(A/N: This chapter is about 19,500 words long and 65 pages long in my Google doc... This should have been broken up into at least 2 parts but I made a promise in the last chapter... Enjoy!)
Asher: Jerry!
[Asher calls to Jerry rather loudly while still "gently" rocking the glowing piece of glowstone in his arms and attempting to drive.]
Asher: What's the situation like back there?!
[Jerry bends down and grabs his crossbow lying on the truck bed to his left. He places his left hand beneath it and his right hand on the handle before standing up and holding it in a resting position. He looks behind them at the pursuing vehicles. There are four pickup trucks and a flatbed tailing them keeping their distance. The flatbed is in the middle of the group with two pickup trucks on the left and right side of it.]
Jerry: Were being tailed by five of them... Again...
[Asher lets out an angered growl and then begins to punch the steering wheel accidentally honking the horn multiple times in the process.]
Asher: *Angered Growl* GAAAAHHH!!! *Honk* I JUST *Honk* WANT TO *Honk* BE DONE *Honk* WITH THIS *Honk* SHIT ALREADY!!! *Hoooooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnk!*
[Behind them inside the cab of the flatbed truck sits the Bandana Demon in the passenger seat and one of his underlings driving. They can both hear the Truck in front of them honking aggressively at pretty much nothing.]
*Honk* *Honk* *Honk* *Honk* *Honk* *Hoooooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnk!*
Demon Driver: What the hell is going on over there?
Bandana Demon: I don't really know, and I don't really care...
[The Bandana Demon reaches over to his right and winds down the passenger doors window. He then leans out and waves at the two pickup trucks right beside the flatbed. He then points at the Truck where Asher and Jerry are and puts his thumb at his throat before quickly moving it to the other side. The two drivers of the pickup trucks both nod acknowledging the Bandana Demon and his motions. They both increase the speed of their vehicles and in a few short seconds they both pass by the flatbed and tail closer to the Truck.]
Jerry: Oh great... Two of them are picking up speed...
[Jerry places the front of his crossbow on the truck bed, grabs onto the handle on top of the crossbow, and pulls it all the way back clicking it into place.]
*Click-Click-Click-Click-Click* *Clank*
Jerry: It looks like I'm gonna get a few more test shots in before we're done for the day.
[He grabs another spear from the crate. He places the spear on the top of the crossbow and reaches down for the trigger handle.]
Jerry: Let's see if I can make any improvements...
[Jerry then places his left hand beneath the crossbow and lifts it up off of the truck bed. He raises it to his shoulder and takes aim at one of the approaching pickups.]
Jerry: Steady... Steady...
*CLANK!*
*SCRREEEECHHH!*
[Jerry pulls the lever sending the spear flying at the pickup he was aiming at. His shot misses the pickup but does tear through the top of its cab creating an ear-piercing screeching noise. Jerry lowers his crossbow and makes an annoyed groan.]
Jerry: *Annoyed Groan* Damn it... I need to work on my aim...
[He slams the front of the crossbow onto the bed of the truck and eyes the handle on top of it. He then reaches down to grab it.]
Jerry: The sooner were done with this the sooner I can get back to the workshop and start working on my-
*BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR-*
Jerry: Huh?
[Jerry hears a burring noise in front of him. He stops reaching for the handle and looks up at where the noise is coming from. The source of the noise just so happens to be the pickup truck he shot at and missed. It appears to have drastically increased its speed and is heading directly toward the Truck. But mainly towards the Truck bed where Jerry is standing.]
Jerry: OH SHIT!
*CRASH*
*Thud*
*Honk*
[The pickup rams into the back of the Truck. The force of the impact knocks Jerry backward onto the bed of the Truck with a thud. It forces Asher into the driver's wheel causing him to accidentally honk the Truck's horn and pushes the piece of glowstone into his chest knocking the air out of his lungs. The piece of glowstone also starts to glow a bit more from the force of the impact. As for the Crescent Crow, the bird is shaken around violently on the passenger seat before coming to rest. It lets out a weak defeated caw to express its exhaustion.]
Crescent Crow: *Defeated Caw...*
Asher: *Pained Grunt* Awwwhhaa! Yea, I hear ya...
[Asher pushes himself off of the steering wheel and goes back to driving. He notices the glowstone he's holding in his arm still glowing brightly white. It's still jittering around a bit too.]
Asher: Oh shit! Don't blow up! (Yelling) Jerry! How's it going back there?!
Jerry: (Yelling) We're being boarded!
Asher: Oh, ok that's good to hea- (Yelling) What?!
[Towards the rear of the Truck, the pickup that rammed into them matches their speed keeping them bumper to bumper. The back of said pickup has a few Demons seated in it equipped with either a metal bat, pipe, or some other miscellaneous melee weapon. As soon as the pickup impacted with the Truck all of the Demons stood up with their weapons at the ready. One of the Demons in the back with a bat stands up and leaps onto the cab of the pickup.]
Demon: YEAAAA! Let's get 'em!
[The Demon then jumps up off of the cab of the pickup towards the bed of the truck where Jerry is. But before he gets close to landing on the truck bed Jerry lifts up his legs and kicks him hard directly in his stomach mid-air. The force of the kick sends the Demon flying over the pickup he was just on and onto the ground behind it. The Demon begins to tumble behind and eventually out of sight as the vehicles speed ahead leaving him in the dust.]
Jerry: Dumbass...
[As he says this the other Demons in the back of the pickup make their way behind the cab and begin to step up onto it.]
Jerry: Oh shit.
[The Demons begin to maneuver over the cab of the pickup and onto the back of the Truck. As they make their way over, the other pickup that was catching up to them veers over to the left side of the Truck. It soon catches up and matches the speed of the Truck beside it. Two of the Demons boarding from the pickup jump onto the Truck bed as Jerry is able to stand up. As soon as he's able to get his balance the First Demon takes a swing at him with a metal baseball bat. Jerry places his left arm in front of him blocking and taking the brunt of the blow. He then grabs the bat with his right hand and quickly yanks it out of the Demon's hand before spinning it around and swinging it directly back at him. His attack hits the Demon right on the side of the head and slams him into the side of the Truck bed, sending him to the ground. The Second Demon who boarded the Truck hops up onto a closed wooden crate and then raises his crowbar above his head. But just as he begins to swing, Jerry quickly grabs the Second Demon by the neck with his left hand causing him to drop his weapon. The Demon struggles as he tries to pry Jerry's hand from his neck. However, his struggle is in vain as Jerry seems to be significantly stronger than him. Jerry then lifts the Demon up and brings him over to the left side of the Truck. As the Demon struggles to breathe Jerry opens up his hand dropping the Demon to the rapidly moving ground. Seconds later he's far behind the group of vehicles much like the Demon Jerry kicked earlier.]
Jerry: This is really stupid...
[As he says that three more Demons appear from behind the cab of the pickup. Two of them get onto the pickup's cab and eye Jerry while the other seems to rummage around for something in the pickup bed.]
Jerry: *Groan* Ughhh... I'm already sick of this...
*CRASH*
[The pickup to the left of the Truck aggressively swerves to the right ramming into it. The bash causes Jerry to slightly lose his balance and lean against the right side of the truck bed. It also causes Asher to knock the crystal around in his arms making it glow a bit more. Besides them, it causes one of the Demons on the back pickup's cab to lose his balance and stumble off of it and to the ground. Like the previous two who got knocked off, he tumbles and disappears quickly. His friend watches him tumble away before shrugging and looking back at Jerry. Meanwhile, back inside the Truck, Asher continues to hastily rock the chunk of glowstone he's holding in an attempt to prevent it from exploding.]
Asher: (Quickly) NO, NO, NO! Please don't blow up!
*CRASH*
[The pickup truck beside the Truck rams into them once again.]
Asher: (Quickly) IN A MINUTE!
[Back in the Truck bed. The other Demon who is on the pickup cab readies his weapon, a sharpened metal pipe, and jumps onto the Truck bed. He charges at Jerry attempting to impale him in his stomach with his weapon. Jerry is able to recover from getting knocked around and quickly steps to the left side of the Truck bed avoiding the attack. As the Demon runs beside Jerry missing him, he grabs the Demon by the back of his shirt and tosses him over the side of the Truck he was leaning on. The Demon drops his sharpened pipe and manages to grab onto the side of the Truck with both of his hands. He sways a bit side to side as he holds on for dear life. As he begins to get his left arm back onto the Truck's side and pull himself up, Jerry reaches down and grabs his crossbow with both hands. He raises it up and slams the base of it next to the Demon having his neck between the limb (The curved part at the front) and the thick string.]
Demon: Huh?
[Jerry then takes his right hand off the crossbow and pulls back as hard as he can with his left. The limb of the crossbow is forced against the back of the Demon's neck, pinning him between it and the side of the Truck.]
Demon: *Pained Grunt* GAH!
[Jerry makes a fist with his right, reels it back as far as he can, then punches the Demon on the right side of the head with everything he's got.]
*Crack!*
[Jerry's punch causes the Demon's head to twist far to the right and produce a loud cracking noise. Suddenly the Demon's body goes limp as he lets go of the Truck with a frozen pained expression. Jerry moves his crossbow forward a bit causing the lifeless body to fall to the ground and tumble away. As the body tumbles past the pickup directly behind the Truck, Jerry sees the Demon who stayed behind come back up holding a Tommy gun in his hands.]
Tommy Gun Demon: Found it! Gotcha now you son of a-!
*BANG*
[Before the Demon can even finish his sentence and take aim at Jerry, he reaches behind his apron, grabs his shotgun with his right hand, aims at the Tommy Gun Demon, and shoots him square in the face. The Demon, head now filled with pellets, drops back to the pickup bed with a thud. Without missing a beat Jerry then lowers his aim towards the front left part of the pickup. Where the pickup driver would be...]
Demon Driver: Ohhhhhhhh- Shi-
*BANG*
[Jerry pulls the trigger shooting the Driver of the pickup right in the head. The bloodied head faceplants onto the side of the steering wheel causing it to rotate a bit to the right. Seconds later the pickup begins to lose speed and starts turning to the right. It then aggressively swerves to the right and crashes front-first into a tree before exploding.]
*Boom!*
[Jerry watches it explode before placing the butt of his crossbow on the bed of the Truck and breaking open his shotgun ejecting the two shells.]
Jerry: (In Head) I really just need to devote an entire week to working on the consistency of my accuracy because it is just awful.
[He then reaches into one of the pockets of his apron, takes out two shotgun shells, and places them into the double-barrel shotgun. He flips the shotgun closed and places it back behind his apron. He then looks over to the cab's rear window.]
Jerry: Hey Asher! How's everything going over there?
Asher: (With A Bit Of Sarcasm & Relative Panic) It's going FINE! Everything is FINE! The baby is UPSET! And the pickup beside us is PISSING ME OFF! Please for the love of GOD (w/ Yelling) just SHOOT IT!
Jerry: Alright, alright!
[Jerry bends down and grabs his crossbow with both hands.]
Jerry: Just give me a second to load my-
*Bang-Bang-Bang*
*CLINK* *CLINK* *CLINK*
Jerry: DAMMIT!
[Before Jerry can finish his sentence, three bullets fly right past him and through the Truck cab. He looks at the three brand spanking new bullet holes in the Truck cab and then looks behind him. One of the pickup trucks that stayed behind moved up closer to the Truck. There's a Demon leaning out of the passenger window holding a Tommy gun in his hands with smoke coming off of its barrel.]
Asher: Why did I just feel something breeze past my face?
[Jerry reaches for his crossbow and grabs it with both of his hands.]
Asher: Did a bug or something get in here? Are there demon bees in Hell?
[He then stands up and places the front of the weapon on the Truck bed and grabs the handle.]
Jerry: More trouble behind us!
*Click-Click-Click-Click-Click*
*Clank*
[He pulls the handle back and clicks it into place.]
Jerry: Keep the Truck still!
[He then reaches towards an opened crate of spears beside him and grabs one of them from inside it.]
Jerry: I'll take care of 'em!
Asher: Jerry! The pickup that's beside us!
Jerry: ...
[Jerry doesn't respond. Asher looks around the front of the Truck cab concerned.]
Asher: (In a High Pitch) Jerry!
[Still no response. Asher continues to drive while also slowly cradling the piece of glowstone in his arms.]
Asher: Ehhhhhhhhhhhhh- Eh?
[It's now that Asher notices that the piece of glowstone in his arms has started to dim its bright glow. It stopped shaking entirely as well. While it does appear to be glowing slightly like it usually does, it doesn't look like it's about to explode anymore. Asher lets out a long sigh of relief.]
Asher: *Long Relieved Sigh* Ohhhhhhhhh- Thank God! That's a relief...
[Asher seems to relax his pose a tiny bit as he leans back into the driver's seat.]
Asher: Alright... Now all I need to do is deal with the-
[Asher turns to his left to look out of the broken driver's window while talking. As he does he sees the pickup truck that was just ramming into them increasing its speed and driving forward and to the left a fair bit ahead of them. Asher stares at it as it passes by.]
Asher: Oh... Well... I guess that kind of solves my second problem.
[He then turns his head in front of him and stares at the road ahead.]
Asher: Things are going... Well... For me...
[He sits there silently, focusing only on driving.]
Asher: *Quiet Mumble* Hmmmm... Too well...
[He mumbles to himself quietly. And just as things start to look good for him-]
*Click*
*Grab*
[The driver's door swings open followed by two hands reaching in and grabbing Asher by his shirt collar.]
Asher: Ah... There's the kicker...
[The hands then pull on Asher as hard as they can and yank him out of the driver's seat of the Truck.]
*Yoink*
Asher: AAYYEE-
[As he gets yanked out of the truck the piece of glowstone on his lap flies upwards and spins around a few times before falling on the driver's floor and conveniently onto the gas pedal. The glowstone seems to have enough weight to keep the pedal down enough to keep the Truck moving at the speed it was when Asher was driving.]
*Thud*
Asher: *Grunt* OPH!
[Asher is pulled outside of the Truck entirely and thrown to the supposed ground with a thud.]
Asher: OW! What the-?
[Asher opens his eyes attempting to see his surroundings. But all he sees is a metal pipe right above him coming down straight towards his head.]
Asher: OH SHIT!
[He quickly rolls out of the way of the attack, narrowly avoiding it. But as soon as he does he bumps into something and is then grabbed once again by his shirt. He is lifted to his feet and pushed backward causing him to stumble. As he stumbles back a few steps he quickly realizes that directly behind him is the rapidly moving dirt ground. He quickly plants his feet on the ground stopping himself from moving any further. But it doesn't seem to be enough as he begins to lean backward and starts to fall with his left leg hung in the air.]
Asher: UH-OH!
[Asher leans himself forward and begins to wave his arms around in an attempt to keep his balance and fall forward.]
Asher: (Quickly) Other way! Other way! OTHER WAY!!!
[After waving his arms around like an idiot for a second he starts to lean forward and gets both of his feet back on whatever he's standing on. He places his hands on his knees, slouches forward a bit, and looks at the metal ground he's standing on.]
Asher: *Exhausted Sigh* Ugh... Too many encounters with death in the past week...
[He then looks up and in front of him.]
Asher: I need a vacation- (Enthusiastically) Oh! Hello there!
[Now having a second to catch his breath, Asher looks in front and around him to take in his surroundings. He's on the flatbed truck he drove past earlier. The same one with the Bandana Demon in the passenger seat of the cab. Towards the rear of the flatbed is Asher, who is standing precariously close to the edge. In front of him are five Demons all with some sort of melee weapon, including the one with the bat that just tried to attack him. Behind the five of them is a large wooden crate strapped tightly to the bed of the flatbed near its cab. All five of the previously mentioned Demons stare down Asher, all eagerly ready for a fight. Asher lets out a sigh and gives his legs a nice pat before standing up completely.]
Asher: *Sigh* ... Well!
[Asher reaches to his waist and grabs his knife off from his belt. He holds it in his right hand and prepares for a fight.]
Asher: This is what I get for not wearing a seatbelt and not locking the truck doors!
Demon 1: Get him!
[The Demon closest to Asher charges at him with a metal bat and takes a swing at his head. Asher ducks down avoiding the attack successfully before quickly slashing his attacker across the stomach causing him to let out a yell of pain and fall to his knees. Asher runs past him and charges at the Second Demon closest to him. The Demon who's holding a knife as well readies for Asher by taking a step back. Asher raises his knife and slashes at his target twice but he manages to backstep and avoid them. The Second Demon then raises his knife and takes a forceful thrust at Asher's head. He manages to duck down and avoid the attack along with giving himself an opening against his aggressor. He then attacks with a trust of his own against the Demon's stomach and successfully manages to stab him.]
Demon 1: *Pained Grunt* I'm gonna make you regret that!
[The First Demon Asher slashed before seems to have quickly recovered from the attack. Now he's standing up again and charging at Asher with his bat close to the floor of the flatbed. Asher, hearing the announced attack, takes his knife out of the Second Demon and prepares to avoid the attack. The First Demon swings his bat upwards towards Asher but before it lands he takes a step to the left avoiding it and causing the First Demon to hit the Second one right across his head. The Second Demon stumbles to the right a bit before falling to the floor of the flatbed followed by Asher kicking the First one in the back sending him to the floor as well. As soon as he does a Third Demon gets the jump on him from his side and delivers a clean punch to his head. Asher takes the brunt of the blow causing him to stagger back a few steps. He quickly recovers and readies his knife once again preparing to attack or defend. The Third Demon approaches Asher and starts swinging at him. He manages to backstep the first few punches but one manages to hit his arm when he was using it to block the attacks. As he prepares to attack the Demon after getting hit he is grabbed by his left shoulder and pulled in that direction. He is then pushed and hit in the stomach by a crowbar. As he staggers to the side of the flatbed he sees that he was grabbed by the Fourth Demon and hit by the Fifth one. The Fourth Demon reaches down and grabs the knife the Second Demon was holding while the Fifth one takes another swing at Asher's head.]
Asher: Oh shit!
[Asher just narrowly avoids the swing and then another one. He then slashes at the Demon and misses before following up with a stab that shares the same fate. The Demon then grabs Asher's right wrist with the rounded hook part of the crowbar and forces it downwards. The intensity of the grab causes Asher to drop his knife, causing it to skid against the flatbed floor all the way over to the back of its cab. The Fifth Demon brings his crowbar back and then jabs Asher in the gut with it, knocking the air out of his lungs. Without taking the time to recover fully he grabs the crowbar with both of his hands then does the same thing the Demon did to him and jabs the crowbar into his gut. This causes him to release his grip on the crowbar and gives Asher the chance to spin it around. He then lowers it a foot off of the flatbed and places the hook part of it behind the Demon's left leg before pulling it towards him knocking the Fifth Demon off of balance and sending him straight to the flatbed with a thud. Without getting a second to recover, the Fourth Demon swings at Asher just barely missing his face. He hastily reacts by hitting the hand of the Fourth Demon that's holding the knife with the crowbar. The knife flies out of the Demon's hand and off into the distance away from the flatbed. Asher then swings down and hits the Demon on his hip. The attack causes him to recoil downwards a bit giving Asher the opening to let go of the crowbar with his right hand and use it to grab the side of the Demon's face. He then drags the Fourth Demon all the way over to the cab of the flatbed and forces his head into the back of the flatbed's cab right beside the large wooden crate. The impact makes a loud thud getting the attention of the Driver and the Bandana Demon inside the cab.]
*Thud!*
Bandana Demon: Eh?
Demon Driver: Huh? What was that?
[The Bandana Demon looks up at the rearview mirror in the cab. He's able to see Asher off to the right with the crowbar above his head ready to swing.]
Asher: I just want to go home!
[He then swings the crowbar downwards and hits the Fourth Demon right on his head. The impact of the attack cuts the Demon and sends a small splatter of blood up onto the rear cab window. The Bandana Demon glares at the rear mirror through his goggles.]
Bandana Demon: How the-
[The First Demon from earlier charges into Asher bashing him into the cab of the flatbed causing him to drop the crowbar. He slams against it violently before bouncing off and falling onto the flatbed. When he lands on the bed floor he notices his knife that he dropped conveniently lying on the ground next to him. The First Demon readies his bat and begins to swing directly at Asher's head. He's able to shift his head out of the way of the attack and grab his knife behind him. He then slashes at the Demon's knees managing to cut them while getting back on his feet. His attack causes the Demon to fall to the floor giving Asher the opening to grab his shirt and stab him straight in the gut. He twists the knife a bit still inside the Demon's gut increasing the pain through his body causing him to yell out in pain. The First Demon then seems to go limp and slouches over to the side before falling over onto the floor. He drops his bat while falling causing it to hit the flatbed and start rolling toward the back of the vehicle. Asher takes his knife out of the Demon as he falls and notices that the Fifth Demon is charging at him with his fists. He makes a hefty punch towards Asher but he manages to sidestep to the left and avoid the attack causing the Demon to punch the flatbed cab.]
*Wack!*
Demon 5: OW! Fuck!
[Asher quickly retaliates and punches the Demon in the face, staggering him. He then grabs him and runs his head into the corner of the large wooden crate on the flatbed. The attack cuts the Demons causing a little bit of blood to spray out onto the wooden crate. Asher then pulls the Fifth Demons' head back and slams it with greater force into the crate to ensure the job is done. He then lets go of him, allowing the still body to fall to the floor.]
Demon 3: *Whistle*
[Someone whistles at Asher gaining his attention. He looks over to his left where the noise came from and sees the Third and last Demon standing in the middle area of the flatbed. He's holding the metal bat the First Demon had when Asher stabbed him. Asher stands up and faces the Demon. The Third Demon spins the bat around in his right hand and moves it beside him to his right. He then stops spinning it and leans it on his right shoulder and beside his head. He glares aggressively at Asher and points at him with his left hand.]
Demon 3: Now it's just you and me! And I got me favorite weapon!
Asher: ...
[Asher stares at the Third Demon with a blank, bored expression. He then reaches behind him at his waist with his left hand, grabs his pistol, and-]
*Bang!*
*Thud*
[And shoots the Third Demon right in the head and sends him to the flatbed with a thud. Asher stares at the now lifeless body before letting out an exhausted groan and lowering his pistol.]
Asher: *Exhausted Groan* So done with this nonsense...
[He walks over to the Demon he just shot and stands over his body. He's bleeding profusely out of the hole in his head and doesn't seem to be very alive anymore. Asher lets out a sigh of relief as he places his pistol back between his belt behind him along with his knife beside him. He then closes his eyes and just stands there still. He begins to take a moderate breath of air through his mask before suddenly stopping and holding his breath. He then slowly exhales through his nose while making a humming sound. The noise is rather quiet and hard to hear due to it being muffled by his gas mask.]
Asher: *Quiet Humming*
[After letting out his breath completely he stops humming. Then he takes in another moderate breath and repeats the process again.]
Asher: *Quiet Humming*
[He exhales, takes another moderate breath, and repeats the process once more.]
Asher: *Quiet Humming*
[Asher lets out an exhale and then opens his eyes. He raises his right arm close to his neck and holds it straight out to his left. He then places his left hand just above his right elbow and stretches both of his arms.]
Asher: I'm all out of breath just after one fight against five people...
[He stops stretching with his right arm and proceeds to do the same motions but this time with his left arm and right hand.]
Asher: It just goes to prove how out of shape I am...
[He then places his left hand on his right shoulder and starts moving
Asher: I need to start working out again. Maybe I should lift some weights or go for a ru-
*BOOM!*
[Before Asher can finish his sentence something explodes in front of the flatbed truck. Asher stops looking at the Demon he shot and looks to the right of the flatbed cab in front of the vehicle. The Driver of the flatbed then violently swerves the vehicle to the left causing Asher to slightly lose his balance and stumble back a bit closer to the rear of it. The vehicle quickly straightens out as Asher regains his balance. Just then, a newly burning wrecked pickup blurs past the flatbed, and the Truck Asher was driving. He watches as the two remaining pickups behind them swerve out of the way to avoid the wreck.]
Asher: What the hell caused that?
[Asher looks over to his left in the direction of the Truck he was previously driving. He sees Jerry standing in the back of the Truck holding his crossbow and looking at the wrecked pickup. Asher then looks at the crossbow in Jerry's hands. It's hard to see but he can make out that the crossbow isn't loaded.]
Asher: Oh. Jerry shot it with his crossbow and blew it up.
[He looks back up at Jerry who's just staring at the two pickups still tailing them. He then stares at Jerry silently for a few seconds. Then he narrows his eyes confused.]
Asher: Wait. Has he... Has he not noticed that I'm not in the Truck cab anymore?
*Bang-Bang-Bang-Bang-Bang*
[A few bullets then wiz past Jerry snapping him out of his trance. He bends down a bit in an attempt to avoid any more gunfire coming towards him. Asher looks over to the right and sees that one of the pickups has a Demon leaning out the passenger window with a Tommy gun. He looks back over to Jerry and sees that he started to pull the lever back on his crossbow beginning to reload it.]
Asher: No...
[He shakes his head disappointingly.]
Asher: No, he hasn't.
[Asher stares at Jerry for a few more seconds silently before coming to some sort of realization. He then lowers his gaze down a bit from Jerry towards the ground.]
Asher: (Quietly) Wait a damn second...
[Asher points at himself.]
Asher: If I'm not driving the Truck...
[He points at Jerry.]
Asher: And Jerry isn't capable of driving the Truck...
[He lowers his hand from pointing at Jerry and looks at his hand confused.]
Asher: Then...
[He then looks over towards the cab of the Truck.]
Asher: Who the hell is driving the Truck?
[He lowers his hand to his side, still incredibly confused. Then the flatbed seems to speed up a bit causing the Truck to slowly lag behind. Asher keeps his eyes trained on the cab of the Truck as it continues to slow down. Eventually, the inside of the Truck's cab becomes visible to him. He gains a deadpan expression when he sees what's in the driver's part of the cab.]
Asher: You gotta be fucking kidding me...
[Perched on the driver's wheel of the Truck is the Crescent Crow. It seems to be keeping the wheel steady allowing the Truck to drive straight down the dirt path of the dead forest. The Crescent Crow then turns its head to the left and sees Asher staring at it.]
Crescent Crow: *Caw*
[It caws at Asher while continuing to drive and keeping its eyes on him. Asher stares at the crow looking pretty amazed at what the bird is doing.]
Asher: Huh...
[He crosses his arms.]
Asher: Well aren't you a smart little guy...
[The Crescent Crow glares at Asher angrily. It lifts up its right talon and places it close to its left one. It then lifts up its left talon, reaches as far as it can to the left side of the driver's wheel with it, and places it down on the wheel. The driver's wheel begins to turn to the left causing the Truck itself to begin to veer to the left. Right where the flatbed is...]
Asher: Ohhhhhhh- You fucking bastardo-
*Smash!*
[The Truck smashes into the side of the flatbed truck. The impact from the collision makes the entire flatbed shake, causing Asher to shake and lose his balance. He begins to stumble towards the rear of the flatbed a few feet as he tries to gain his footing. But as he takes one additional step back, he steps on nothing. Absolutely. Nothing.]
Asher: Oh shi-
[He begins to fall backward off the back of the flatbed truck. He closes his eyes and braces for the impact as he falls downwards and hits the rapidly moving ground with a thud.]
*Thud*
Asher: *Pain* GAH!
[His body starts to tumble against the moving ground away from the flatbed. But before he tumbles too far-]
*Thud!*
[He bashes into something. No longer tumbling against the ground. Asher opens his eyes fighting through the pain of just tumbling against the rapidly moving ground and looks in front of him. He can see the flatbed not too far ahead of him and the Truck to his right with Jerry preoccupied with the pickup that was previously shooting at him.]
Asher: (In Head) Uhhhhh... What? Why am I not tumbling like a mobster victim?
??? 1: What the hell did we just hit? I wasn't paying attention.
??? 2: You're supposed to be driving asshole! Focus on the road!
[Asher hears two voices behind him. He looks over his shoulder and is met with the grill of a pickup truck right against his back. He eyes it incredibly confused before looking at the rest of what's behind him more closely. It's the other pickup truck that was tailing them. He then looks ahead of him and sees the flatbed he was just on and the Truck with Jerry in the back off to the right a safe distance away.]
Asher: (In Head) Did I almost just die but mercurially manage to hit the only other moving object behind me and save my own ass?
[He knocks on the grill of the pickup.]
*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*
??? 1: I told you to quit doing that!
??? 2: I didn't do shit! I'm trying to make sure your blind ass doesn't hit the boss!
Asher: (In Head) Yes. I did.
[Asher moves around allowing him to grab onto the pickup and positioning his back away from it. The back part of his vest where he hit the ground is torn to shreds and his dress shirt beneath it is a fair bit tattered. He looks to be struggling to keep himself on the vehicle. Now he's able to see a bit over the hood of the pickup and into the cab. There appear to be two demons inside of it, a driver and a passenger.]
Demon Passenger: Speaking of which! Stop tailgating him!
Demon Driver: Fine! But if we lag behind and get yelled at your taking the- Oh hey there's a guy on the hood.
Demon Passenger: Huh?
[The two Demons look over at Asher. He glares at the two before beginning to climb up onto the pickup truck's hood.]
Demon Driver: Oh crap he's still alive!
Demon Passenger: Well kill him then!
[Asher shakily manages to crawl onto the pickup truck's hood.]
Demon Driver: Me? Get the boys in the back to do it!
Demon Passenger: Oh, right!
*Loud Knock* *Loud Knock* *Loud Knock*
[The Passenger Demon hits the rear window of the cab gaining the attention of three Demons sitting in the back of the pickup. They all look at the cab after hearing the loud knocking.]
Demon Passenger: Hey! There's some asshole on the front of the truck!
Demon 1: What the hell do you want us to do about it?
[Asher is able to drag himself onto the hood of the truck and find a stable position on his knees.]
Demon Passenger: Kick him off or hit him!
[The three Demons all stand up in the back of the pickup. Two have metal bats while the last has a crowbar. Asher crawls up to the windshield of the pickup and sees the three standing closely behind the cab. And they see him as well.]
Asher: Oh great... There's more of you.
Demon 2: And there's only one of you!
[The Second Demon takes a swing at Asher with his crowbar. While the two are a small distance apart he completely misses hitting Asher in the face. The near hit causes him to panic a bit, lose his balance, fall off the cab and onto the pickup hood, and tumble onto his back. When he lands on his back he begins to rather quickly slide down the hood of the pickup towards the front of it.]
Asher: NO-NO-NO-NO-NOOOOO!
[Asher manages to place his hands on the back of the pickup truck's grill preventing him from falling off. He hastily pushes himself up off of the pickup hood and onto his feet. He then leaps forward onto the cab and kicks the Second Demon right on the head, sending him to the pickup bed with a loud thud.]
*Thud*
*Clank!*
[As Asher does this, Jerry shoots his crossbow at the other pickup truck missing it. His shot went right above his target yet again. He lowers his crossbow seemingly irritated.]
Jerry: *Irritated Growl* Ehhhh... Dammit...
Asher: (Yelling) Bring it on! I've got an adrenaline rush and absolutely nothing going on for the rest of my day! I'm allllllllllll- ready to fight!
[Jerry looks over to his right where Asher is yelling and sees him standing on the pickup truck with his knife in his right hand. He looks to be egging on the three Demons in the back while the two occupants in the cab look up at the roof of the cab confused.]
Jerry: Hmmm...
[Jerry places the front of the crossbow on the Truck bed. He looks at it and bends down to grab its front handle before suddenly freezing. He stays completely still for a few seconds before quietly speaking to himself.]
Jerry: (Quietly) Wait...
[He then stands up completely and darts his head over to where he just saw Asher with wide eyes.]
Jerry: WAIT, WHAT?!
[He now sees Asher hopping down onto the pickup bed and beginning to fight the three Demons waiting for him. The three begin to take swings at Asher while he does his best to dodge them and stab them back. Jerry watches them fight, completely bewildered that Asher is no longer in the cab of the Truck. After a second of confused staring, his head darts over to the rear window of the Trucks cab. He immediately gets on his knees so he can look through the window. And there he sees the exact same thing Asher saw. The Crescent Crow is perched on the center of the driver's wheel keeping the Truck steady. It then looks over to its right and sees Jerry staring at it.]
Crescent Crow: *Caw*
[It caws at him before turning back forward and focusing on the road ahead. Jerry stares at the bird looking just as confused as he just was when he was looking at Asher.]
Jerry: (Confused) Uhhhhmmmm... Ok...
[He looks around the rest of the Truck cab just to make sure that it's only the Crow in there. The Crow is the only living creature inside the Truck's cab. During his search, however, he notices the stick of dynamite lying on the passenger seat. He looks at the dynamite for a second, then the Crow, then back at the dynamite.]
Jerry: I'm uhh-
[Jerry reaches in through the rear window and grabs the stick of dynamite.]
Jerry: I'm just going to take this...
[He takes his arm out of the truck cab and inspects the stick of dynamite.]
Jerry: (In Head) Why is the fuze so short? It'll explode a second or two after it's lit...
Asher: OW!
[Jerry hears Asher yelling which changes his attention from the dynamite to him. He drops the stick of dynamite and turns towards Asher where he sees him struggling to fight the three demons in the back of the pickup. One of the Demons is holding Asher's head over the right side of the pickup with a crowbar at his neck. He has both of his hands pushing back against the crowbar while doing his best to keep himself in the pickup. Jerry looks away back at his crossbow and grabs its handle.]
*Click-Click-Click-Click-Click*
*Clank*
[He pulls the handle back and clicks it into place. He then quickly grabs a spear, places it on the slot, raises the crossbow up, and takes aim at the pickup where Asher is. He can still see him struggling against the Demon with the crowbar. Jerry places the bottom of the crossbow on the side of the Truck to use it to steady his aim. He aims at the Demon holding Asher down and places his hand on the trigger lever. However, as he begins to push down on the lever he suddenly stops. He keeps the Demon attacking Asher in the center of his sights but remains still. He stands there silently for a few seconds as Asher continues to struggle.]
Jerry: (In Head) If my bad aim today is because of the sights being off... Then... If I aim here...
[He moves the crossbows crosshairs down from the Demon attacking Asher, and onto Asher himself.]
*CLANK!*
[Jerry fires the crossbow sending the spear flying. In not even half a second does the spear leave the crossbow and impale into itself the Demon holding Asher down. The force of the projectile pulls the Demon off of the pickup and impales him and itself into a sturdy-looking dead tree. Asher lies there on the edge of the pickup for a second clenching the crowbar in both of his hands and his knife in his right.]
Asher: Uhhh... Ok.
Demon 1: Fucking die!
[One of the Demons with a bat raises it upwards and begins to swing it down on Asher.]
Asher: *Weird Noise* OWH!
[Asher moves the crowbar in front of the attack successfully blocking it. As the two fight against each other's strength, Asher is able to twist the crowbar slightly, getting the hook below the bat. He then moves both of his hands down to the other end and pulls as hard as he can, bringing the hook of the crowbar against the bat. The force of the pull yanks the bat out of the Demon's hands and sends it flying off of the pickup. Asher then swings the crowbar down on the Demon and hits him clean on the head. The hard attack sends the Demon to the floor of the pickup bed with a thud. But before Asher can recover from the previous assault, the other Demon with the metal bat is already swinging at him. He manages to dodge the first swing and block a second by holding the crowbar in front of him.]
Jerry: (Yelling) Asher!
[Asher looks left out of the corner of his eye towards Jerry. He sees him standing in the back of the Truck holding the singular stick of dynamite in his right hand.]
Jerry: (Yelling) Get off the truck!
[He looks back at the Demon attacking him, then back at Jerry again, then back at the Demon. Asher pushes the Demon back with a shove and takes his right hand off of the crowbar. He then quickly seeth his knife, reaches behind him for his pistol, and draws it to his hip.]
*Bang* *Bang*
[He hip fires two shots into the Demon's chest and sends him to the pickup bed bleeding and heavily wounded. He follows up by tossing the crowbar onto the Demon he hit on the head and jumps on top of the pickup cab. Asher eyes the flatbed a short distance away in front of him then the pickup he's on. He eyes the very rear of the flatbed and takes a few small steps back to the edge of the cab. He then dashes forward off the cab, onto the hood of the pickup, and jumps straight off of it. He closes his eyes as he "gracefully" soars through the air and just barely manages to land and tumble on his back on the flatbed's rear.]
Jerry: (Yelling) I hope your aim is better than mine!
[Asher opens his eyes and sees Jerry off to the left on the Truck bed holding the stick of dynamite. Jerry reals his arm back and throws the unlit stick of dynamite as hard as he can towards the front of the pickup Asher was just on. The stick of dynamite flies through the air and lands right on the pickup truck's hood bouncing on impact. The Demon Driver and Passenger both watch it land and bounce a bit perplexed. Asher, still lying on the flatbed floor, swings his pistol in front of him and grasps it with both hands. He aims at the stick of dynamite, then pulls the trigger.]
*Bang*
*BOOM!*
[The bullet from Asher's pistol collides with the stick of dynamite and immediately causes it to explode right in front of the pickup truck's cab. The explosion destroys a majority of the front of the pickup and sets it ablaze. The pickup begins to swerve rapidly before veering far off to the left and wrecking into a tree. Asher continues to lie there holding his breath still holding his pistol up. After a few seconds, he lowers his gun, lets out a breath of relief, and starts breathing heavily. He lowers his hands to his side and lets his head fall back onto the flatbed floor. Jerry, seeing the pickup wreck, lets out a relieved breath as well. He looks over at Asher who's lying on the flatbed floor.]
Jerry: Well I'm glad that worked out...
*Bang-Bang-Bang-Bang-Bang*
[A few bullets then wiz past Jerry getting his attention. He turns around and sees that the pickup that was shooting at him before is shooting at him once again.]
Jerry: Dammit... I forgot about you dicks...
[Jerry grabs his crossbow and places the front of it on the Truck bed, beginning the reload process. Asher watches Jerry get shot at out of the corner of his eyes while still lying on the flatbed floor. He then looks upwards towards the sky of Hell and places his pistol between his belt as he continues to breathe heavily. He closes his eyes once again, takes in a moderate breath, holds it, then slowly exhales through his nose while making a humming sound.]
Asher: *Quiet Humming*
[He lets out his breath completely and then opens his eyes. Asher lies there silently, still taking in the ambiance of his surroundings. Then, he speaks.]
Asher: Well... I guess Jerry has his hands full again...
???: (Yelling) OI!
[Asher's eyes suddenly widen upon hearing someone yell at him. He looks up so he can see where the voice came from behind him. Upside down, he can see someone standing beside the opened passenger door of the cab to the flatbed. Their hand is holding open the passenger door of the flatbed as they stand there party in the vehicle. It's the Bandana Demon from before. He steps onto the flatbed, slams the door closed behind him, and walks away from it in front of the wooden crate.]
Bandana Demon: You...
Asher: Ohhhhhhhhhh-, and so do I!
[Asher stops looking upside down and places his hands on the flatbed floor beside him. He pushes himself up so he can stand up and face the Bandana Demon.]
Bandana Demon: Well aren't you just the most persistent, infuriating, and reckless, asshole I've had the discontent of meeting...
Asher: The same can be said for you. Except instead of being persistent, infuriating, and reckless, you've been trying to kill me since we laid eyes on each other, can't stop thinking about me, and sound like you really just wanted some alone time with me. You also sound like you rehearsed this little speech with the thesaurus in your back pocket so you would sound more presentable to me in order to show off...
[Asher gestures at the Bandana Demon a tiny bit.]
Asher: In a really odd and cruel sort of way you kind of remind me of my ex-girlfriend!
[The Bandana Demon glares at Asher silently for a few seconds.]
Bandana Demon: And... Condescending... Great...
[Asher raises his left eyebrow.]
Asher: Is that it? Are those all the words you memorized before you decided to finally come out of your comfy little cabby and confront me?
[The Bandana Demon gives Asher an annoyed growl.]
Bandana Demon: *Annoyed Growl* Grrrr...
[He moves his head around a bit as he growls. He then stops growling and eyes Asher.]
Bandana Demon: Ya know...
[The Bandana Demon reaches towards the right of his waist around his belt. He grabs onto his combat knife which is comfortably placed in its seeth with his right hand and draws it.]
Bandana Demon: You've been a real pain in my arse ever since you showed up here...
Asher: I get that a lot.
[The Demon holds the knife tightly in his right hand as he inspects the blade with his left.]
Bandana Demon: On top of that... You've almost gotten killed three times since I saw you.
Asher: Four, actually. Five if we decide to count a few days ago when I believe a few people who were your men tried to slit my throat before I killed them.
Bandana Demon: And despite all that...
[The Bandana Demon opens his arms out wide, still holding the knife in his right hand.]
Bandana Demon: Here you are...
[He stops holding both his arms out and brings his right hand in front of him. He begins to skillfully twirl the knife in his hand with ease.]
Bandana Demon: Standing right in front of me after wiping out my boys...
[He suddenly stops spinning his knife in his hand.]
Bandana Demon: So... Let me ask ya, because I just have to know-
[He then quickly brings his right hand back and thrusts his left fist forward in a punching motion. He angrily glares at Asher through his goggles as he yells with an infuriated tone.]
Bandana Demon: (Angrily Yelling) WHY THE HELL WON'T YOU JUST GO AWAY!?
[Asher stands there pretty unfazed by the Demon's sudden aggressive change in attitude. After a few seconds of steady silence, Asher shrugs.]
Asher: *Shrugs* Honestly? I want to go home, smoke a cigarette, lie in my bed, read a book, listen to my probably possessed radio, and go to sleep...
[Asher puts both of his arms out, closes his eyes, and shakes his head.]
Asher: *Shakes Head Disapprovingly* But no...
[He lowers his arms, opens his eyes, and takes a few steps toward the very center of the flatbed closer to the Bandad Demon.]
Asher: Instead I'm out here in a dead desolate forest with my overgrown imp friend who happens to be a blacksmith, your sorry ass, and-
*BOOM*
[A loud explosion can be heard behind Asher cutting his sentence short. He stares at the Bandana Demon for a few seconds without saying a word.]
Asher: I was going to say the rest of your men... But- Well- It sounds like my friend just took care of them.
[Asher's comment seems to piss off the Bandana Demon even more as he begins making an irritated growling noise and starts grinding his teeth underneath his Bandana.]
Asher: Now, as much as I would love to just leave your loud obnoxious ass and go home; Unless I want to read by candlelight-
[Asher gestures with his head to his right towards where the Truck is.]
Asher: My friend over there needs something that you have-
[Asher then gestures over to the right of the Bandana Demon towards the large wooden crate. The Demon looks at the crate and then back at Asher. Asher now glares at the Demon himself. But his glare is more one of intent than anger.]
Asher: And I did not have my throat slit and get harassed by an irritated bird for over a week just to leave empty-handed...
[Asher reaches to his right side and grabs the handle of his knife.]
Asher: So either you stop this truck and hand it over-
[He draws his knife and holds it close in front of him.]
Asher: Or I'm going to confiscate it.
[The two stand there both glaring at each other as the flatbed continues to speed through the forest with the Truck close beside it. Then the Bandana Demon begins to chuckle, leading into a laugh.]
Bandana Demon: *Chuckles* Heheheh... *Laughs* HAHAHAHAHA!!!
]The Demon continues to laugh while Asher just watches. He tilts his head a bit and raises an eyebrow under his gas mask.]
Asher: (On Head) Did I make him go crazzzzzzzzzzzzzyyyyyyy- Orrrrrrrrrr, Is he doing this to himself?
[The Demon then spreads his arms out like before.]
Bandana Demon: OF COURSE! Why did I even bother asking?! Why else would anyone come all the way out here?!
Asher: Well people certainly don't come out here for a life changing atmosphere.
[The Demon lowers his arms but keeps his right arm out so he can use his knife to point at the wooden crate behind him.]
Bandana Demon: Anyone who knows about these things wants to get their hands on one of them! No matter what it takes!
[He spins his knife around in his hand and twirls it directly in front of his vision. He stops spinning it causing the tip of the blade to stop right in front of where Asher's neck is.]
Bandana Demon: And the only way your hands come out of a job like this when you're done is-
Asher (Tauntingly) & Bandana Demon: -covered in blood.
[The Bandana Demon's grip on his blade tightens as his rage rises through the roof.]
Bandana Demon: (Yelling) ENOUGH! YOU'RE DYING RIGHT HERE-!
[The Demon brings his knife close to him between his shoulder and waist. He takes up a defensive stance and places his free left fist up beside his chin.]
Bandana Demon: Right now...
[Asher attempts to make a similar stance but it doesn't really match up. Compared to the other Demon he doesn't really look like he knows what he's doing. But before he can attempt to fix his stance anymore, the Bandana Demon charges at him with a sudden burst of speed. Within a second he's able to close the distance between him and Asher and thrusts his knife forward directly for Asher's gut. With barely any time to react, Asher is able to deflect the knife with his own blade and force the weapon away to his left. As soon as he does the Demon spins the knife around holding it upside down and goes for a slash on Asher. Asher is able to take a step back to his right and narrowly avoid the swing. But the Demon doesn't give him a second to breathe as he spins his blade around again and slashes his knife upwards from the right side of Asher's stomach to his left shoulder.]
*RIIIIIIIIIP!*
[The knife tears through the front of Asher's vest and his dress shirt just managing to cut his skin. After the successful slash on Asher, he manages to swing at the Bandana Demon but his attack is easily avoided. The Demon then hops backward gaining some distance from Asher and takes up the same stance he had when they first started fighting. Asher, now finally able to catch a breath since they started fighting seconds ago, places his left hand over the center of his fresh wound. Around the center of his chest up to his left shoulder is a large but very shallow cut. It's bleeding a fair amount, not enough to be fatal, but definitely painful given Asher's aching expression. He keeps his eyes on his opponent while enduring the pain.]
Asher: *Pained Groan* (In Head) What the hell was that?! *Pain* Ow! Shit...
[He quickly looks down at his wound assessing it for himself.]
Asher: (In Head) Fucker appeared right in front of me within a second and kept swinging like it was nothing!
[He looks back up at the Bandana Demon.]
Asher: (In Head) This guy isn't just some run-of-the-mill punk...
[He eyes the combat knife in the Bandana Demon's hand and examines his stance.]
Asher: (In Head) He actually knows how to fight with that knife! That means that him being in charge of these bastards isn't just some fluke...
[Asher glares angrily at the Bandana Demon.]
Asher: (In Head) I don't have much experience knife fighting...
[Asher takes his hand off of his wound and does his best to try to mimic the stance of his opponent.]
Asher: (In Head) And I'm already at a disadvantage from getting hit around all day... Now I need to fight someone who's experienced in stabbing other people... Which means...
[He gains a rather deadpan expression.]
Asher: (In Head) I'm in trouble...
Bandana Demon: What's the matter!?
Asher: Hm?
Bandana Demon: You were all talky-chatty just a few seconds ago! What's the matter?
[The Bandana Demon brings the tip of his knife close to his own throat.]
Bandana Demon: Scared of getting killed? *Nasty Chuckle* Hahahahaha!
[Asher blankly eyes the Demon for a few seconds not responding.]
Bandana Demon: *Chuckles Again* Hehehehe... How's about this?
[The Bandana Demon lowers his combat knife.]
Bandana Demon: Instead of me cutting you up into a bunch of itty bitty pieces, I'll let you jump off the edge and off yourself! Do we have a deal?
[He gestures with both hands to the quickly moving ground beside him. Asher looks over to his left towards the dead forest and the deadly-looking ground.]
Asher: Yeah- I think I'll have to pass on that offer...
[He looks back at the Bandana Demon confidently.]
Asher: I made my intentions clear earlier...
[He points his knife at the Bandana Demon.]
Asher: I'm not leaving without that glowing rock.
Bandana Demon: *Chuckles* Heh-heh-heh...
[The Bandana Demon chuckles at Asher's response. He stops gesturing beside him.]
Bandana Demon: More cutting for me then!
[The Bandana Demon flicks his knife to the side, cleaning off Asher's blood. He then resumes the stance he had when he first started attacking Asher. The two intensely glare at each other, staring daggers (Heh) into their opponent's eyes. Then just like before, the Demon dashes towards Asher quickly narrowing the gap between them. He immediately starts taking rapid precise slashes and stabs at Asher only to have him just narrowly dodge and sidestep each one of them. He seems to be doing a bit better at avoiding the attacks, his stance isn't any better than before but he does seem to be reacting a bit faster and more prepared for the incoming attacks.]
Asher: (In Head) Finally! There's the adrenaline boost I needed!
[The Demon takes a swing directly at his gas mask. Asher is able to lean his head back just enough to avoid the attack against him. The Demon attempts a follow-up attack by slashing down at the same spot again. Asher manages to raise his knife up and hold it against the Demons knife, blocking it using the blades guard. The two push against each other's blades in an attempt to knock down or disarm the other. As the two resist each other the Bandana Demon takes his left fist and punches Asher right in the stomach. The blow knocks Asher off his balance causing him to stumble back a few steps and stop pushing back against the Bandana Demons blade. The Demon then grips his combat knife with both of his hands and holds it close to his stomach. He charges forward at the off-balance Asher ready to impale him with his blade. With little time to react, Asher sidesteps to the left just before he's about to get stabbed and avoids the attack. As the Demon passes by him he just manages to get a hold of both of his wrists between his right arm causing him to stop his charge. With the Demon now stationary Asher plants his left foot onto the flatbed, bends his right leg completely, and knees the Demon right into his gut. He's then able to put his left arm around the back of the Demon's neck and forces the two of them down to the flatbed floor. He places his left foot on the Demon's right arm and holds his knife upside down above his opponent.]
Asher: Just let me take the glowstone dammit!
[Bandana Demon looks at Asher a bit confused.]
Bandana Demon: The what?
Asher: The fucking- You know!
[As the Demon starts to attempt to wiggle his foot off of him, Asher brings his knife down on his opponent. But before he can get close to harming the Demon his right wrist is grabbed by his left hand and held in place. As the two struggle to keep each other in place, the Demon is able to slightly get his right arm free from Asher's foot. Now with a bit more reach he's able to get a good grip on his knife and stab it directly into Asher's stomach.]
Asher: *Pain* GAH! Dammit!
[The Bandana Demon just chuckles at Asher's pain.]
Bandana Demon: *Nasty Chuckle*
[Asher quickly retaliates by using his left fist and punches the Bandana Demon right in the face.]
Bandana Demon: OW! BASTARD!!!
[The Bandana Demon then uses his legs and kicks Asher up and off of him, freeing his combat knife from Asher's stomach along with his hand from Asher's grasp. Asher takes a few steps back as the Demon quickly gets back onto his feet and assumes a defensive stance. Asher attempts to keep a defensive stance as well but his most recent stab wound seems to be troubling him. He places his left hand on his fresh wound attempting to stop some of the blood from leaking out of his body. His shirt quickly begins to stain red around where he was stabbed, his vest on the other hand doesn't seem to be changing color very much. His breathing sounds heavy but still at a steady pace. Asher looks at the Bandana Demon in front of him who still remains uncut. The two stare at each with the same murderous intent. Asher takes his hand off his fresh wound and makes the best defensive stance he can. He begins to slowly and cautiously approach his appointment with his knife at the ready. The Bandana Demon begins to do the same but with a bit more haste and better movement. Three seconds later the two make it to the center of the flatbed. They both stop when they're a few feet away from each other. Both are ready to fight or move at a moment's notice. After a few tense seconds of staring each other down the Bandana Demon lunges forward and takes two swipes at Asher. He's able to take some steps back and avoid the attacks before quickly retaliating with his own. The Demon hops to the right easily avoiding the attack as he makes one of his own. His slash manages to scrape around Asher's left wrist and cause a slight bleed. It's not very deep and isn't bleeding much but it must have hurt. When the Demon gets to the left of Asher near the edge of the flatbed the two gain some distance again. They both hold their knives close to their bodies and stand ready to attack. A second later Asher takes the lead once again and swings at the Demon. Instead of dodging the attack the Demon raises his knife and parries Asher's attack. He's successfully able to block the attack and push Asher's knife away to the side. He quickly follows up with three swings in quick succession. Asher isn't able to use his knife to protect himself but he manages to step back and just narrowly avoid the swings. After the third swing, he's able to regain his stance and stabs at his opponent. But when he does the Bandana Demon is already in motion to parry the attack, and parry it he does. He manages to hit Asher's knife with his own and knock it out of his hands all the way toward the cab of the flatbed where it hits the ground with a clang. Asher looks over to where it got knocked over a distance away. He stares at it silently for a few seconds in a comical manner.]
Asher: Oh fuck.
Bandana Demon: DIE ALREADY!
[Asher looks back at the Bandana Demon and sees him charging directly at him. Before he has time to move out of the way he's tackled to the flatbed by the Demon. When Asher hits the flatbed he looks up only to be met with the Bandana Demon on top of him stabbing his combat knife right at his face.]
Asher: OH FUCK!
[Asher quickly grabs the Bandana Demon's wrists with both of his hands stopping the blade from coming down on him. The two push against each other in an attempt to overpower the other. As Asher continues to resist the Demon's knife, something occurs to him.]
Asher: (In Head) Why do I feel like I'm being silently judged...?
[Asher then looks up and sees the Truck behind him upside down. He also sees Jerry slouched over leaning against the side of the Truck bed with his head resting on his left hand and his right arm resting on the side as well. He seems to be watching the fight with a small smile on his face. Jerry notices Asher looking at him so he holds his right hand out in front of him and gives Asher a thumbs up.]
Jerry: You're doing great bud!
Asher: (Yelling) Jerry you ASSHOLE! Don't just stand there and watch! HELP ME!
[Jerry waves off Asher's call for help with his right hand.]
Jerry: Nahhhhhh- It looks like you've got everything under a uhhhh... Survivable amount of control.
[As Jerry finishes his comment, Asher feels a sharp pain in his left arm. He looks back over to the Bandana Demon and sees that he hasn't moved and is still trying to stab him. The pain strikes again through Asher's left arm. He looks over at it and sees that the wound on his wrist is bleeding more than it was before. Him holding the Bandana Demon back seems to have worsened the wound. The pain causes his left arm to begin to give in to the Demon's strength. The combat knife begins to inch down closer to his face. In a last-ditch effort, Asher lets go of the Demon's hands with his left hand causing the combat knife to descend onto his head. But before the blade can pierce his gas mask and stab him he punches the Demon right in the head causing him to release his strength on the knife. With the Bandana Demon now slightly staggered Asher grabs him and pushes him up and off of him. He quickly gets on his feet and eyes his knife near the flatbed cab. He turns and starts to run over to the cab but is quickly seen by the Bandana Demon. He swiftly starts to close the distance between them as he has done before. Asher hears him behind him so he turns around completely and prepares for the blow. Asher is unable to avoid the attack so he is brutally bashed and knocked to the flatbed on his back near the cab. As he tries to steady himself he is immediately met with the Bandana Demon standing over him ready to attack.]
Bandana Demon: Just die already!
[The Bandana Demon spins his knife around so he's holding it upside down. Then he gets down in front of Asher, raises it up, and strikes dowards toward Asher's chest. Without a second to think, Asher does immediately what comes to his head.]
*Stab!*
[The Bandana Demon manages to stab Asher. But his knife didn't pierce Asher's chest like he was aiming for. He stabbed his left arm. With the little time he had, Asher moved his left arm in front of the blade and took the stab right in his forearm. The Bandana Demon notices immediately that his attack was a failure.]
Bandana Demon: You son of a- *Wet Cough* Guh-
[The Bandana Demon lets out a wet cough. After he does, a blob of red quickly spreads across his bandana and begins to drip off of it and onto Asher's gas mask. He looks down at the rest of Asher and notices that he's holding his right arm up against him. Inside Asher's right hand is his knife that got knocked away earlier. As for the knife itself, its blade is lodged right into the Bandana Demon's chest. Exactly where his heart would be.]
Bandana Demon: B... Bitch...
[Asher briskly twists his knife deeper into the Bandana Demon's chest without hesitation.]
Bandana Demon: *Immense Pain* ARGHHAAA!!!
[The Bandana Demon begins to lose his grip on his knife completely. His head begins to sag a bit downwards.]
Bandana Demon: (Quietly) Guhhhhh...
*Thud*
[Then, he goes completely limp and falls directly on top of Asher with a thud. Asher lies on the flatbed staring past the Bandana Demon up into the sky of Hell. He lies there for a few seconds quietly before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath of air through his mask. He then stops breathing and holds his breath for a second before slowly exhaling through his nose while making a humming sound.]
Asher: *Quiet Humming*
*Clap* *...* *Clap* *...* *Clap* *...*
[Asher hears a clapping noise to his left. He turns his head slightly to the left and sees Jerry standing in the Truck bed slouched over like he usually is slowly clapping while looking at Asher.]
Jerry: (Slow Clapping) Bravo bud. *Clap* Bra-vo...
[Asher stares at him for a second with a blank glare before looking back towards the sky of Hell. He then lets go of his knife and raises his right hand into the air above him. He faces his fist toward Jerry and gives him the middle finger. Jerry smiles and chuckles.]
Jerry: *Chuckles* Hehehe... Alright, enough screwing around. Stop the flatbed so we can see if all of this shit was worth it or not.
[Asher's middle finger changes into a thumbs up. He pushes the lifeless corpse of the Bandana Demon off of him to his left then pushes himself up using only his right arm. When he's able to get onto his feet he reaches for the knife lodged into his left forearm with his right hand. When his hand touches the handle of the knife pain surges through his body causing him to recoil back. His left arm shakes a bit as he holds his right hand close to the handle. Asher then bites down on his teeth, grabs onto the knife handle, and quickly yanks the knife out of his forearm.]
Asher: *Cry of Pain* GAHHHH!!! FUCK!
[Asher immediately lets out a cry of pain as soon as he yanks the knife out of his flesh. He then tosses it aside and wraps his right hand around the open wound.]
Asher: *Pained Breaths* Gehh... Fuck...
[His wound is bleeding at a moderate pace. It's not a lot but it's still a concerning amount. Asher stares at it looking to be in more pain than concern.]
Asher: Mmmm... Not as memorable as when she stabbed me...
[He looks at the dead forest beside him and deeply stares into it.]
Asher: That's a pain I'll never forget...
[Asher lets out a sigh and shakes his head, snapping himself back to the current situation. He turns towards the Truck still being driven by the Crescent Crow beside him. He then raises his right arm and waves at Jerry getting his attention.]
Asher: (Yelling) Hey Jerry!
Jerry: Yeah? What is it?
[Asher stops waving and lowers his right arm.]
Asher: Is there a bandage or something back there you can toss over to me?
[Asher points at the wound on his left arm with his right hand.]
Asher: Because uhhhh- I'm kind of bleeding more than I usually do.
Jerry: Uhhhhh-
[Jerry turns around and begins searching the bed of the Truck for anything Asher can use as a bandage. He ducks down out of Asher's view for a second before popping back up holding a singular roll of cloth.]
Jerry: I found this.
Asher: That should do.
[Asher raises up his right hand and keeps the palm of it open, seemingly ready to catch the bandage.]
Asher: Toss it over for me would ya?
Jerry: Sure thing.
[Jerry holds the bandage in his right hand. He prepares to throw the object at Asher.]
Jerry: Catch!
[He then throws the bandage up and over towards the flatbed truck. The bandage flies over towards Asher, but instead of flying close to him or his raised hand, it flies over his head, past the flatbed, and into the dead forest behind him. Asher stands there with a very visible blank expression through the lenses of his gas mask. He stares at Jerry who has a similar but more embarrassed-looking expression on his face. There is an incredibly awkward silence between the two.]
Asher: Y- Ya know what...
[Asher then slowly lowers his right hand all while looking directly into Jerry's eyes. ]
Asher: I'll just grab the one in the glove box...
Jerry: Uh... Yea...
[Jerry scratches the back of his head and does his best to avoid looking at Asher.]
Jerry: Sorry...
Asher: Mm-hmm...
[Asher then walks over towards the back right part of the flatbed's cab. He huddles up close to it and peers through the rear panel window past the blood splatter from earlier. Inside the cab, the Demon driving it continues with ease.]
Asher: (In Head) I don't think that guy knows he's all alone...
[He walks over to the very right edge of the flatbed and eyes the passenger door. He grabs onto the roof of the cab with his left arm causing him to let out a wince of pain when he does. Despite the pain hurting a ton it seems to be manageable for him. He then steps over and carefully puts his right foot on the passenger's step before stepping over with his left foot while still holding onto the cab. He then moves over a bit allowing him to grab onto the passenger door handle and open it. He manages to slightly get the door open allowing him to get a full view of the inside of the cab.]
Demon Driver: Did ya finally kill that asshole, boss?
Asher: Yea. I did kill your asshole boss.
[The Demon Driver looks over to his right and sees Asher standing in the passenger door frame. His eyes widened a bit in panic upon seeing him.]
Demon Driver: Oh shit.
Asher: Yea! Oh, shit indeed. Now-
[Asher reaches behind him with his right hand and grabs onto the handle of his pistol. He draws it and aims it at the Demon Driver.]
Asher: Hands where I can see them.
[The Demon Driver lifts his hands up off the driving wheel and into the air beside him. A second after he does the entire flatbed truck begins to drift off to the left closer to the edge of the dead forest. The two immediately take notice and slightly panic.]
Asher: PUT THEM BACK ON THE WHEEL! (Quickly) BACK ON THE WHEEL!
[The Demon Driver puts both of his hands back on the driver's wheel and quickly straightens out the flatbed. They both then exhale relieved.]
Asher: *Relieved Exhale* Whoo... Ok...
[Asher fixes his aim and aims at the Demon Driver again.]
Asher: Just- Just stop the truck.
[The Demon Driver eases his foot off of the gas pedal causing the flatbed to decrease its speed. Jerry, and the Crescent who's still standing on the driver's wheel of the Truck, both watch as the flatbed begins to slow down and lag beside them.]
Jerry: Uhhhhh...
[Jerry continues to stare at the flatbed unable to do anything to slow the Truck down. The Crescent Crow watches the flatbed begin to lag behind them before turning its head and staring in front of them. It then hops upwards and lands on the far left side of the driver's wheel causing it to turn hastily to the left. And because of the force of the Crow jumping on it, the bird spins all the way around to the right side of the wheel. The Truck turns violently to the left causing Jerry to fly over and slam into the right side of the Truck bed while also causing the chunk of glowstone on the gas pedal to fall off and roll beside it.]
*Slam*
Jerry: OW! Dammit!
[As the wheel spins around again the Crescent Crow releases its grip on it and falls onto the driver's floor. It then quickly hops onto the Trucks break and forces it to the ground.]
*Skirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr-!*
[The Truck makes a screeching noise as it starts to come to a stop. After skidding in the dried dirt for over five seconds, the Truck finally comes to a full stop after trailing on a few dozen feet and turning 270 degrees in a counterclockwise rotation. When it comes to a full stop it begins to tilt over to the left. Jerry quickly takes notice and moves his weight further onto the right side of the Truck causing it to slam back onto the ground.]
*Slam*
[As the Truck plants itself onto the ground Jerry lets out a relieved breath. After he does, the Crescent crow flutters up from off the break, out through the Truck cab's rear panel window, and onto the top of the cab.]
Crescent Crow: *Caw*
[The caw gets Jerry's attention. He looks over at it a bit weary of its continued presence.]
Jerry: Uhhh- Hey...
Crescent Crow: *Caw*
Asher: Hey!
[Asher yells over to Jerry turning his attention over to him. Jerry sees him still holding onto the passenger side of the flatbed truck a ways away from him. He is still aiming his gun at the Demon who was driving the flatbed but he has his attention towards Jerry.]
Asher: Get over here and give me a hand with this thing!
About A Minute Later...
[About a minute or so later, both Asher and Jerry are standing on the back of the flatbed truck looking at the large wooden crate that seems to have been unstrapped from the flatbed and moved a bit away from the cab. Asher seems to have bandaged up the wounds he got while fighting the Bandana Demon. His chest, left wrist, and left forearm have some clean bandages wrapped around them. He also appears to have put some fresh bandages around his neck just to be safe. The two eye the crate curiously for a few seconds before Jerry looks over at Asher.]
Jerry: Care to do the honors bud?
[Jerry hands him a crowbar. Asher looks at it for a second before smirking and grabbing the tool with his right hand.]
Asher: Gladly!
[He takes a few steps toward the large wooden crate and approaches the left side of it. He raises the crowbar up a bit before thrusting it forward and wedging it between the base of the crate and the side of it facing toward him and Jerry. Asher begins to push against the crowbar with all of his remaining strength in an attempt to remove the front side of the crate from the rest of it. He lets out a few pained grunts, huffs, and puffs before forcing himself to stop. He places his hands on his knees and begins to pant while giving the crowbar, which is wedged into the large crate, a sour glare.]
Asher: (Panting) Playing hard to get, huh!?
[Asher jumps up above the crowbar and lands on it. Somehow he manages to balance himself on top of the crowbar and stand with ease. He then for some reason starts to jump up and down on the crowbar causing it to budge around a bit before slipping a bit downwards. The small incline causes Asher to slip off when he lands on the crowbar again and hits the flatbed with a thud.]
*Thud*
Asher: OW!
[Asher quickly gets back onto his feet and angrily glares at the crowbar. He then rolls up both of his sleeves and grabs onto the crowbar with both hands once again. He pushes and pulls on it violently, attempting to make it budge in the slightest. After a few seconds of failing, he puts his left foot up onto the large wooden crate and uses it as something to push against. He continues to struggle even with the added force. Then... THEN he puts his right foot on the crate and uses both feet to aid him in getting the crowbar loose or opening the crate. Somehow, Asher has managed to defy the laws of gravity as he stays elevated off the flatbed standing sideways on the wooden crate with the crowbar in his hands. After another few seconds of struggling to move the crowbar, Asher lets out an exhausted huff, lets go of the crowbar, stands up, and puts his hands on his hips. He does this all while standing on the side of the wooden crate still unaffected by gravity.]
Asher: *Exhausted Huff* Wow.
[He looks up at Jerry and then gestures down at the crowbar in front of him.]
Asher: This thing is really stuck in there.
[He then goes back to trying to get the crowbar unstuck like nothing unusual is currently happening. Jerry stares at Asher with a very unimpressed blank expression. He lets out a disappointed sigh as he stares at Asher.]
Jerry: *Disappointed Sigh* (In Head) Why is he like this?
[Jerry closes his eyes, shakes his head, and lets out a slight groan. He then opens his eyes and looks at Asher.]
Jerry: *Groan* Asher!
[Asher is now back on the flatbed hunched over pulling on the crowbar with both of his hands and his teeth. In short, he's biting on it like some animal. His sharp fake tooth shines a tiny bit, reminding Jerry who he's dealing with.]
Asher: *Unintelligible Grumble* Errhereh?
[Asher looks up at Jerry and makes a weird unintelligible grumble as a response to him.]
Jerry: Do you want me to lend you a hand or do you think you'll get it within the next hour?
[Asher stares at him silently for a second before he stops biting down on the crowbar.]
Asher: I mean, if you want to.
Jerry: Alright... Just, get ready to pull.
[Asher stands up straight as Jerry walks over to the wooden crate. When he gets a short distance away from it he places his left hand on top of the crate and his right one on the right side of it. He does his best to get a good grip on the side facing towards him.]
Jerry: Ready?
Asher: Yep!
Jerry: One, two, three!
[On three the two begin to pull against the side of the crate. Asher pulls on his crowbar loosening the edge while Jerry starts to rip the side of the box off.]
*Crack*
[Some of the wood begins to crack and a few nails begin to bend as they both continue to pull. Then, the side of the crate gets ripped right off the rest of it.]
*Clunk!*
[As the side comes flying off Asher falls forward a bit but catches himself while Jerry leans back holding the side they just ripped off. The two have to close their eyes and look away almost immediately as a bright white light floods out of the inside of the wooden crate. After a few seconds the light dramatically dimmers down allowing the two to open their eyes. After blinding and readjusting to the natural light, the two glance back over at the crate they just opened. They both start smirking upon seeing what's inside.]
Jerry: Finally! We're done chasing people!
[...]
Jerry: For today...
Asher: Oh thank God! We can finally go home!
[Inside the large wooden crate is what they've been hunting for. Taking up most of the room inside the crate stands a considerable chunk of glowstone that is around Asher's height and Jerry's width. The glowstone is giving off a beautiful radiant glow, blinding yet alluring. There are dozens of jagged points protruding out of the center of the crystal upwards with a large piece towering out from the very center. The edges look rough and faceted on every part of the object. The bottom of it is shaped a bit like a diamond with multiple points all converging at one edge. Inside the very center of the crystal just looks to be a ball of light with an intense but short glow. The glowstone itself is being held up by a metal frame that looks to be poorly constructed. Whoever made it didn't seem very concerned for the safety of whatever it was holding. Jerry tosses the part of the wooden crate he ripped off to the side as Asher does the same with his crowbar. They both take in the stunning beauty of the object that is now theirs.]
Jerry: Huh... I didn't think they came this big...
[Asher glances over at Jerry.]
Asher: Said the-
[Jerry glares at Asher and cuts his sentence short.]
Jerry: If you even think about finishing that sentence, I'm going to throw you into the woods and leave you to starve to death.
[Asher stands there for a few seconds with his mouth open before grabbing the side of his mouth with his right hand and "zipping" it shut. After that, the two look back over at the large chunk of glowstone.]
Jerry: Ya know... I really didn't think we would be able to pull this off.
[Asher looks at Jerry questionably.]
Asher: You doubted how good of a team we are?
Jerry: Well- A little bit...
[He looks over at Asher.]
Jerry: We've never done anything to this scale before... And, well... It's been a long time since I got my blood pumping again...
Asher: Really? What about Leo's fighting rings? I thought you loved brawling in those?
Jerry: *Shrugs* Eh. Those are more of a workout thing for me. I enjoy fighting and getting some practice in but I mainly go for an extra bit of income and to keep myself in good shape.
Asher: You're kind of scary when you want to be arent ya?
Jerry: I do my best...
Asher: Neat.
[Asher looks back at the chunk of glowstone.]
Asher: Soooooooo-
[Jerry looks back at it as well.]
Asher: What do we do about our well-earned reward?
Jerry: Simple. You go grab the Truck and pull it over here. Once you do I'll grab a pair of gloves and load the glowstone up into that metal box we've been lugging around this whole time.
Asher: Oh! So that's what that was for!
Jerry: Yep.
[He gestures at the large glowstone.]
Jerry: Can't risk letting this thing get cracked and explode while we're driving.
Asher: Yea...
[Asher looks away from Jerry.]
Asher: *Tch* Wouldn't want that to happen...
[Jerry glares at Asher.]
Jerry: Yeeeeaaaaaa...
Asher: (Enthusiastically) Yea!
[Asher quickly turns back over and looks up at Jerry.]
Asher: Anyways! I'll get to work!
[Asher turns to the left side of the flatbed and begins to make his way toward the edge of it.]
Jerry: Wait. Before you do that-
[Asher stops mid-step and looks back over at Jerry.]
Jerry: There's still one last thing we need to take care of...
[Asher raises an eyebrow under his mask.]
Asher: Really? What would that be?
[Jerry looks over to his left towards the rear of the flatbed.]
Jerry: What do we do about him?
[Asher looks over to where Jerry is looking. The Demon who was driving the flatbed before Asher stopped it is on his knees near the rear of the flatbed. His hands seem to be tied up with some rope behind him. He's been watching them unbox the glowstone quietly the entire time. Asher and Jerry stare at him for a few seconds.]
Asher: Hmmmmm...
[He walks back to the center of the flatbed all while keeping his eyes on the Demon. He then faces the tied-up individual and stares at him. The Demon is looking directly at Asher before looking beside him in a concerned fashion. Asher's stare turns into a glare as he begins to walk toward the tied-up man. Halfway across the flatbed, Asher reaches behind him and grabs the grip of his pistol. He draws it and holds it beside him. The Demon notices this pretty much immediately]
Demon: Aw shit...
[Asher stops walking a few feet away from the Demon and stands in front of him. He then raises his pistol and aims it at the Demon. The Demon closes his eyes and faces away from Asher awaiting what he does next. Asher keeps his aim at the Demon's head for a few tense seconds before looking over his left shoulder at Jerry. Jerry has been watching the scene unfold with a blank expression on his face. When he sees Asher looking at him he just shrugs. Asher then looks back at the Demon who's still cowering on the flatbed. He then closes his eyes. And thinks to himself...]
Asher: *In Head* This is... Something I never thought I would have to do again... Can I really kill this guy...? An unarmed person...? Should I...? I uhhhh... Mmmmm...
[He opens his eyes and looks at the defenseless man in front of him.]
Asher: *In Head* No... I can't... Not again... Not much is on the line this time so... It'll be fine to let this asshole go... I'll give him a chance.
[He lowers his pistol away from the Demon.]
Asher: Get out of my sight...
[He then holsters his pistol behind him.]
Asher: But if I ever see you again I'll make sure I kill you.
[The Demon stays still for a few seconds before opening his eyes and looking at Asher. He blinks a few times then looks beside him confused before looking back at Asher. He then raises an eyebrow puzzled.]
Demon: Huh?
Asher: I said get out of my sight.
[The two stare at each other for a few seconds. Silently... Awkwardly...]
Demon: What?
[Asher shakes his head and glares at the Demon.]
Asher: (Under His Breath) Oh for fucks sake...
[He angrily points behind the Demon.]
Asher: You are free to go! You have been relieved of duty! You are no longer welcome in this establishment!
[The two stare at each other again for a few seconds. With double the silence and awkwardness than before!]
Demon: I have no idea what you're trying to convey to me.
Asher: (Angrily) Oh my GOOOOOOOOOOOOD!
[Asher quickly draws his pistol again and aims it at the Demon.]
Asher: (Yelling) GET THE HELL OUT OF MY SIGHT!
Demon: AH!
[The Demon panics causing him to fall backward off of the flatbed and onto the dried dirt ground. He then manages to get onto his feet and starts running away from Asher who's still pointing the gun at him. After getting a fair distance away down the dirt path, Asher lowers his pistol and lets out a deep breath.]
Asher: *Deep Breath* ...
[...]
Asher: I could really use a nice long nap...
[Some footsteps can be heard coming from behind Asher. A second later Jerry walks up beside him staring at the Demon Asher just let go. After a few seconds of silence, he speaks.]
Jerry: I'm kind of surprised you didn't just shoot him...
[Asher looks up at Jerry.]
Asher: Really? Do I come off as that much of a murderer to you?
[Jerry looks down at him.]
Jerry: Sometimes. *Makes Gesture* Yea!
Asher: *Shrugs* Well I was kind of thinking about it but I ran out of bullets a while ago, soooooooo- Trying to shoot him would have just been awkward for the both of us.
Jerry: How many bullets does that thing hold?
Asher: You should know since you made it, but it's uhhhh- Seven. Seven bullets. And I shot- Uhhhhhh...
[He starts counting on his fingers.]
Asher: (Quietly & Quickly) One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. (Normally) Yea, seven! I shot it seven times. I used my last bullet on the dynamite you threw.
Jerry: Are you sure bud?
Asher: *Sarcastic Glare* Are you doubting me?
Jerry: I mean yea! How can you keep track of your bullets while driving, getting shot at, and knife-fighting someone simultaneously?!
Asher: Well... I mean... I think I shot seven times...
[Asher stares off into space for a second. He then raises his pistol and looks at it. After a few seconds of just silently staring at it, he points it forward, aims it directly at the Demon he just let go, then pulls the trigger.]
*Click*
[Asher then innocently turns and looks up at Jerry. Jerry is looking at him completely bewildered by what he just did.]
Asher: See! Seven! I told you I shot seven times!
Jerry: What the hell Asher!?!?
[Asher lowers his pistol to a resting position.]
Asher: What?
[Jerry gestures down at Asher with both of his hands.]
Jerry: You just tried shooting the guy you let go!!!
Asher: *Shrugs* So? I didn't have any bullets left in my pistol.
[Jerry then raises his arms out beside him angrily.]
Jerry: BUT YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT!!!
[Asher puts both of his hands on his stomach and starts laughing like a madman.]
Asher: *Somewhat Crazy Laughter* HAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHA!!!
[He then reaches up with his left hand and pulls his gas mask down off of his face back around his neck. When it's removed from his face it reveals a wide sadistic smile.]
Asher: Relax!
[He aims his pistol upwards, circling the barrel around in the air and carelessly twirling it around.]
Asher: If I did end up shooting him you could have just said it was a mercy killing! Since I let him go with his hands tied there's a good chance he's just gonna starve and die in the barren woods anyways.
Jerry: Are you really- Ya know what-
[Jerry shakes his head and rubs the side of his head with both hands.]
Jerry: Forget it.
[He crosses his arms.]
Jerry: I can only be mad at you at one thing at a time and still need to be mad at you for keeping an explosive in your bag the entire trip and not telling me.
Asher: *Chuckles* Hehehehe- *Inhale* Ohhhhhhh, I wish I could have seen your face when I told you!
[Asher holsters his pistol behind him, turns, and starts walking toward the huge chunk of glowstone near the flatbed cab.]
Asher: You'll have to reenact it for me tomorrow over some drinks! Because as soon as we get home I'm going straight to sleep!
[Jerry watches him walk away silently. He shakes his head and speaks to himself quietly.]
Jerry: (Quielty) Fucking... Psychopath...
Pentagram City, About Eight Hours Later...
[About eight whole hours later, the Truck and its two occupants Asher and Jerry safely return to the rotten streets of Pentagram City. Albeit a few new cuts, scrapes, bruises, stab wounds, and a shattered driver's door window were brought back with them, they have returned home alive. Asher is sitting in the driver's seat with his wounds bandaged, his mask around his neck, and a somewhat contented look on his face as he drives through the city. Jerry is lying down on the Truck bed with both of his hands behind his head and his eyes closed. Beside him are the large metal crate that they brought with them on the trip and the wooden crate with red straps that had his crossbow in it. It looks like he put it back inside the box and wrapped it up. Asher navigates his way through the city without any trouble before a light in front of him turns red. He takes his foot off of the Truck's gas pedal and places it onto the break. He pushes it down causing the truck to come to a full stop right before the red light. Asher eases back into the driver's seat and lets out an incredibly relaxed breath.]
Asher: *Relaxed Exhale* (In Head) Ahhhh... Finally! Back to the no-good streets of Pentagram City! I can't believe I actually missed this place a bit...
[He narrows his eyes a bit.]
Asher: (In Head) Only a bit...
[He takes in another deep breath before shuffling around in his seat a bit. He then reaches into his torn and bandaged-up vest and takes out a pack of cigarettes. He takes a cigarette out, places it into his mouth, then places the pack back into his vest. As he does he seems to look for something else but can't seem to find it.]
Asher: Oh, right. I left my lighter in my bag... Hmmmm...
[He looks around the inside of the Trucks cab for something to light his cigarette with. As he looks over at the passenger's glovebox, he notices something in the center console of the Truck. It's a small little button with an image of a cigarette on it.]
Asher: This thing has a cigarette lighter in it?
[He reaches down and pushes the button ejecting the lighter. He then takes it out of the console and brings it up to the end of his cigarette.]
Asher: Huh. This would have been useful a while ago.
[After a few seconds the cigarette lights. Asher takes a puff of it and blows the smoke out of the broken driver's window. He then holds the cigarette lighter coil in front of him and inspects it.]
Asher: I'm surprised I didn't notice it before...
[He places it back into its slot on the center console and pushes it back into place.]
Asher: I gotta start paying attention to more things than just people...
[He takes another puff from his cigarette before using his free hand to knock on then open the Trucks rear panel window.]
Asher: Hey! Jerry! Are you awake?
Jerry: (Quietly) Huh?
[Jerry's eyes begin to open up. He starts blinking rapidly a few times before rubbing his eyes and sitting up.]
Jerry: Ehhhh... Yea. I'm awake.
[Jerry's eyes adjust as he begins to look around at his surroundings.]
Jerry: Oh. We're back in the city.
Asher: Yep!
[Jerry shuffles over and sits back against the metal crate beside him.]
Asher: It took a lot of work, sweat, and mainly my blood but we're finally back successful!
[Upon hearing what Asher says, Jerry looks to the bed of the truck rather upset.]
Jerry: Yea...
[Asher places his hand back on the driver's wheel and takes a puff from his cigarette. The two Demons sit there quietly patiently waiting for the light to change. Jerry then looks up through the rear panel window and at the rearview mirror. He can see part of Asher's head reflected in it. His eyes stop on the bandages wrapped around his neck and part of the ones wrapped around his chest. He then looks back down at the Truck bed before speaking. His tone is rather quiet.]
Jerry: (Quietly) Hey, uhhhh... Ash?
[Asher seems to hear Jerry despite his quiet tone.]
Asher: Yea?
Jerry: I... I uhhh...
[He goes quiet for a few seconds. He then looks back up at the rearview mirror and meets eyes with Asher who's also looking into it.]
Jerry: I uhhh... I just wanted to thank you is all...
[Asher raises an eyebrow, slightly confused.]
Asher: Thank me? For what?
Jerry: For...
[Jerry places his left hand behind his head and starts rubbing it.]
Jerry: Just... I just wanted to thank you for everything you did in the past week...
[Asher places his right hand on the center console and looks over his right shoulder at Jerry.]
Asher: What the hell are you on about?
Jerry: Look-
[He looks up at Asher and stops rubbing his head.]
Jerry: You've done a lot for me since we first met. But everything you've done for me in the past week tops everything else...
[He places both of his hands on the Truck bed and leans to the left still sitting against the metal crate looking away from Asher.]
Jerry: Coming with me to that damn dead forest to go hunting for the glowstone... Getting into a truck chase against the assholes who got it before we did... Then getting beaten by a bunch of thugs and stabbed by their boss... If you didn't push me into packing up and going after the glowstone...
[He looks up and meets Asher's gaze once again.]
Jerry: I don't know what I would have done... Probably close up shop for a long time while I hunt down a replacement for the workshop... You just- Did a lot for me... More than any random stranger found on the street would do for anyone. I'm... I'm not really sure how I can thank you for this...
[The two stare at each other silently after Jerry finishes his sentence. A second later, Asher sighs and responds.]
Asher: *Sigh* Just watch my back a little closer from now on and we'll call it even.
[Asher smirks, raises up his right hand, and holds it out the rear window towards Jerry.]
Asher: Deal?
[Jerry stares at Asher's hand for a few seconds. He looks surprised by Asher's response. He then smirks as well and reaches out and grabs Asher's hand.]
Jerry: Sure.
[He shakes Asher's hand.]
Jerry: I can live with that.
Asher: Neat.
[They both stop shaking after a second and retract their hands back to them.]
Jerry: You really don't ask for much, do ya?
Asher: As long as I have a place to sleep, something to keep me entertained, and someone watching my back. I can be quite a contented person.
Jerry: I'll make sure to keep note of that.
*HHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK-*
[A loud long honk blares from behind the Truck. It's another car waiting for Asher to drive the Truck since the light turned green. The two look at the car still honking its horn.]
Asher: Son of a-
[Asher leans over and puts his head out of the broken driver's door window and looks behind him.]
Asher: (Yelling) DO YOU MIND?!?! I'M TRYING TO HAVE A MOMENT HERE WITH MY FRIEND!!!
*-HHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!*
[The driver of the vehicle behind them just keeps honking. Jerry shuffles over towards the rear panel window so he can talk to Asher.]
Jerry: Just drive Asher.
Asher: Fucking asshole!
[Asher gets back into the Truck and moves his foot onto the gas pedal. He starts driving once again down the roads of the city.]
Asher: Fuck that guy...
Jerry: You were just sitting there doing nothing...
[Asher looks at Jerry out of the corner of his eye.]
Asher: Whose side are you on?
Jerry: Whichever side gets the glowstone back to my workshop.
Asher: So you are on my side?
Jerry: Only when you're not being an idiot...
Asher: *Chuckles* Uhh-huh. Right...
[Asher goes back to focusing on the road.]
Asher: Hey, speaking of the glowstone, how's it doing back there?
Jerry: I don't know. Let me check.
[Jerry moves back over to the large metal box and gives it a good few knocks.]
*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*
*Brrrrrrr...*
[A bright glow seeps out of the edges of the metal create as it rumbles a bit. A second later it quickly dies down.]
Jerry: Ehhhh- It seems a bit unstable... But it should be fine once it's secured in the forge.
Asher: Good. I don't want that thing blowing me up in my sleep. I've already died in an explosion once and I ain't gonna die like that again! No sir!
Jerry: Mind if I get a bit more shuteye before we get back to the workshop? Getting the glowstone hooked up to the forge is gonna take a few hours.
Asher: Sure. Go ahead and lie down, I'll let you know when we arrive.
Jerry: Thanks bud.
[Jerry does as Asher says and lies down on the Truck bed. He places both of his hands behind his head and closes his eyes. Asher continues to drive through the city without any trouble. Then, for some reason, he looks down closer at the road in front of him. He looks a bit confused.]
Asher: Uhhh... Sorry to bother you, Jerry. But uhhh- How long do you think it will be before we head back to Cutthroat Forest?
[Jerry slightly opens his left eye.]
Jerry: Cutthroat Forest?
Asher: Yea. That dead thorny forest we were recently in where I almost died a few times? It didn't really have a name did it?
Jerry: I never really went there before we did since I didn't have a reason to. I'm not aware if the place had an actual name or not.
Asher: Well then! I've decided to name that horrid place, Cutthroat Forest!™ Trademarked by the way! Fitting since I got my throat cut there! *Chuckle* Hehehe!
Jerry: Really? Ya know what. Fine. Call it whatever the hell you want... Honestly, considering the size of the crystal we were able to steal, I don't think we'll need to go back for at least a few dozen years...
Asher: Shit really?
Jerry: Yea. Why? Did you forget something?
[Asher shakes his head.]
Asher: Mmmmmm... No... I don't think so...
[The light in front of him turns red causing Asher to place his foot on the brake and stop the Truck. He takes his hands off the driver's wheel and crosses his arms.]
Asher: At least... I don't remember bringing anything and then leaving it behind...
[He strokes his chin with his right hand as Jerry closes his eyes, seemingly trying to go back to sleep.]
Asher: Hmmmmmmm...
[Asher stares in front of him for a few seconds before turning to the right towards the passenger seat. He can see the Crescent Crow standing on the passenger seat angrily glaring at him. He then turns back forward and stares down the road ahead. Then, upon realizing what he just saw, his eyes widen and he pushes himself up onto his seat and towards the driver's door in a panic. He stares down at the Crescent Crow while it stares at him with a stern glare.]
Asher: Right... Yooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...
[He continues to fearfully stare at the bird while it glares at him. After a few seconds, Asher makes his way back down to his seat and sits correctly.]
Asher: So uhh... Are we cool? Or are you even more mad at me since I left you behind?
[The Crescent Crow spreads its wings out beside it and hisses at Asher.]
Crescent Crow: *Hiss!*
[Asher smiles awkwardly.]
Asher: O-K! Just wanted to make sure!
[The Crescent Crow brings its wings back beside it but continues to glare at Asher. They stare at each other silently and awkwardly once again.]
Asher: Uhhhmm... If you're not going to attack me, please leave. I've had more than enough excitement in the past week than I usually get in a month.
[The Crescent Crow continues to glare at him before quickly flying up onto the dashboard. It continues to stare at him silently. Asher does the same to it, but he seems more awkward.]
Asher: Uhhh- Ya know what?
[Asher reaches towards his vest with his right hand which causes the Crescent Crow to take a step back in preparation for whatever happens next. Asher seems to notice so he stops moving. He then puts his left-hand open close in front in an attempt to calm the bird down.]
Asher: Birds like shiny things right?
[He then slowly reaches into his vest with his right hand. He rummages around for something and takes whatever he was looking for out a second later. It's a wrapped-up small napkin that looks to be giving off a slight white glow. He holds the object close in front of him cautiously.]
Asher: Here. It's a small piece of glowstone I found earlier. I do not need it nor want it so you can have it as a, uhhhhh-
[Asher raises one of his eyebrows.]
Asher: "Thank you for not killing me and kind of helping me today," gift?
[The Crescent Crow stares at Asher. Then at the napkin he's holding. Then back at Asher. Asher gestures over to the napkin with his eyes and head then holds his left hand beneath it. The Crescent Crow stares at him aggressively for a few seconds before-]
*Yoink*
[The Crescent Crow quickly grabs the napkin out of Asher's hands with its beak and flies out the rear panel window. Asher doesn't even notice that it grabbed the napkin until a second later when he looks at his empty hand and then at the rearview mirror. He can see the Crescent Crow flying down the street then up and out of his view. Asher places both of his hands back on the driver's wheel and lets out a sigh of relief.]
Asher: *Relieved Sigh* Whoo... That was close...
[He stretches his neck out a bit before going back to staying focused on the road. After a few seconds of silence, Jerry speaks up.]
Jerry: That bird's a better driver than you are by the way.
[Asher looks over his shoulder with an incredibly fake smile.]
Asher: *Fake Laughter* HA! HA-HA! Heheheheh! Fuuuuck youuuu!
[Asher looks back forward and sees the light turn green. He places his foot on the gas and starts to drive away. From the rooftops, the Crescent Crow watches the Truck begin to drive down the street away from it. The bird watches it drive down the street and then take a left turn out of its view. A few crows fly over and perch on the side of the rooftops around the Crescent Crow as it stares off where the Truck turned. It then drops the napkin it's holding in its beak onto the rooftop and opens it up with its right talon. The small piece of glowstone shines brightly, getting the attention of all the birds around it. The Crescent Crow glares at it intrigued, then it stares back towards where it last saw Asher.]
Crescent Crow: ...
A Dozen or So Minutes Later, Western Outskirts Of Pentagram City, Jerry's Workshop...
(A/N: This part is all supposed to be told from specifically inside Asher's room. Hope that clears up any possible confusion.)
[The entirety of Jerry's workshop is still completely pitch back. Asher's room is as dark and still as the rest of the workshop. It's actually quite peaceful.]
*Loud Shuffling* *Clang!*
[Then some movement and a loud clang can be heard down the hall in the workshop from Asher's room. A vehicle engine can be heard moving in and then shutting off followed by two distinctly different footsteps echoing through the workshop.]
Asher: (Distant) Alrighty then! I am going to go lie down in my bed and start physically recovering from my body's most recent thrashing!
Jerry: (Distant) Sure. I'll get started on hooking up the glowstone to the forge. Enjoy your nap bud.
Asher: (Distant) Thanks! See ya later!
[The large metal door to the workshop makes a loud noise as it's pushed open and then closed. The sound of Asher's dress shoes echoes throughout the hallway as he makes his way to his bedroom door.]
*Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap*
*Click*
[His door handle makes a slight click as he grabs onto it. He twists it and then opens the door to his room. He has his duffle bag over his right shoulder and is holding a lighter in his left hand so he can see his surroundings. His duffle bag is actually glowing a slight bit through its zipper. He steps into his room and then closes the door behind him. He then walks over to his night table and carefully places his duffle bag on the floor. He kneels down and unzips it causing his entire room to almost completely light up. Asher takes the glowing object out and places it on his night table next to his lamp. It's the piece of glowstone he noticed and grabbed when he got into the Truck after the bigger piece crashed into the ground. It's the same piece that got stuck on the gas pedal when the Crescent Crow was driving. Asher flips his lighter closed and places it on the night table as well as he eyes the bright rock he claimed.]
Asher: This should serve as a good light source until Jerry gets the power running again.
[He gives the glowstone a nice gentle pat before standing up and closing his eyes. He stretches his arms upwards but seems to struggle a bit with his left arm.]
Asher: *Yawn* Ahhhh... Finally!
[He stops stretching and turns towards his bed. Then he opens his eyes.]
Asher: Now that I'm all by myself... I can sit back and reeeela-
[Asher stops his sentence short when he gets a good look at his bed. His radio, the one that was on his night table when he left, is sitting quite comfortably in the center of his bed. Asher stares at it with a blank tired expression on his face.]
Asher: Yep... Definitely possessed...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
A/N: Howdy! Was that fight between Asher and those 5 goons confusing for you? Well, you have no idea how confusing it is to write something like that! My God, it's awful! Anyways- This was the Finale for this "Arc" and I apologize for it being so long and taking a while to type. I wanted to make sure it was of a good quality for a Finale which I believe it achieved. Chapters where there's a lot of fighting, especially between multiple people, take some time to write and proofread. Especially proofread I'll see you all in the next chapter! And remember! Let there be ligh- *Radio Static*
*Click*
*Click* *Click* *Click* *Click*
*Tap* *Tap*
8 Hours Earlier, Cutthroat Forest...
[A pair of binoculars spies downwards from a vantage point towards a dead thorny forest. The vantage point appears to be some sort of tall overlook near a cliff edge that is tall enough to see easily over the trees and through the never-ending dead woods. The user of the binoculars has something directly in the center of their sight. In an opening of the dead forest down a dirt path sits a flatbed truck with a truck parked beside it. There are two figures moving around the vehicles. One is a medium-sized demon with ashy-colored skin and a maroon-colored vest who's smoking a cigarette beside the driver's door of the truck. The other is an unusually large imp who's standing on the flatbed truck near a large metal crate. The user of the binoculars zooms in on the imp. He has a large glowing rock placed carefully on some sort of metal cart. The imp then pushes the glowing rock into the metal crate, grabs a taken-off side of the metal crate, and places it on the opening of the crate. He then gives it a good hit, closing the crate completely. The imp carefully pushes the metal box from the flatbed onto the back of the other truck and positions it close to the truck's cab. He then makes sure it's secured and takes a seat beside it. The imp then raises up his right hand and bangs on top of the truck cab. The other ashy-colored demon hears the noise, throws his cigarette onto the ground and steps on it, then opens up the truck door and gets inside. The truck's engine then turns on and slowly begins to move forward. It then stops, backs up a bit while turning its rear to the left, then begins to drive away from the flatbed. The user of the binoculars watches it drive away leaving the flatbed in the dust. He then notices something following it. It looks like a small black bird flying above the truck. He zooms in a bit on the cab of the truck, mainly on the ashy-colored demon driving it. After watching him for a few more seconds, the figure holding the binoculars lowers them and watches the truck with his own eyes.]
???: Hmmmm...
[The figure holding the binoculars is a tall man wearing a dark olive green double-breasted greatcoat with its neck guard up covering a good portion of their face. The greatcoat has a patch on each of the shoulders that resembles a line beneath what looks to be two wings. On the left upper arm is a red armband that looks to have been flipped over by its wearer. On his head is a wool folding field cap of similar color to his greatcoat with turn-down ear flaps secured in front by two buttons and a visor. His trousers are a darker shade of green accompanied by some black boots. Oddly enough the figure seems to have a tail. A rather dog-esque-looking tail resembling one a German shepherd would have. The figure's face is also one resembling a dog. More of a hound...To further express their houndish features they have two hound-like ears coming through the top of their hat. They have black fur around their snout and mouth with more leading up to and around their eyes. The rest of their face has dark brown fur covering it.]
???: *Quiet Growling* Grrr...
[The hound growls quietly as he places the binoculars into his greatcoat while staring at the truck. He then makes an abrupt 90-degree turn and starts walking away from the cliff edge. The hound walks over to a smothered fire and a small tent cover that blends in with its dull-colored surroundings. Beneath the tent cover is a few objects, a bedroll, a few small wooden crates, a chair, and a table with some empty cans, a few empty boxes, a clipboard with paper and a pencil, an opened briefcase with some device inside of it, and a weird-looking device sitting on it. The hound approaches the device and stands it upwards. The device is a SCR-300, (Signal Corps Radio) a backpack-mounted portable radio transceiver. The hound extends the antenna and flicks a switch causing a few lights to perk on. He then grabs onto a small cord that is attached to the device and follows it with his hands until it leads him to an opened briefcase. Inside the briefcase is a morse code unit that seems to be connected to the portable radio. The hound places his right index finger on the morse key in the briefcase and grabs a knob on the portable radio with his left hand. He begins to turn the knob on the radio causing the needle to move left and right. Eventually, he stops when it reaches the number "179.3." He then takes his hand off of the portable radio and grabs the pencil next to the clipboard. He begins to write on the clipboard all while tapping away on the morse key.]
*Tap* *Tap* *Tap-Tap* *Tap* *More Tapping*
[He writes something down on the blank piece of paper attached to the clipboard. What he wrote down reads, "Target survived and secured crystal." And right banetight reads, "In Begleitung eines unbekannten Komplizen."]
The Clock is Ticking...