sneer was flavored with Wasteland, the blue joy crusted in the corners of his generous mouth, teeth tinted with it. "She lovin' it. She beggin' me for it. I gave it to her, nice and hard." He ground his skinny hips forward, winking at Fresco. It wasn't about Kimberly and he knew it. "She sweet, yes she is. Had her a bunch of times already."
Chad vibrated with fury and was about to get himself killed. Fresco stepped forward, in front of his friend.
"Focus on Kim," he shot over his shoulder. "I'll deal with the trash."
EMZee waved the knife. "Come and get some, Waster boy. Time I finish you up."
It was too easy, really. A touch from Fresco's power sent the blade swinging away. EMZee froze, shocked.
"You... you can't! It don't work that way!"
Fresco's lips twisted into a smile. "Oh, really?"
Another jab brought the quivering sugarpop to his knees. Fresco stared down into those chocolate brown eyes, now full of fear.
"Don't kill me!" For the first time, Fresco saw the addict in EMZee, the battle the sugarpop fought within himself. He was no different than Fresco, than any of the Wasted kids, except his power was so thin and weak it barely fluttered against Fresco's mind. And as much as Fresco wanted to kill him, he paused.
It would be so simple, he thought. So easy to just reach out and... He got control of his desire. That's not me. No matter what this scum did to me or to Kim, I'm not a killer. I'm not like him.
Instead, he gave the terrified pusher a shove, one hand gesturing as he released his gift. EMZee fell over into a pile of stinking garbage, Wasted eyes huge.
Fitting, Fresco thought.
"I'm giving you a walk," Fresco said, voice sounding cold even to him. "But if I catch you taking advantage of other Wasted kids ever again... I'll be watching you."
EMZee shuddered, nodding so fast his lank hair flopped around his ears. Fresco felt a surge of pity after all. Despite the beating in the cell, despite the torture and torment EMZee and his boys put Fresco through, he was still a victim. Still, he did his best to encourage the boy's fear.
"You might want to consider running," he said.
EMZee scrambled for safety. As he stumbled from sight, Fresco felt the last of his self-inflicted torment lift from his heart and leave him in peace.
He sighed out the last of it and went to help Chad with Kimberly. They were doing fine without him, however. Chad cradled her, helping her to her feet.
"Time to come home, baby," he whispered. Fresco blushed at the intimacy of Chad's emotion. But, it was the very strength of it that reached Kimberly and pulled her partway back.
She cried out, clinging to her savior who scooped her up into his arms and held her close.
The look Chad shot Fresco was fierce.
"Thank you," he said, voice coarse and deep with emotion.
Kimberly touched his face with shaking fingers. "I need more," she whispered, but the desperate edge was gone from her.
Chad smiled at her and kissed her forehead. "You're going to be okay," he said. "Just hang on."
"I'm sorry," she wailed, "I couldn't stop it. I had to have it. Don't hate me."
Chad kept smiling at her and held onto her even when she tried to pull away from him, to cover her face in shame.
"I'll never hate you, Kim," he said, voice soft and caring. "I understand. We all do. But it's time to come home."
Fresco stepped aside and let them go, understanding why Chad so carefully used humor to hide his feelings. But there was no need to hide anymore. Not for any of them.
He almost missed the dark blue cargo van parked across the street. Fresco froze when his brain registered what he was seeing. Filled with an urgency he never felt before, he rushed at Chad and Kimberly and shoved them behind a parked car.
Fresco could tell Chad was startled and a little angry. He shook his head to silence his friend and pointed. Chad looked where Fresco showed him. His face registered shock and fear. His arms tightened around Kimberly.
"Garbagemen," Chad whispered. "Why are they here?"
Fresco shrugged, anger welling within him. He wanted to strike out, to do something horrible and permanent to the dark blue van. All the rage came flooding back. He swayed, his impulse driving him forward. A hand on his arm brought him up short. He turned to Kimberly. She was shaking.
"Please," she whispered. "Please, don't leave us."
Fresco bit his lip, shoving aside the fire of retribution. It would be so easy. But doing so, striking out when they were far from ready, would expose them and put them all at risk. His rational mind knew it. The hurt part of him screamed to do battle.
Had he been alone, he would not have hesitated. But feeling the two lost souls beside him, needing him, pulled him up short and reined in his selfish desire to hurt those who hurt him. Kimberly and Chad were terrified. He took them on as his responsibility, for good or ill, and he wasn't about to abandon them now.
Fresco managed a grim smile at the trembling girl "I'm not going anywhere," he said.
They watched from the safety of their hiding place as three large men in blue coveralls and ball caps emerged from a dilapidated building across the street. One carried a wrapped bundle about the size of a twelve-year-old. The tarp was old and torn, filthy. Fresco caught a flash of a scuffed sneaker as a skinny leg swung free. For some reason, the sight of that dirty wrapping, an insult to its precious cargo, made his rage flare higher.
The man loaded his burden into the back of the van as the other two climbed into the front. Fresco held himself rooted in his spot, his promise to Kimberly the only thing keeping him from unleashing his gift on the unsuspecting Garbagemen. It was risky and stupid, the worst thing he could do, but all he wanted was to tear them apart, to punish them for what they were doing.
Instead, he simply watched, fuming in fury, as the back doors of the van slammed shut. They drove off with their prize. Fresco cursed under his breath when they rounded a corner and disappeared from view.
"We have to go," Chad said, breaking through Fresco's murderous thoughts. "They might come back."
"They got what they came for," he said. "We have to get home and tell Garris. Come on."
He led them back out onto the street and toward Last Stand, his body running on its own as his mind conceived painful end after torturous death for each and every one of the Garbagemen.

***



I’m an international, multiple award-winning author with a passion for the voices in my head. As a singer, songwriter, independent filmmaker and improv teacher and performer, my life has always been about creating and sharing what I create with others. Now that my dream to write for a living is a reality, with over a hundred titles in happy publication and no end in sight, I live in beautiful Prince Edward Island, Canada, with my giant cats, pug overlord and overlady and my Gypsy Vanner gelding, Fynn.

The blue joy is calling... but can Fresco survive it?

"Do you know what happened to you?" Joey's voice broke a little. Fresco shook his head. The kid nodded, like it was no big surprise." Yeah, me either. No one seems to. We just have normal lives, you know? Then suddenly you wake up with this thing eating into you," he swallowed hard, "and that's it. The rest is Wasteland."

Seventeen-year-old Fresco Conte is an ordinary All-American kid from an upper middle-class family. He plays football. His girlfriend is a cheerleader. Life is good. Until unexplained things, scary things, start to take him over. Like surviving an accident that should have killed him. Or hearing the thoughts of the people around him whether he wants to or not.
 
When the men in the dark blue coveralls come for him, Fresco is forced into addiction to the blue joy known as Wasteland and set free on the street, with no answers and only his hunger to keep him company.

Don't miss the rest of this dark YA urban fantasy series! Wasteland and Diamond City are now available.

cornelia parker cold dark matter

Dark Matter

Greed chicken

The online game version of marvel

The Frozen Cross

Maniac Asylum

Beauty and the Beasts

GUARDIANS OF MAGIC: THE INVISIBLE CODED BOOK

Silent Hacker

Crisis Arcanum

Diamond City Trilogy

People search cornelia parker cold dark matter also like: