Monsterhearts:La Salida

Saturday August 16th, 9:20 AM
Elsinore, Murdoc's Paranormal Private Investigation Agency
**There's a loud knock on the front windows. After a moment it repeats, jarring Odie from sleep.**

**Lucas**: **He has bleached-blonde hair, and he's wearing a gray shirt with much of the sides cut away that's about two sizes too big for him. It's obvious that he borrowed it from someone else. He's wearing black board shorts with it and has large black boots on. His voice yells muffled through the door.** Hey Odie, wake up! **He knocks his hand against the glass again. He looks tired, and has a serious expression on his face.**

**Odie**: **He sits up, rubbing his eyes.** Lucas? **He sits up, pulling his sleeping bag off of him. He gets up, walking towards the door.**

**Liam**: **He opens his eyes and rolls over, he slept on the small sofa. He watches Odie walking to the door, and looks to Lucas, he pulls his sleeping bag over him slightly so that Lucas doesn't see him.**

**Odie**: **He unlocks the door and opens it.** What's up?

**Shane**: **He turns on his side, not really awake yet.**

**Lucas**: **He sees that Odie isn't alone, and pulls him out, causing the front door to shut. Their voices are muffled, but Liam and Shane can still make out what they're saying.** Something's happened... We're skippin town.

**Odie**: Wait, what!? **He looks really surprised, all the sleep has vanished.** What do you mean?!

**Lucas**: Yuri, Ricky, and me. We're leaving. **He pulls out a black cigarette and turns away from the window, putting his other hand up like he's going to light it, but Liam doesn't see him grab a light, as he turns back the cigarette is in his mouth, lit.**

**Odie**: ...What? Leaving where? **He looks really worried.**

**Lucas**: Don't know yet. **As he speaks, a cloud of grey smoke rolls from his breath. He seems to be going through the cigarette really fast, it's almost a third gone already, he flicks it and the ashes bounce off the window.**

**Odie**: I don't get it, what happened? **He looks really conflicted, like he's worried, angry, and on the verge of sadness at the same time.**

**Lucas**: **He looks through the window. Shane is still sleeping and he can't see Liam. He looks back to Odie.** My family found out about me and Ricky. My dad's... **His eyes are watering and he rubs his nose.** ...I've never seen him so mad, and my mom... **He blinks his eyes a few times to blink tears.** Anyway, they said they never wanted to see us again, so we're leaving this shit hole town behind. Ricky said we're probably heading north.

**Odie**: **He looks down.** So you're really just leaving? Moving somewhere else? **His voice sounds really sad, which Liam has never seen him sound like before.** North?

**Lucas**: We're just heading north until we find some work, and we can settle in. Just... **He shakes his head.**

**Odie**: And you're leaving *right now*? **He crosses his arms over his chest and looks at Lucas almost pleadingly.**

**Lucas**: We've wanted to go somewhere else for a while... Me and Ricky at least... So this isn't as sudden as it seems. **He throws his cigarette to the ground and pulls out another, lighting it in the same way as the first.**

**Liam**: **He listens to their conversation while he hides under the sheets, feeling bad for both of them, despite him not really liking Lucas.**

**Odie**: Take me with you! I don't want to stay here either!

**Lucas**: **He puts his hand on Odie's shoulder.** You gotta finish school, Odie.

**Odie**: **He looks down, almost like a sad little kid. He knows Lucas is right, but at the same time he just wants to go with his friends.**

**Lucas**: **He pats Odie on the shoulder twice.** It's only eight months. We'll come get you if you still want to come with us after you graduate.

**Odie**: Ugh... *Do I have to*? **He says it in a whiney tone.**

**Lucas**: Yuri graduated, if he can do it, you definitely *have* to do it. You don't want be like Blake, going to school for an extra year, do you? **He shakes his head a little.**

**Shane**: **He sits up suddenly, rubbing the back of his neck, he was laying in front of the couch on the floor right in front of Liam. He yawns as he sees Lucas standing outside talking to Odie. He looks over to see if Liam's awake.** Thing one and thing two are here? **He looks out the windows for Yuri.**

**Liam**: It's just Lucas I think... **He looks to Shane.**

**Shane**: ...Are you hiding? **He's not listening to what Odie and Lucas are talking about.**

**Liam**: Lucas doesn't like me very much... **He turns in his sleeping bag to face Shane.**

**Shane**: Yeah but no one likes *them* very much. Why do you care what one of them thinks?

**Liam**: Sounds like he's had a bad night... I feel kinda bad for him. **He looks back to Lucas and Odie.**

**Odie**: **He's still looking down.** ...But now who is gonna melt my evidence? Or sneak into the locker rooms and steal money people owe me? Or... Beat the shit out of the jocks when they don't want to pay up? I can't run a business without you guys...

**Lucas**: **He grabs Odie and hugs him.** I know... I'm sorry Odie... But... I just... Can't be here. After last night... I can't risk running into my mom at the store, or seeing them at church... I can't... *Live* here. Not after what they put me and Yuri through last night. This place... A lot of the good memories I have here are just... They're just... Gone.

**Odie**: I should've done better in school an-and skipped a grade... I could be going with you... **He really sounds like he's on the verge of crying.**

**Lucas**: Odie... It's only a few months. You'll be alright.

**Odie**: But I... What if the panic attacks come back? What Am I supposed to do? No one bothered with me, you were the only ones who... Put up with-

**Lucas**: Hey. **He lets go and pushes Odie away from him, holding him firmly on the shoulders.** You're better, alright? No more PTSD. None. You're over it. It's not coming back, and you don't need us to keep it from coming back. You're strong enough on your own.

**Odie**: **He nods, pulling up his shirt and wiping his eyes.**

**Liam**: **He whispers.** So that's what Odie had... Post-traumatic stress...

**Shane**: **He leans against the couch, watching them. He feels bad for eaves dropping, but at the same time the only way he wouldn't hear them would be to go somewhere other than the front room, which seems awkward.**

**Lucas**: **He smiles, though his eyes are starting to water again, Odie's tears making him want to cry.** And stop fucking crying... You probably got snot all over Ricky's shirt. **He looks his shirt over, there's a wet spot from a few tears, but nothing really noticeable.**

**Odie**: **He smiles, an obviously unhappy smile.** I'm gonna miss you guys... It's... Just eight months. Promise you'll be here on my graduation day?

**Lucas**: **He nods.** I'll be there if I have to crawl the whole way back. Promise.

**Odie**: Oh... Yeah... Hey. Come in for a second, I got a going away present for Yuri... I guess that's what it is now. **He rubs his eyes really quick and walks back into Murdoc's, pushing the door open as he does. He sees that Liam and Shane are away, and suddenly feels nervous.**

**Lucas**: **He walks in after Odie, not putting out his cigarette. He does a good job of hiding his emotions in front of Liam and Shane, instead looking calmly stoic, too cool for everything. He eyes Liam and Shane, wondering why they're here.**

**Odie**: **As if he senses Lucas's question he says, as he picks up the ziplock bag of weed.** Liam and Shane stayed with me here over night. **He clears his throat and turns, holding out the bag to Lucas.** Yuri's free green. Smoked some of it last night, but don't tell him...

**Lucas**: **He takes the bag and looks over to Liam and Shane for a moment before he looks back to Odie.** He's been out for a few days, after what's happened I'm sure he'll appreciate anything he can get. **He sighs.** Sorry to leave you stranded here with all the shit heads.

**Odie**: **He just looks down silently.**

**Liam**: **He yells out in response.** Hey! **He catches himself and goes quiet, pulling his sleeping bag around him tight, leaving only his eyes.**

**Shane**: **He sighs and stands up.** You know we *almost* felt bad for you, but now I'm kinda thinking you're getting what's been coming to you.

**Liam**: **He looks at Shane, and then to Lucas.**

**Lucas**: **He turns and looks at Shane.** ...What? **He didn't mean Shane and Liam, more the general populace of the town. Odie's eyes go wide and he looks worried suddenly, knowing what Lucas meant. Lucas tosses away his cigarette, sending it bouncing over some of the plastic from last night.**

**Shane**: We're right here, and you say that. Literally in your line of sight.

**Liam**: **He nods and lets out a muffled agreement.** Yeah...

**Odie**: **As Lucas turns to look at Shane and faces away from Odie, Odie starts waving his hands silently, a look of wide-eyed terror on his face as he tries to get Shane to stand down.**

**Lucas**: Shut the fuck up Liam. **As he glares at the boy wrapped tight in his sleeping bag, his chest seems to be glowing red from the inside.** You know, normally I'd probably just leave, but at this very moment. **Smoke keeps pouring from his mouth even though he already tossed his cigarette.** I *really* feel like taking out all of my aggression on someone...

**Odie**: **He grabs Lucas.** Just leave them be! They're my friends now!

**Lucas**: **His look of anger is replaced with confusion and he looks at Odie.** Wait-what-Really? *Them*?!

**Odie**: They're nice... **He looks at Liam and Shane.** Let's just... Cool it guys. We don't have to fight. Lucas didn't mean you two... Right Lucas?

**Liam**: **He looks at Lucas's chest, the obvious glow catching his eye.**

**Lucas**: **The glow fades and he breaths out black smoke.** ...Right. **He looks at Shane.**

**Odie**: **He looks at Shane.**

**Shane**: Alright, fine. **He sits down on the edge of the sofa.**

**Liam**: **After a quiet pause he speaks through his sleeping bag.** ...Sorry.

**Lucas**: **He looks Shane up and down.** We're skippin town anyway... After today you'll never have to see me and my brother again... **He looks at Liam.**

**Liam**: Sorry about your... Parents and stuff... **He nods slowly.**

**Lucas**: **He immediately loses his cool. And his chest glows so bright that his ribs can be seen, even though the shirt.** You were LISTENING?! **Blue-white plumes of flame spew from his mouth as he speaks.**

**Liam**: **He jumps out of his sleeping back, standing up on the couch.** What the hell?!

**Lucas**: **He turns and walks out, the second he's through the door he screams in rage and a shriek of white-hot flames tears across the asphalt, leaving it sticky and molten. He breaths heavily for a few minutes and then looks down the street to someone the other three can't see.** WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU LOOKING AT?! Keep walking! **He points at them for a few seconds, and then wipes his mouth. He turns and walks back in, glaring at Liam.**

**Roll to** **Hold Steady**.

**Illiadius**: **(Rolling to** ***Hold Steady*.** **2 + 3 - 1** **Cold** **is 4.)**

**Liam gains the condition, "*Terrified of Lucas*."**

**Liam**: **His eyes go wide as he sees what Lucas does.**

**Odie**: Lucas...

**Lucas**: I'm not going to kill your idiot friends... **He wipes the edge of his mouth again, and then spits on the plastic, the spit sizzles and burns a hole through to the wood flooring. He takes a deep breath to calm himself.** Alright. You heard what happened. I don't give a *fuck*, because I'm leaving this shit hole within the hour. **He pulls out a cigarette and holds it up in front of him, blowing into the tip of it, it lights from his breath and he puts it in his mouth.**

**Liam**: **He exhales in relief.**

**Lucas**: So you two are Odie's new friends. **He narrows his eyes at Shane.** Odie is my close, personal, *best* friend. Something happens to him, and I find out it *didn't* happen to *you two*... **He shakes his head.** ...You're both burnt toast...

**Liam**: **He gulps.**

**Lucas**: **He looks at Odie, and whispers quietly.** They know about your sub-zero powers?

**Odie**: Yeah.

**Lucas**: **He looks back at Liam and Shane.** Good. Saves me some time about the fire breathing I guess. **He turns back to Odie and hugs him.** Gotta go before I change my mind about your friends... I'll call you when we find a new place.

**Odie**: **He hugs Lucas back.** Goodbye...

**Lucas**: Hey. **He shakes his head and takes a few steps back.** No goodbyes. Eight months, remember? **He pushes through the door and walks out.**

**Odie**: **He lets out a long quivering sigh and holds his arms at his elbows as he watches Lucas walk passed the window and to the parking lot.**

**A yellow jeep turns out onto the street and drives passed the windows, up the street. They can see Lucas driving.**

**Liam**: **He slide back against the couch in relief.** ...So *that's* how he melted those cars...

**Odie**: **He walks over to the desk and pulls out a box of tissues, blowing his nose. It's obvious that he's crying a little bit.**

**Liam**: **He looks to Odie.** ...I didn't realize you were such good friends with them... Sorry they're leaving...

**Odie**: **He throws the napkin into the trash and then pulls out another one, wiping his eyes as he looks at Liam.** It's not that...

**Shane**: ...Huh? **He looks a bit taken aback.**

**Odie**: Yuri still has my weed pipe... **He wipes his eyes again and throws the napkin into the trash.**

**Liam**: Heh... **He clears his throat and pulls his sleeping bag back around him.** ...Sorry.

**Odie**: It's ok. I got you guys to keep me company right? **He nods and gulps, his throat sore from crying. He looks at Shane.** You guys better not turn out to be shitty friends or I'm gonna be really pissed.

**Shane**: **He rolls his eyes and leans back against the couch.** Attacked by a zombie then threatened by a guy who is, literally, *flaming* gay, all in less than twelve hours. My life is officially *super fucking bizarre*. **He lets out a long sigh and stretches his arms up over his head.**

**Odie**: I'm gonna call Karen, ask her to check up on Chris... Make sure he doesn't dump us... **He grabs another tissue and walks out, despite there being a phone right there on the desk, he walks down the hall to Murdoc's office to be alone.**

**Liam**: Poor Odie... **He looks out the window to where Lucas was standing.**

**Shane**: It's probably for the better, those guys were nothing but trouble... **He puts his arms down and looks at Liam.**

**Liam**: **He looks to the hall.** ...Odie controls ice, Lucas breaths fire... Wonder what Yuri does...

**Shane**: Well Ricky's power has to be superhealing or something.

**Liam**: Huh? **He looks down to Shane.**

**Shane**: You remember? Ricky lost his arm in some house that burned down, then a after summer he came back to school and he suddenly had a new one. Looked sunburned or something, like a scar maybe.

**Liam**: ...Yeah, I remember. **He thinks quietly.** ...Maybe his super power was also being really... Buff.

**Shane**: **He looks away from Liam.** ...Yeah he was pretty... Strong.

**Liam**: Weird that him and Lucas are a couple...

**Shane**: ...Wait what? **He looks at Liam.** Lucas really *is* gay?

**Liam**: I thought you were listening! What was that comment about the "flaming gay" about then? **He pulls away his sleeping bag.**

**Shane**: Oh, that was just, you know, an insult. Because he breaths fire... *Apparently*.

**Liam**: That's why they're leaving town. Lucas' parents found out him and Ricky are a couple!

**Shane**: ...Huh. **He looks down.** Guess that explains why he cared about his shoes and his hair so much...

**Liam**: What?

**Shane**: Lucas, always had his shoes all nice, and got mad whenever someone fucked up his hair.

**Liam**: Oh... **He looks around the room at the plastic.** ...You know... I thought I'd be bothered more about... All this... Zombies and demons... Fire-breathing bullies... But I think I'm ok with it... It's actually kind of cool. **He smirks.** ...Makes things less... I don't know...

**Shane**: Not sure I agree with... That. **He leans back against the couch.** But I do feel like I'm taking it better than I should be... **He puts his hand to his forehead.** ...Wonder how Chris is doing...

**Odie**: Alright. **He claps his hands together as he walks into the room from the hall.** Karen said she'd check on Chris. **He looks at Shane and Liam.** I'm guessing you guys want to leave after the insanely awkward and embarrassing morning that followed the terrifying night we had.

**Liam**: **He looks at Shane.** Umm... Well I don't know.

**Odie**: I wouldn't blame you guys... **He shakes his head.** I have to get on this latest Zombie attack thing and make some calls to find out where the hell my boss has gone. **He shakes his head.** So I can't really do anything else for the morning...

**Shane**: We understand.

**Liam**: **He nods.**

**Odie**: **He smiles at them.** I'll help you pack your stuff.

***About twenty minutes later...***

**Shane is driving Liam down the road to give him a life home, but they're not even halfway there yet. They pass by morning traffic. His junky truck sounds like it's on the verge of breaking down, but Shane doesn't look too worried about it, he's been very quiet since they left.**

**Liam**: **He keeps wanting to say something, but doesn't, looking out the window.**

**Shane**: **Suddenly he speaks.** Want to get some breakfast before I drop you off?

**Liam**: Huh? Oh... **He looks at Shane.** Yeah. Where do you want to eat?

**Shane**: Where do *you* want to eat? **He looks down at him with a smirk and a raised eyebrow for a moment before looking back to the road.**

**Liam**: **He looks around nervously as he tries to think of something.** Uhh... McDonalds? **He shrugs.**

**Shane**: Good enough for me. **He hits his indicator and turns down a different road, going in a different direction than Liam's house.**

**Liam**: ...So... Do you have any secret powers? **He shrugs.**

**Shane**: Umm... I can grow a mustache and a beard? **He runes his thumb and fingers along the sides of his mouth, feeling his facial hair. He shrugs and then shakes his head a little, feeling a bit awkward.**

**Liam**: That's a really good super power... **He nods and then looks out the window.**

**Shane**: **He turns into a parking lot and after driving around the lot to look for a space for a moment he parks..** Well here we are... **He gets out of the truck.**

**Liam**: **He hops out, closes the door, and walks around the truck to follow after Shane.** I usually miss breakfast here.

**Shane**: Yeah, me too. **He waits for Liam and then walks into the fast food place with him. The place is pretty packed due to it being a Saturday. He looks around.** Let's get our food to go, we can eat it outside... **As he looks around there doesn't seem to be any open tables or seats.**

**Liam**: Alright, that sounds good. **He doesn't really like being in places with a lot of loud people.**

**Shane**: **He walks up to get in line and looks around.** So... You seem like you were really tryin during your try outs yesterday.

**Liam**: Yeah... I... You know... Not very good... But I guess that's why they call 'em *try outs* heh... Heh... **He sighs, a terrible joke. He's not very funny.**

**Shane**: Keep at it. Kyle said he liked the effort you're putting in. **He looks up at the menu.** With a little help, you'll be fine. You just can't get lazy.

**Liam**: **He smiles and looks down.** Yeah... I'm gonna do my best.

**Shane**: A lot of the guys on the team have gotten complacent. They just don't put in the effort anymore. **He looks to Liam as they move up in line.** ...But, to be realistic, you'll probably be benched a lot in the beginning, until you get into shape.

**Liam**: I'll just have to get into shape fast. **He nods quickly and then narrows his eyes slightly.** I can do that...

**Shane**: **He walks up to the counter and starts to order.** I'll have a number five, with an orange juice. **He pulls out his wallet and opens it up grabbing some cash. He pays and then walks passed Liam, standing off to the side.**

**Liam**: **He realizes he wasn't looking at the menu this entire time.** ...Uh, I'll have the same thing he had. **He pulls out some money from his pocket and uncrumples the bills, putting them on the counter.** But I'll have a chocolate milk instead of... Orange Juice.

**The guy behind the counter, rings him up, and hands him his change. He gives him the receipt with his order number.**

***A few minutes later...***

**Shane and Liam are sitting on the tailgate of his truck in the parking lot, eating their food.**

**Shane**: So what else do you do Liam? **He unwraps his breakfast sandwich and starts eating it.**

**Liam**: Uhh... Nothing I guess... **He pokes his straw into his chocolate milk.** I like sports but... Was never really any good at them... **He looks out into the parking lot as he takes a sip of his milk.** ...Always got picked last in middle school.

**Shane**: That happened to me a lot too, I was kinda short before I got into high school and hit a growth spurt and I started exercising. Took me a while, but I finally got to be quarterback sophomore year. **He shrugs.** Keep at it, you'll make it.

**Liam**: You know... You're the only person that's ever said I could do stuff like this? **He looks at Shane.**

**Shane**: You shouldn't doubt yourself so much. **He looks over at Liam.** I mean... You did really well during swim team, you tried your hardest, even though you didn't think you could. Not a lot of people would put in that kind of effort. Makes you kinda... I dunno... Special I guess. **He shrugs. He looks back out at the parking lot and takes a bit of his breakfast sandwich.**

**Liam**: **He smiles, feeling good about himself.** ...You know what I like? **He looks at Shane.** ...I go on walks sometimes, up into the hills by my house. Sometimes I catch bugs or... Throw broken bottles against the rocks. I don't know why, I just like... Exploring I guess... I dunno.

**Shane**: Yeah? **He looks back to Liam.**

**Liam**: Sounds kinda stupid I guess... **He looks down.**

**Shane**: Nah... I think I know what you mean... You like to try and look for something new, something you haven't seen before.

**Liam**: **He looks at Shane, that's exactly why he does it.** Y-yeah... **He nods nervously.**

**Shane**: I used to go hiking with my dad a lot when I was growing up. We used to go to national parks and stuff. The Grand Canyon... Finding some place new, or something new, is fun... It's like you get to be in another world for a little while. **He grab his hash brown and takes a bite out of it.**

**Liam**: That must be nice... I've never been anywhere... Went to Tijuana once with my mom and dad... But I was little... Kinda sucked... I want to see the Grand Canyon some day... **He looks up at the sky, day dreaming about going there with Shane. He hasn't really touched his food.**

**Shane**: Well, Chris would have to take us, because my truck can barely get me to school. **He eats the rest of his hashbrown.** You gonna eat?

**Liam**: Huh? **He breaks out of his little day dream.** Oh. **He picks up his breakfast sandwich and unwraps it, taking a big bite out of it.** What else do you like to do besides swimming?

**Shane**: Paintball, you ever tried it? **He grabs his drink.**

**Liam**: **He shakes his head.**

**Shane**: Oh man... We *gotta* try it, you me, Chris and Odie. It's great. We could go next weekend.

**Liam**: Well I have about two-hundred dollars to burn on gear. **He smiles happily, paintball with his new friends does sound like a lot of fun.** ...I just hope Chris isn't halfway back to Kentucky already.

**Shane**: He'll stay... I think he just needed some space. A lot happened last night. **He yawns slightly. After a quiet pause he looks to Liam.** ...You wanna do anything else today? I don't really feel like going home yet.

**Liam**: Like what?

**Shane**: Wanna go to the movies? **He shrugs, like it's not a big deal.**

**Liam**: I dunno... What's playing? **He takes another bite of his sandwich.**

**Shane**: There's that... Sci-Fi horror movie... Uhh... Mimic? Or the cop flick with Stallone... Or the *other* Sci-Fi horror that looked real gruesome, Event Horizon. **He looks over at Liam.** Or that comic book movie, Spawn? Something like that.

**Liam**: Umm... **He shakes his head and looks at Shane with some confusion.** Those are all rated R, aren't they?

**Shane**: Well we can see Air Bud I guess...

**Liam**: No, I mean, we can't see a Rated R movie.

**Shane**: Why not? You're seventeen right?

**Liam**: Oh... Yeah... **He looks to the side with a sudden realization that he's old enough to go see these movies.** ...Let's see Spawn! **He looks at Shane and smiles happily.**

**Shane**: Alright. **He crumples up the papers from the food the ate hops off the trailer of his Truck.** Let's go get the tickets so we can get in the next show.

**Liam**: **He jumps off the truck, grabbing his trash and putting into the bag with his unfinished sandwich. He pulls out the hashbrown though, and starts to eat it as he runs around the side of Shane's truck and gets in, putting his seat belt on before taking another small bite of the hashbrown.**

**Shane**: **He hops in, shoving his trash into the space where his radio should be. He starts the truck and back out, excited about going to the movies, though he doesn't really show it much.**

**Liam**: So what's your favorite kind of movie? **He looks over, watching Shane drive.**

**Shane**: **He pulls out onto the road and shifts gears, immediately taking a right onto a road that runs next to the freeway that doesn't have much traffic so he can avoid other people.** Probably Sci-Fi... But action is a close second... What about you? **As he asks Liam this he sees a red car pull up close behind him, uncomfortably so.**

**Liam**: Umm... I dunno, I like fantasy stuff a lot... I watch X-Files... Hercules and Xena... And umm... There's this cartoon called Reboot that I still watch sometimes, even though it's a Cartoon...

**Shane**: Reboot's awesome... **He looks into the rear-view again, the car behind them looks like a kind of sports car, not anything too expensive, but at the same time not something you'd commonly see. The paint job is a kind of reflective blood-red color, and the windows are tinted.** This guy needs to get off my ass. **He looks back.**

**Liam**: **He turns in his seat and looks back.** What's his problem?

**Shane**: Don't know, but I'm about ten seconds away from slowing down and causing him to rear-end me so I can sue him and buy a real car. **He shifts into overdrive and steps on the gas, not going much fast as the engine begins to sputter.**

**The crimson car pulls out into the left lane and speeds ahead of them. Shane immediately shifts down to a lower gear.**

**Liam**: ...Jeez, where's the fire? **He watches the car and shakes his head.**

**Avarada**: **His voice rumbles through Liam's mind softly.** ...Fire...

**Shane**: Some people are just in a hurry to die. **He shifts down to fourth gear and the engine stops sputtering as badly.**

**The car ahead of them turns, sliding to a stop so that it's taking up both lanes. The driver's side door opens and a hand shoots out. Immediately the front of Shane's truck explodes, launching the hood off.**

**Shane**: Shit! **The hood bounces off the front windshield and cracks it, but otherwise flies harmlessly over them. Shane slams on the brake and turns the truck, pulling it off to the side of the road. It all happens in about three seconds, but seems much longer. As they come to a stop he immediately looks to Liam.** You alright?!

**Liam**: Y-yeah... I think so. **He looks like he's going to panic.** The car's not gonna blow up is it?! **He grabs his seat belt and pulls it off.**

**Shane**: I don't know! **He also undoes his seat belt, opens the door and jumps out, a childhood of action movies has taught him that anything from a stray bullet to the common house fly can cause a car to explode and ascend in a ball of flames that rises twenty feet into the sky.**

**Liam**: **He jumps out of the car and runs away from it, looking passed it for Shane.**

**A young man steps out out of the red car, he puts on a pair of reflective red sunglasses that match the inside of his grey jacket, and the walks towards the truck.**

**Leo**: You guys ok? **He doesn't sound at all concerned as he quickly walks towards them. He wears almost entirely white and grey, with only his sunglasses, sneakers, and the inside of his jacket being blood-red.**

**Shane**: **He looks at his truck, there's a small engine fire, with a little smoke coming out. He looks to the young man, he recognizes him from school.** That you Leo?

**Liam**: **He carefully circles behind the truck in a wide arc until he's near Shane. He's seen Leo before, but never talked to him. He calls out.** I'm fine, I think.

**Shane**: Yeah we're good! Engine must've overheated from you being a *massive asshole*... **He looks like he's getting ready to beat the shit out of Leo.**

**Leo**: **He doesn't care about Shane's insult in the least.** Which one of you has the Sigil?

**Liam**: ...The What? **He realizes what Leo's talking about.** We don't have it! **He immediately realizes this guy is bad news if that's what he's after.**

**Leo**: **He holds up his hand, facing the back of it towards them. On his wrist is a bronze chain, a silver pendant on it is pulling at it, looking like it's trying to move towards the truck.** It's here. **He takes a step towards them.** I'll just take it off your hands and be on my way, or you can make this difficult, I'll get the Sigil, and be on my way anyway.

**Shane**: What the fuck is up with you Leo?! **He raises his fists.** I'm ten seconds away from punching those sunglasses through the back of your head!

**Leo**: It didn't have to be this way. I always liked you Shane. **He calmly motions towards the truck and the fire bursts outwards, it then seems to move on its own, and leaps for Liam and Shane in a ball of flames.**

**Shane**: **He immediately ducks, grabbing Liam, and pulling him down with them.**

**Liam**: Was that magic or something?! **He looks at Leo, he's starting to get tire of these supernatural people threatening his life.**

**Leo**: The Sigil, Shane. Where is it? **The truck bursts with flames again and they rise a good five feet into the air.**

**Avarada**: **His soft monotone hums through Liam's ears.** Astreiya...

**Liam**: **He shakes his head.** We don't have it! It's back... **He pauses, not wanting to send this guy Odie's way.** Somewhere else!

**Leo**: I already know it's here guys. **He shrugs and casually waves his hand towards Liam and Shane. The five foot flames bend and flow downwards towards the two boys.**

**Liam**: No!

**Illiadius**: **(Giving** **Avarada** **a String and rolling to block the flames using** ***The Price of Pain*.** **4 + 2 + 2** **Dark** **is 8.** **Marking Experience.)**

**Avarada**: **He appears above Shane and Liam for a moment and, looking like a shadowed version of Liam. He throws up his hands, which look like bird's talons instead of normal fingers, and a six-pronged golden symbol appears over Avarada, Liam, and Shane and the fire flows harmlessly into it. He lowers them and looks at Leo for a moment as he turns completely black and his form flows away into black and red feathers that.**

**Leo**: **Avarada's appearance catches him off guard, and he takes a step back.** ...A demon... **He looks at Liam.** ...Why am I not surprised?

**Shane**: **He looks at Liam, startled by what what he just saw.**

**Liam**: It's not a demon! **He stands up.** It's a guardian spirit, and if you fuck with us, it's gonna FUCK YOU UP!

**Leo**: **He shakes his head.** You're as clueless as I was... **He doesn't want to tangle with a demon right now, and takes a few steps back, carefully getting back into his car and driving off.**

**Shane**: **He looks at Liam, unsure of what he just did, what Leo just did, and how someone can breath fire that melts asphalt.** ...Am I the only normal guy in this town?