ชิ้นChîn: Chapter 2. Scion Of Our God (Patreon)

Early morning

Charlie wakes to banging on his door. He groans and rolls over as the banging continues. He gets up, stumbles to the door, and then swings it open.

Charlie snaps: "What?"

Basit: "Get dressed. We're going out of town."

Charlie: "I'd really rather not."

Basit: "Nora's request."

Charlie leans against the doorway and groans.

Charlie: "Why do I have to be involved?"

Basit, agitated: "Get your ass dressed."

Charlie pushes himself off the doorway and sighs dramatically.

-

The two walk out of the apartment building. Charlie is tired and dressed in his usual muted-colored tee, jeans, and a lilac hoodie.

Basit: "You drive?"

Charlie: "No."

Basit: "Me neither. Bus it is, then."

-

Basit and Charlie sit together on the bus. Charlie stares out the window, glum, as it leaves the city.

Basit: "Had breakfast yet?"

Charlie: "No."

Basit: "We'll grab something when we arrive, then."

-

The two step off the bus and into a rustic downtown with brick buildings.

-

They walk into the diner and sit down.

The waitress steps up to their table.

Waitress: "Hello! What can I get you?"

Charlie: "Coffee and pancakes. Please."

Waitress: "Got it."

The waitress looks at Basit, then quickly drops her gaze to her notepad, avoiding looking at Basit's scar.

Waitress: "And uh…what can I get you?"

Basit: "Three of your mega burgers, rare, hold the ketchup, mustard, and bun."

The waitress nods and starts to write it down, then pauses with confusion.

Waitress: "So… you want just three rare burger patties?"

Basit, flat: "Yes."

Waitress, awkward nod: "Alright then…"

She walks away, and Charlie looks at Basit.

Charlie: "I never considered you—we—might have different diets."

He leans forward and looks to the side, contemplating aloud.

Charlie mutters: "I never considered I might not even need to eat."

Basit: "Every Abnormal is different. That's kind of the point."

Charlie: "Right. So, you eat meat then?"

Basit: "Preferably raw, but they won't serve it like that."

Charlie: "I don't think they legally can."

Basit: "And they never have enough of it."

Charlie: "How much do you eat?"

Basit leans back in the booth with a casual tone.

Basit: "Sometimes, I go out to the country and eat several cows."

Charlie, raised brow: "How do you—" he mutters, "Oh, right. Size of a building."

The waitress walks over, sets the coffee in front of him, then steps away again.

Charlie: "Does Nora eat?"

Basit: "Hm. Kind of? Not like us, though. It's more—I don't know, spiritual? I don't get it."

Charlie mixes several packets of sugar and cream into the coffee.

Charlie: "Weird."

Basit: "You're among Abnormals, Charlie. 'Weird' doesn't exist."

Charlie: "Like I said, still getting used to it."

Basit looks out the window in thought.

Basit: "I used to know an Abnormal who ate storms."

Charlie, surprised: "Seriously?"

The waitress steps over and both pause their conversation. She sets the plates of food on the table.

Waitress: "Let me know if there's anything else I can get you."

Charlie: "Thanks."

Charlie wolfs down the pancakes with a fork, and Basit eats the patty with her hand. The waitress and the cook glance over, subtly staring.

-

They walk down the street.

Charlie: "Alright, so what are we here for?"

Basit: "Nora wants us to fetch a friend of hers."

Charlie: "Great. So is this a friendly friend, or a strong-arm into coming with us friend?"

Basit chuckles: "A friendly friend—to Nora and me anyway."

Charlie, half-smile: "Ah, so am I walking my ass headfirst into danger again?"

Basit: "Probably not, but we should make it clear you're not a human."

Charlie: "Do they not like humans?"

Basit: "He does for breakfast."

-

Basit and Charlie walk into a run-down apartment building.

Basit stops in front of a door and knocks.

They wait a moment.

Basit: "You should still eat."

Charlie: "Hm?"

Basit: "It seems good for you and your mood. Even if you can stop eating, you should keep it up anyway."

The door in front of them opens slightly, locked with a chain.

Conner, irritated: "What?"

Basit leans into his view.

Basit: "Nora sent us."

Conner's expression softens with surprise.

Conner: "Basit?"

He peers at Charlie, and his face hardens again.

Basit: "He's not for lunch."

Charlie leans in with an awkward wave.

Charlie: "I'm not human!"

Conner glares for a moment, then shuts the door. After a click, it opens, and Basit and Charlie walk in.

The apartment is cluttered with books, folders, tapes, discs, and drives—piled on the floor and spilling from every shelf and cabinet. In the corners are masses of red webs full of more clutter. The webs cover shelves, the walls, and hang from the ceiling.

One of the same strands of red web hangs around Conner's neck, and several are wrapped around his wrists. Some are even used to patch his fine but ragged clothes.

Conner appears as a man in his late middle age, with medium olive skin, blue eyes, and a thin build. He stands taller than Charlie but shorter than Basit. His hair is receding, gray with a few white streaks, and combed back but fanning out at the bottom. He has a downward Zapata-style mustache and speaks with a faint accent.

Charlie looks around the small apartment.

Charlie: "I didn't know 'conspiracy theory board' could be a decoration style."

He turns back with a startle as he meets face-to-face with Conner. He peers at Charlie with suspicion.

Conner: "What are you then?"

Charlie steps backwards to Basit's side with his hands up.

Charlie: "I'm an Abnormal!"

Basit, cheeky grin: "He's immortal and was human once. You could probably get a decent nibble out of him."

Charlie: "Basit!"

Basit chuckles.

Conner: "Tch. Humans don't become Abnormal…"

Basit: "That's what I said."

Conner, interested: "How did you change, then?"

Charlie, uncomfortable: "I doubt this is why we're here."

Basit: "True."

She pulls a yellow envelope from her jacket and holds it up to Conner.

Basit: "Nora needs your help figuring out what's going on with these."

Charlie watches him take it, then looks away with a grimace as Conner pulls the parchments out of the envelope.

Conner shuffles through them, his brows deeply furrowing.

Basit: "Six Abnormals were sent a package with one of those letters. Each one containing a piece of my friend here—a piece of his fingers."

As she speaks, Conner walks forward, eyes still on the papers in his hands. As he walks, six large and thin spider legs reach out from the buttoned slit on the back of his shirt. His face shifts from its human appearance to more angular and spider-like, with several eyes and large fangs. Charlie stares with surprise and backs out of the way as Conner walks past. The legs lift him, allowing him to reach a tall bookshelf. They shift around a few webs, allowing him access to a small tin sitting on the edge of the top shelf. He picks it up with one hand, holding it out of view with the papers. He opens it, then glances over his shoulder.

Conner: "More."

Basit: "That's all we have. Nora included a list of most of the Abnormals that have received packages—She's still waiting on a couple of them to give her permission to share their information."

Conner: "That's all? Does your friend not have more?"

Charlie looks uncomfortable and turns away to look at objects in the room, spotting a shelf stuffed with folders and a few odd baubles, statuettes, and a small framed photo of a child, around seven years old.

Basit looks over to Charlie as he pokes at a strange object on the shelf, trying to ignore them.

Basit looks back up at Conner.

Basit: "He says he doesn't know anything about it."

Conner's lip tightens, and he shuts the tin with a soft click.

Charlie turns around and sees Conner standing behind him. His face is human again, but uncomfortably close. Charlie leans away, uneasy.

Charlie: "Can you please stop doing that…"

After a long, awkward pause, Conner's lips crook, and he pulls away. The spider legs fold back out of view.

Conner: "Alright. I'll get my things together."

-

Noon

The three of them step out of the apartment building. Conner carries a large briefcase.

Conner: "Did you drive here?"

Basit: "We took the bus."

Conner gestures for them to follow and leads them to his car, a 1987 Lincoln Town Car, Delray Edition.

Charlie's face lights up.

Charlie: "Hey, is this the Delray—"

Conner gives a quick dismissive glance as he opens the driver's door.

Conner: "Get in."

Charlie, dispirited, gets in the rear seat.

-

Conner driving: "And your name is?"

Charlie: "I go by Charlie."

After a moment of awkward silence—

Charlie: "I don't think I caught yours either."

Conner: "Conner Edwards. Abnormal investigator."

Charlie: "Cool… Does it pay well?"

Conner: "What makes you an Abnormal, Charlie?"

Charlie, confused: "Uh…"

Basit: "He's Immortal—"

Conner: "Immortal as in indestructible, or infinitely repairing?"

Charlie's brows furrow: "Repairing."

Basit: "And his body can separate and snap back together—like a magnet. It's kinda neat."

Conner's lip tightens, and his brow furrows.

Conner: "How was this state bestowed upon you?"

Charlie shifts uncomfortably and looks out the window.

Charlie: "I don't remember."

Conner studies him through the mirror, eyes narrow with suspicion.

Charlie pulls out his phone while Basit and Conner talk.

Conner mutters: "Is he a friend of Nora?"

Basit glances at him.

Basit, flat: "Yes…"

-Daniel-

[Charlie] Hey, ball later? :waves: :basketball:

[Charlie]I promise I'll actually play this time. :crossedfingers:

Charlie looks back up and watches the buildings pass.

-

Conner parks in front of Nora's diner, and everyone exits. Charlie lags behind as he checks his phone. The message is delivered, but unread.

They enter the diner.

Hyphae greets them as they enter.

Hyphae: "Hello, Conner. Hello, Basit. Hello, Charlie."

Basit: "Hey, Hyphae."

Charlie waves as they pass.

Conner walks towards the back and enters the office. Nora looks up and smiles widely, standing up.

Nora: "Conner Edwards!"

Conner smiles: "Salut, Nora." {Hello}

She hugs him and turns her head as Conner kisses both of her cheeks. She pulls away and motions for him to sit.

She turns to Basit and Charlie.

Nora: "You two go on. I'll get Conner settled in."

As Charlie leaves the room, Nora stops Basit.

Nora: "Keep an eye on him, will you? If he's being targeted, we can't let our guard down."

Basit nods and leaves the office.

Conner: "Where shall I be staying?"

Nora, friendly smile: "My house, of course. I want to make sure you have space. I have a very roomy basement you can set up in for the duration of your stay."

Conner: "Are there bugs?"

Nora: "A few. And you're welcome to that pesky little dog that keeps getting into my roses."

Conner grins: "C'est parfait." {Perfect.}

-

Charlie walks from the diner, looking at his phone again.

Basit catches up: "Hey."

Charlie looks over: "Hey—something else I'm needed for, or can I go home?"

Basit: "No, I'm just going to walk you home."

Charlie: "Why?"

Basit, flat: "Because I said so."

Charlie raises a brow and continues walking.

Charlie: "Okay…"

The two walk down the street for a while.

Charlie: "Nora and Conner seem close."

Basit: "Mhm."

Charlie, interested: "Is there a thing there?"

Basit, amused: "Hah—no."

They pass the park, the ball court empty, Charlie glancing out at it.

Basit: "These packages—"

Charlie sighs, exasperated.

Basit: "I don't know what's going on, but it's best we figure it out fast. If you know anything—"

Charlie, annoyed: "So Nora set you up to this?"

Basit: "She asked me to keep an eye on you and make sure you're safe—"

Charlie: "Of course she did."

Basit, irritated: "I'm the one asking you what you know about those creepy fucking packages."

Charlie: "I already told Nora, I don't know."

They continue to walk in silence.

-

They reach the apartment building, passing several parked cars—a red Ford, a black Toyota, a white Honda, among others.

Basit: "I believe you don't know anything about what's going on—"

Charlie: "Oh, you do? Damn, guess that means I don't need to be strapped up to the polygraph for more interrogation—what a shame."

Basit, irritated: "—but maybe you know something relevant to it that you don't even realize is involved."

Charlie: "I don't."

Basit: "I'm just saying, talk to Conner—"

They reach his door.

Charlie: "Just drop it."

Charlie swings open his door, knocking a large, unsealed package across the floor.

Both stare at it. Charlie steps forward and kneels, opening it, Basit following behind, peering in. Both stare in horror; an arm covered in tattoos sits inside.

Basit: "Daniel—"

Charlie pushes past her and rushes down the hall. He sprints out of the building and into the street.

Tears stream down his panicked face. A red static consumes his vision. Charlie's bare, dirty feet run through the woods.

He passes the park and gets to a mobile home on a small lot by some other run-down residential homes.

He bangs on the door and shouts desperately.

Charlie: "Daniel!"

He tries to open the door, but it's locked. Confused and panicked, he tries to force it open. Basit catches up to him and pushes him to the side. She grabs the door handle and rips it open, breaking the lock with ease. As the door swings open, it knocks a small food bowl off the porch steps. Charlie rushes in and sees Daniel's body lying in the middle of the floor, butchered into pieces. The pattern of the cuts resembles Charlie's bands. Both of Daniel's arms are absent, but in the place of the left one lies Charlie's left, fingerless arm.

Basit's body deforms with her rage. Her voice fades as Charlie drops to the floor.

Basit: "Who the fuck would do this? I'll—I'll kill them! I'll tear them apart—!"

Charlie falls to his side in shock, consumed by red.

-

Charlie's bloody arm lies on an undone leather arm strap bolted to the concrete ground. Parchments are scattered around the floor.

Through the red static, the vague outline of a silver blade shifts, shimmering and dripping blood.

Charlie stares down at his dirty and bloodied feet. He walks a dark path by an uneven rocky wall.

Everything fades to black.

-

Charlie is lying on a couch, staring up at the ceiling in Nora's house.

He rolls over and sits up.

Basit, sitting nearby: "Hey…"

His still-dazed face looks down at the reattached arm.

Basit: "It was—I thought you would want it reattached."

He looks down at his fingerless left hand, vision obscured by red static.

Charlie looks away, eyes closed tight. He stands up and walks to the kitchen.

Nora and Conner sit at the dining table. On the table in front of them are the notes, pictures of the scene, and several photos of other victims.

Conner: "—Non, not mad. Or at least not chaotic. These attacks were precisely planned." {No}

Conner: "She said there was an arm—?"

Nora: "Hyphae has it. It's with the rest of his remains. But the other one is still missing."

Conner: "Like the others."

Charlie walks in and begins looking through Nora's cupboards.

Nora looks up: "What are you doing?"

Charlie: "I don't gamble, but if you're not the type of person to have a bottle of whiskey stashed somewhere, then I need to lose 20 bucks to someone."

Nora: "…Left-most cabinet."

Charlie weakly: "Hah…"

He grabs it and a glass sitting at the table. His eyes catch the photos in front of Conner, the static returning. He quickly looks away and downs the whiskey as Basit walks into the room.

Conner puts his hand to his jaw in thought, his eyes staying on the files in front of him.

Conner: "I would press him for more information."

Basit frowns: "I don't think now is a good time."

Conner stern: "Tch! Seven Abnormals are dead, possibly more! Time and sensibilities are not a luxury we have."

Nora ponders: "What could do this? kill so many of us so easily—"

Charlie downs another glass, places it down with a loud clink, and walks out of the kitchen.

Nora: "Where are you going?"

Charlie: "Home."

Basit: "I'll come with you—"

Charlie snaps: "I'm immortal, remember?"

He turns and waves his hand dismissively.

Charlie: "Just—"

He walks out of the house.

-

Charlie enters his apartment. He stands there, dazed and in the dark.

He stirs to step over to his kitchenette and pour a drink. He sits down on his couch, the TV lights up his zombied face, and his eyes tear up.

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