Published at 12th of September 2026 7:13 am

Chapter 50 Reunion (Tuesday POV) + Artwork

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

Tuesday POV

The big guy seems so sad. Hes not used to being on this side of one of the boss mans tirades. Womp womp. Its not so bad getting disciplined by him, always manages to get me all hot and bothered. If that man would let me, I know Id rock his world. Keep the helmet on; it makes it sexier. His grip on my throat tightens, the line between asphyxiation and euphoria battling as my brain is deprived of oxygen. He plunges into me, electricity coursing through me as I buckle beneath him.

Control yourself, Isaiah barked at me, shattering my fantasy.

Im sure I have no idea what you could be talking about, I whispered breathily.

Youre panting like a bitch in heat. Only you could get off on being a fucking failure, he spat.

Mhmm, I love it when you demean me. Dont be sad because Daddy is disappointed in you. Cheer up, Buttercup. Hell give you a pat on the back and tell you hes proud once you complete your mission like a good lil soldier, I said, altering my voice to sound like a small childs.

Isaiah swings his arm at me, but I know its coming. I drop down in a split, sliding a knife out of my sleeve and stabbing it in his thigh. The knife doesnt pierce his skin; the blade snaps in half. I roll out of his range as he grabs for me. Theres something so sensual about a hand-to-hand fight.

(In the darkness, you shine)

She on that pole goin' crazy, ho goin' crazy

Nobody made me, out of body, crazy

More molly, fading, more molly, fading

Huh, huh (Let's go), huh, no body, grave site

Ho, how you taste? Yeah, ho, go on FaceTime (Huh)

I'm 'bout to slay, shorty (Yeah), yeah, it's slayr (Yeah)

Pick your pace up (Yeah), pick your pace up (Yeah)

His boot snaps up into my stomach, smashing me against the wall. I bite my tongue accidentally, feeling blood gush into my mouth. Someones upsetti spaghetti. If the crybaby wants to get nasty, we can get nasty. Two arms sprout out of the floor, grabbing his ankles and taking away all sensation below his waist. He falls to the ground, and I rob him of his sight. I hawk a blood loogie onto his back and hit him with an elbow drop. Despite how cool my wrestling move looks, it doesnt hurt him at all. He sobs in agony, a yellow pool growing under him.

Our lone heroine walks away, sheathing her bloodied blade as her arch-nemesis, the Demon King, lies defeated in his crumbling castle. The gigantic spiky black structure bursts into flames, the green alchemical fire she started spreading throughout the halls and dungeon. She climbs the hill, the sun beginning to rise over the nearby Dragonspire Mountains. Removing her dented and damaged helmet, she lets her beautiful silky blonde hair fall, cascading down her back like a waterfall of gold threads. Beyond a touch of soot upon her brow, the maidens beauty is unmarred by the bloody battle she had just fought. Her visage is one that had led to Kings declaring war on their neighbors, turning brothers to foes, and causing untold lineages to meet their premature end. God, she was so hot.

I open the door to leave the factory, sucking in the fresh air. My mask and outfit are inside the gym bag slung over my shoulder. Tonights mission requires stealth, so Ill need to head back to my apartment to change into something less noticeable. Nobody didnt give me any explicit instructions beyond making sure that Heritage Construction cant possibly handle any more projects. A bomb would certainly solve the problem, but it would also invite a lot of attention from authorities, and that could lead back to Momentus. Us appearing to take over their workload just as their office explodes is too convenient. Corporate espionage requires a delicate touch. So thats a no-go on el bombo. A hand touches my shoulder, taking me out of my musing. I pat his hand. Miles is the only one who would touch me. I turn around and see my friend. I smile, but hes not smiling.

This isnt going to be a fun conversation, is it? I asked.

Why, Tuesday? Come on, why add to the dumpster fire?

Lighten up, buddy. Youre already growing grays from the stress, I joked.

The night sky transforms into a pink and purple sunset, bathing us both in the warmth of a summer night. Cotton candy grass sprouts out of the concrete along with geysers of orange soda. Butterflies, blue birds, and doves flit and flutter about, singing a song of longing and want. In this prairie, all our worries and anxieties wash away.

Stop. Why do you feel the need to constantly upset our coworkers? Miles asked. The illusion shatters like a windowpane, bringing reality crashing down back around us. Weve talked about this before. Why antagonize them when youre already walking a tightrope?

Im not like you, Boy Scout. I pick at scabs till they bleed; you put a Band-Aid on them and let them heal. Theyre never going to like me; they already think Im fucking crazy. Well, if they think Im an unstable psycho, Ill give them unstable psycho. What do I have to do to make them see me as a person? I asked.

What do I have to do to get you to see yourself as a person? Tuesday, you cant keep everyone at arms length on the off chance that you might get hurt. You deserve to be happy and have meaningful emotional connections, Miles said softly.

I have plenty of meaningful connections. I have you, Sue from the bowling alley, and Carl. Thats three. I dont care if they hate me; the only persons opinion that matters in there is Nobodys. And the only person whose opinion I care about is yours, I exclaimed.

Carl is a raccoon that lives near you. Hes not a person. Sue is a retired school teacher who loves bowling; shes nice to everybody. I do care about you, which is why were having this conversation. Youre funny, entertaining, and spontaneous in the best way. I know how awesome you are, and I want other people to get to see that side of you. But they arent going to when you take every opportunity to take jabs at them or make jokes about their failings. Eventually, you will run out of slack on the rope, and youll have bitten off more than you can chew, Miles warned.

All of his insecurities and issues prevent him from accepting that hes such a genuinely good man. If only he could see what everyone else can see.

I can take care of myself. Im not as defenseless as you seem to think I am. And Carl may be a raccoon, but that doesnt mean hes any less of a friend than you are to me. Hes actually quite funny once you get to know him. The three of us should go out for a beer sometime, I said. Although he can get a bit messy when he drinks too much.

Carl slams down his mug on the oak table, letting out a belch that rumbles the board game pieces on the table. Hes leering at the houseplant, and Ive got a feeling that before the night is over, hes going to make a move.

Carl, dont do it, man. I know she looks great, but shes got bugs, dude, I warned.

Shuddup, Carl slurred. Dont be such a pick-me. Sides, I h-happen to love bugs. Theyre crunchtastic.

Miles sighs, rubbing his temples. I can tell Im losing you, so Ill talk to you later.

See you Thursday? I asked hopefully.

Of course, I cant miss bowling night, Miles smiled, but I can tell its fake.

Hes going to leave you. His light is too bright to allow a shadow as dark as yours to exist. He thinks he understands your darkness, but he doesnt know how long your ledger is. Once he does, hell abandon you.

I turn my Prius on; the coal engine roars to life. Chugga chugga chugga chugga chugga chugga. I pull the rope tassel as Im pulling out of the lot. CHOO CHOO! I hope Carls awake when I get home.

I sit in my parked car, steadying myself. A hand crawls across the dashboard, an eye poking out of the bac of it. It watches me as it scurries around. Despite only having one eye, I know it is looking at me disapprovingly.

Whatever you want to say, you can say it. Im not playing the quiet game, Thing, I said exasperatedly. I have fuckin work to do if we wanna keep being able to eat and afford rent.

It hops backward, landing on the smooth wrist. Inside the palm is an open mouth and tongue.

Hes right, you know? You keep acting like a brat, and even hes going to leave you.

Fuck you.

Fuck me? Im you. Why are you giving me shit? Also, theres masturbating, and then theres spawning an amalgamation of your own body parts to fingerblast yourself to the moon. Stay classy, me.

Its not illegal to love yourself, I countered.

Neither is jacking off on an airplane. Just because something isnt illegal doesnt mean you should do it. But thats not why Im here, is it?

I dont know why youre here. Stop making me procrastinate! I shouted.

Im alone in my car again. I decide to take the stairs instead of the elevator, which lowers the chance of running into anyone. If I see that bitch from 105, Im going to use a cheese grater on her face and make her eat the shreds. Who the fuck allows her ten cats to be outdoor cats? If anyone is a psychopath, its her. Weve been feuding since one of her little fuckers attacked Carl. Shes lucky Carl isnt the vengeful type, or Id have put a pipe bomb in her mailbox. Standing in front of my door, something is off. The bronze twenty-three on my door looks different. The mass of flesh quivers when I touch it; the peephole eyeball stares at me.

Stop being so paranoid. You look like a weirdo standing out here by yourself at this hour, my door said.

Okay, Ill trust you. But Im watching you, and I have double the number of eyes as you do, I replied.

The door swings open, the mimic retreating and leaving my normal door behind. The light flickers on as I step through the doorway. The smell of marinated meat wafts into my nose and levitates me into the air as the scent pulls me along by my nostrils. A large man stands in my kitchen, searing all sides of the meat that has to be the culprit of the delicious smell. Tall, muscular, broad-shouldered, ramrod-straight back, hes got perfect posture. His wavy brown hair falls just below his ears, and he has warm olive skin. All wrapped in a designer suit that looks pricey enough for the tattooed wench to balk at the price.

I was wondering when youd be home. It was impossible to find you, even with my near-unlimited resources. Still, Orion was up for the challenge, and they found you so easily it was embarrassing, the man laughed heartily. But to have not changed your name at all? You are as brazen as the day we met. Are you hungry? You were never interested in sharing a meal, but maybe your taste buds have matured in the last twenty-one years.

The walls stop shifting, pieces of the others lying all around me. The burning carcass of the mutated hippo that took down eighteen of us before it finally fell, casting the only light in the area. Were in a forest of giant trees. The forest areas mean that no one will be getting any sleep tonight. I start making my way over to the dead animal; it wont be long before the wolves are released, and if I want to eat, this is my only chance.

A stick snaps behind me, revealing a relatively unharmed boy. His clothes are clean, or cleaner than most tend to be, and he has a backpack. Hes also not a starving skeleton like the rest of us. He has the look of someone who hasnt suffered from starvation. Who is he? Hes still got some baby fat on his face, and the Carnival isnt the type of place where you remain a child for long. His hands are up as a sign of peace, but that doesnt mean shit. For all I know, he could be waiting for the rest of his party to get here and gut me for the meat. The light hits his face, and I see that his mouth is covered in blood, but its his eyes that Im focused on. Theyre predatory. Enemy it is then.

Take another step, and Ill kill you, I bluffed.

Despite triggering two years ago, my power doesnt allow me to kill from a distance. But he doesnt know that. He continues moving, putting his hands down and into his pockets.

Youre lying, he said casually. I can hear your heartbeat, and the irregular beating is telling me that youre far more afraid than you look. Well, relax, Im not here to hurt you or steal your kill, the young kid said. In fact, Ill trade you a clean, unused towel and a sealed bottle of water in exchange for something of yours. Ive got spices too. Ill help you cook that into something more edible.

His calmness is alarming, and so is his overwhelmingly lopsided offer. I clutch my knife as hard as I can and then lock eyes with him. Gotcha fucker. With the requirement of my power fulfilled, I feel significantly safer around the stranger. Anyone who can hear heartbeats is dangerous. But that might be the extent of his ability. I activate my ability and disappear from his sight. I mute the sound of my movements as I circle around to the other side of him. I jab the knife toward his neck, and it slides off his skin without a scratch. Fuck. He blurs, and then I feel a punch hit my gut so hard I puke. Wretching, my hold on his senses falters.

That wasnt nice, but clearly youve been through a lot recently, so Ill excuse the rudeness this time. There will not be another time, are we understood? He asked me.

I shake my head as he walks over to the hippo and rips one of its legs clean off with a single pull with one hand. He carves a circle into the ground with his bare foot. How didnt I notice he wasnt wearing shoes? Then he fills the inside of the circle with leaves and sticks, and turns his back to me.

Can you reach into my backpack and take out the bundle of rags inside? He asked me nicely.

I approach and unzip the bag, revealing a ton of supplies, as well as a plastic bag full of strips of clothing and bunches of cotton.

Toss that over into the pile, he ordered me, and I did as he said.

He walks over to it, pulling a lighter out of his pocket and holding it inside the bottom of the pile. It bursts into flames quickly, and he snaps the hippo leg in half, revealing the snapped sharp bone inside. The kid grabs the bone and the end of the foot and yanks the bone out, removing it from the rest of the leg. He stabs it into the dirt near the fire and tosses the leg sleeve away. I sit silently and watch him work. He goes over to the hippo and widens the giant wound on its stomach that Blue left. I crush the sadness threatening to bubble up.

He reaches both hands into the larger wound and tears out a chunk of meat from it. He stabs the chunk into the bone skewer he made, leaving it to roast. Putting his bag down, he pulls out tupperware containers of spice blends. Each one has a tape label for the flavor. He opens the one labeled barbecue and pours it generously over the meat chunk he grabbed.

Okay, give that ten minutes to make sure its thoroughly cooked, and the bacteria is gone. Come on over here and take a seat, he said.

What do you want? I asked after sitting in silence for five minutes.

Oh, for the trade? Umm. No matter how many times I do this, Im still not getting any better at doing it. So you were probably friends or allies with these people around here? He asked, before mumbling to himself. Come on, just ask. Okay, can I have their bodies?

What?

What?

Sorry, let me start over. Im Niko, nice to meet you, Niko said, extending his hand.

Tuesday, I responded, begrudgingly shaking the hand.

As I was saying, I have, lets say, unique dietary needs. I would like to consume their bodies, Niko said, grimacing in embarrassment.

Youre a fucking cannibal?

I dont love that word. Its very charged, Niko, the fucking cannibal, said.

What the fuck do you want,Niko? I asked.

Nikos dead, remember? You can call me Malcolm, or Sineater as some of the others have, Malcolm, Not-Niko, totally still a fucking cannibal, said.

Well, Niko, I save respecting peoples wishes for those that dont break into my apartment. And that better not be what I think it is, in my favorite pan, I complained.

It depends on what you think it is. If you think it is a data analyst named Janice who works for the BNA, then yes, it is exactly what you think it is, he chuckled.

Fuck you, Niko. Now, I have to throw away the pan, I said.

Ill buy you a new one; I have more money than God just sitting in accounts doing nothing but accruing interest. Ill buy you an entire warehouse full of pans, Niko replied.

Fine. So what brings you to my neck of the woods? I asked.

What else? Ive done it. I found them, Niko said, turning to face me.

His predatory eyes are almost glowing as he smiles at me. His smile gives me a full view of the sharpened diamond-tipped teeth. Thats new.

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