The shadow pulls away leaving behind the mayor’s body, curled in on himself the shadow rises stretching and bending in different ways before turning towards the group that has made itself comfortable within the sun’s morning draw.

“A mountain… high within the sky this creatures’ eyes be watching.”

Without warning the shadow dives down wisping behind Rico as they look between each other. Morris stands from where he had been sitting cross-legged with Remy who watched the small string of darkness round him.

“The only way into the mountain that he is probably talking about is through the mayor’s office.”

“How do you recall this?” Lucy questions standing from beside Rico, her wound bandaged and hands wrapped securely.

“I’ve seen it. The door, I’ve seen it in my dreams… no one ever believed me growing up. I’m not lying.” Morris pleads pointing towards the mayor’s office. Laying her hand on his shoulder she nods towards him.

“Do not threat young one. How long have you had these visions?” She questions him as everyone starts getting ready. Keeping a firm grip on his shoulder she leads him away from the group.

“Since I was about eleven or twelve… started off as bad dreams but now they have become more vivid. Precise.”

“My brother was like you. A seer, dreams that he wished would never become reality. Not even I believed him till he mentioned my husband…” Leading him towards the mayor house they stop at the steps.

“What happened to him?”

“Bludgeoned by our father after he foresaw the birth of my child. At the time, I couldn’t have believed I was pregnant. But now… now I wished I had used my own power to have stopped him. He would have loved to meet another like himself.” She smiles sadly, pulling away as the others join them.

“Everyone ready?” Swiftly changing that saddened smile, she turns to Rico and nods.

“Let us get this over with and get going.” They all agree as Lucy punches the door, breaking it off its hinges. Hitting the ground Milo’s inky form slips into the home moving swiftly through the halls. Returning shortly after with a thumbs up.

“Clear…” Returning to Remy’s shadow they walk through into the mayor’s private office where at first nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary.

“Keep your eyes open. There has got to be something here.” Rico mumbles stepping around the desk. Yukiko stays at the door watching the hall as Katie starts throwing books on the floor. Clearing the first shelf, Lucy grips it tightly and pulls it to the floor.

They do this two all the shelves until the entire room sits in disarray.

“Nothing with the bookshelves.” Katie crosses her arms, “Thought they would be that stupid.” She grumbles kicking the books closest to her foot. They can all feel the rush of wind against them as Remy’s hands search high and low.

“Anything Remy?” Shaking his head, Morris pouts and continues to glide his hands over everything.

“It’s got to be here. Just got to be…” He continues as the painting above them shifts.

“I have something.” Remy quickly states, dropping the painting onto the ground of the mayor’s face. Behind it sits a vault-like door about a few inches smaller than the painting itself.

“Interesting…” Rico mumbles as Lucy is lifted to the door, grabbing the hinges tightly she yanks them off one by one till the door comes forward. Within sits a light hallway styled in marble from flooring to ceiling.

“After you mon amour.” Milo slips into the hallway, Katie close behind as the taps of her claws against the tile slowly fade the farther, they got.

“I think we got something!” Katie shouts, which sounds barely above a whisper as it reaches them. Confused Rico pulls himself into the tunnel, shouting down it.

“WHAT?!” His usually bellowing voice swallowed by the seemingly endless hall. That is before Milo’s voice started to bounce of the wall in a rushed tone.

“RUN RUN RUN!!” He shouts as the hallway under Rico’s feet starts to rumble. The blinding light catching his eyes before he was pushed out of the entrance by Katie who barrels into him at full sprint.

“Holy shit! Fuck that I’m not going back in there!” Katie exclaims as Yukiko scoops her up.

“What was that?” Rico questions sitting up, rubbing his eyes he feels a harsh tug as he is pulled from the floor.

“That’s it!” Morris yells, “That’s the thing that killed my mom and dad!” He continues, as Remy pulls him back.

‘Why deny my will? All I want is what’s best for you?’

“Maybe dumbass it’s because you force it down people’s throats instead of asking! What’s best isn’t what we want!” Katie yells, hissing as the light from the tunnel becomes dim.

‘Why? All I want is what’s best for you? For all of humanity?’ The voice urges, desperation leaking from its words as the light flares.

“What are you?” Rico asks, dusting himself off as the light dies down as though it was never there.

‘I am freedom…’ 

The creature’s voice is dangerously low, growling as though the once desperation was never there. A new rising anger rips through as it speaks.

‘You all could be happy here! Why fight?’

“Why would we be happy under someone else’s will? We would rather be under our own thank you very much.” Silence followed his words as the light within the tunnel pulsed. Katie pulled herself from Yukiko’s grip, jumping up and into to the tunnel once more.

Pulling something grey and round from her pocket, she clicks the little red button on the top before tossing it into the hall.

“What did you just-“ The words from Rico are cut short as an explosion sends Katie flying backwards.

“Where in the hell did you find explosives?!” Yukiko shouts as she shoots back up a smile on her face.

“I’ll tell ya later. That looked awesome!” She shouts throwing her hands into the air. The earth below their feet rumbled as a low roar resonates through the air.

“I think you just pissed it off!” Milo shouts, his form halfway off the ground as they stare down the now smoking hall.

“Well, hey at least I tried something! We can’t just stand around all day.” She shrugs as Milo drops down, a large flesh torn claw jut forward. Impaling itself into the wall against the frame. “Oh, shit!” She shouts as Rico turns to them all.

“Run!” He shouts as they all barrel down the hall and out the front door, the creature with its mangled body pulls itself after them. Beady glowing eyes watching them as they met the end of the front lawn.

‘You dare deny me! Why would you deny beauty!’

“Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder not some demented créature that believes it!” Remy shouts, “Perhaps instead of turning people against others you should have tried something else.”

‘There is nothing else! My will defines all!’

The creature roars as it seemingly loses balance, the dent it starts to form becomes obvious as Milo’s inky threads make its presence known among the invisible dents against the body.

‘What are you doing? Let me go!’

Lucy takes Morris by the hand, bending down to come eye level with him as she speaks.

“Have you ever seen what to do with this creature? Any hint?” She questions worry filling her voice as the creature lifts its head, biting down on Remy’s arms. Blood drips into the creature’s fur as he yanks them back.

“He actually got them… he bite me… no ones done that?” Remy mumbles shock on his face as he looks a few of his arms over. Some visible against the grass limp.

“This isn’t good! If that thing can take a chunk out of Remy, what do you think it’s going to do to Milo?!” Katie runs her hands through her hair.

“What have you seen…” Lucy questions Morris once more laying her hands on either side of his face. “You mustn’t worry visions no longer frighten me.” She smiles, laying her forehead against his. “Let me see…”