"Look! I know this place!" Eveline says.
Navigating a torture-like maze, Eveline, back in her kid form, guides me. We reach the warehouse where Heisenberg caught me. Scattered junk includes my handgun and shotgun. I pick them up.
"Thought they might still work…"
"Nope, useless," Eveline remarks.
The old man's handgun is miraculously intact, but the shotgun's barrel is bent beyond use, smashed by Heisenberg's weird powers. A blunt weapon at best. I unload its ammo and toss it into my sack with other scraps, still there from earlier.
"Handgun and knife are fine."
"Low-power handgun? You're basically unarmed. All you can do is run!" Eveline teases.
"Shut up."
"Eek!" she squeals.
I swing my bloodied knife—still intact despite stabbing my gut—at Eveline's face. She dodges, hating to be "touched" even if she can't be. Satisfying.
"Don't get mad, it's true…" she pouts.
"That's why it pisses me off."
Lowering the lever, machinery whirs, opening an iron gate. We emerge in a vineyard—castle grounds. Human corpses posed as scarecrows give it a creepy vibe. Approaching the castle, a strange covered wagon opens.
"What the—!?"
"Welcome, Mr. Winters," a voice says.
"Wow, a fatty! Even America doesn't have that fat!" Eveline blurts.
A massively rotund man steps out. No hostility, but who is he?
"Heisenberg knew your name too. Famous now, Ethan?" Eveline quips.
"Why do you know my name?" I ask.
"You're a celebrity here. Rumor is you're searching for your daughter. This castle is suspicious," the man says.
"Fattest guy's the shadiest," Eveline mutters.
"Yeah, you too," I retort.
He laughs, amused. "Ho ho ho! I'm just a merchant…"
"Here?" I ask.
"My apologies. I'm Duke. Weapons, ammo, healing items—name it, I'll provide."
"Yay, Ethan!" Eveline cheers.
"If true, that helps. But I've got no money…"
"Didn't the Lycans drop anything? I'll buy it."
I recall crystalized skulls left where Lycan bodies vanished, plus crystal fragments and junk in my sack. I hand it over. Duke inspects, nodding.
"Crystal skulls, fragments, and plenty of scrap… First-time service—I'll buy it if you've no use."
"Appreciate it. Got a shotgun?"
"Rumor has it one's in the village. I could get one with time."
"Mine's trashed. Show me what you've got."
"Browse freely."
His stock: a bag, crafting recipes, ammo, healing items, and one handgun. He can modify weapons too. Slim pickings for a "merchant."
"What's this?"
"The Samurai Edge, a custom handgun from S.T.A.R.S., gifted by an old friend. High power, easy to use, but no mods. I'll cut you a deal."
"I'm short on weapons. Sold!"
"Kill plenty with this!" Duke says.
"That's dark. Some ammo and a healing item too…"
"This Mr. Everywhere's cute! Buy it!" Eveline begs.
"What's it for?" I ask.
"Purely decorative," Duke says.
"No way…"
"Buy it! Buy it!" Eveline insists.
"Fine, add it."
"Excellent choice!" Duke beams.
I buy the Samurai Edge and, at Eveline's whining, the useless Mr. Everywhere accessory for the handgun. It's just in the way. Duke doesn't bat an eye at me talking to Eveline.
"It's dangling and annoying…"
"It's cute!" Eveline protests.
"That's the charm, Mr. Winters," Duke says.
"Dual-wielding, huh? Never tried, but here goes."
"Call me for upgrades."
"Pass for now."
Chris said dual-wielding's for pros, not beginners. I'll stick to one gun, switching to two if desperate. I holster the guns and leave.
"Au revoir. Safe travels," Duke says.
"Yeah, sure," I reply.
"Nice guy. Suspicious, though," Eveline adds.
Bidding Duke farewell, I approach the castle. The unlocked doors creak open to a lavish entrance. A painting of three women, titled "Three Sisters: Bela, Cassandra, Daniela," greets me. They live here?
"Rose is here…?"
"Only lead we've got. Don't get lost—stick close," Eveline says.
"Don't you get lost."
"Got it!"
The right path's a dead end, so I go left. In a stairwell, a high-pitched scream echoes.
"What was that?" Eveline asks.
"No idea, but it's bad news. 'Give masks to the heartless four angels'…?"
"Ethan, behind you!" Eveline warns.
"Rose?" a voice asks before I turn.
Swarms of winged insects attack. I swat them, turning to see them form three human shapes—blonde girls in black robes, blood on their lips. Bug people, but not like Marguerite…
"Gross! What are they!?" Eveline shrieks.
"Says the mold girl! Damn it!"
"Shut up!" one girl snaps.
One pins me, stabbing my leg with a harpe, immobilizing me.
"Gah!"
"Mmm… man's blood… exquisite," she purrs.
"Gross!" Eveline repeats.
"Not the time…"
"Hahahaha!" the three laugh.
"Don't take Ethan!" Eveline cries.
Harpe in my leg, they drag me somewhere. I lift my head, back scraping painfully. Again!? Eveline follows, near tears. In a room with a fireplace, they release me. There she is.
"Mother, new prey," one says.
"Such thoughtful daughters. Show me," she replies.
"Face, attitude, height, chest—all huge!" Eveline blurts.
I stifle a laugh. It's her—the woman who argued with Heisenberg. Giant Lady… I need her real name!
Shotgun's gone, now dual-wielding. The Samurai Edge's merchant connection? This story shares a universe with another work, that's all.
Hope you're excited for the next part! Feedback, ratings, or typo reports are welcome—comments fuel my writing speed!