A screeching resonated through the train car. It sounded like nails on a chalkboard. Or, in this case, a spear through metal. The others had to duck quickly when the tip of the blade cut down into the cabin. Outside, the Wiccan had barely caught themselves from getting thrown off. They pulled themselves back up and went back to work. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn't get one hit in on Fortune. He's changed more than they could've ever anticipated.

Chris pulled off his shirt, feeling overheated to have it on. This desert wasn't a good environment for him but he was trying his best to hide that fact. At this point, he didn't have much of an option. He had to step in and save Kuza, or else it'd kill him.

"Where are you going?" Ghost worriedly called after him.

"To save my own life," He spoke as he pulled himself up through the broken window, muttering, "Even if that means I have to save his."

She huffed out of frustration. He didn't have the abilities to be a fighter. At least, not to her knowledge. Plus, if they did save Kuza, the two would just argue over the fact that Chris didn't listen to him. And lest we forget, Chris left them without providing any explanation for suddenly having blue and black skin, white hair, and crystals along his chest. To say the least, Ghost's head was starting to hurt from all this shit.

When Chris got out into direct sunlight, he honestly felt like his skin was going to melt off. Now he knows what an ice cream cone feels like in July. For what felt like the hundredth time, the Wiccan was sent flying back by one of Fortune's hexes. Chris caught them before they could go soaring off the train.

"Thanks," Ricky said while he pulled them up, "But you really shouldn't be out in this heat."

"It's not like it's any better inside. And, at least out here, I can help. I was useless on Earth because everything was in an eternal winter, and since we came to the Underworld, Mike's been so insistent on not letting me fight. You're too weak, so let me finally be the one."

They were quiet for a second, arguing in their own head over whether or not they should condone this. Ricky had a lot more faith in Chris than Ryan did. He felt like he owed it to him, after all that's happened in the past. Chris trusted him to the point they lost a life. It was only fair that Ricky placed the same blind faith in him, even if it resulted in the same ending. At least, they'd be even then.

"Fine, but if we feel it's necessary, we're going to intervene." Ryan replied.

"Alright, but I doubt you'll need to. After all," Chris looked across to the small, lavender haired boy, "His one weakness is his fear of the cold."

Sorrow's dainty hands, of which had previously been moving so delicately around Kuza's temples, suddenly became rigid. He had heard the words Chris spoke and it instantly terrified him. It wasn't for Fortune's sake, really. He couldn't care less about the little brat. However, he did care about himself, and if Akira found out he let anything happen to Fortune, he'd have his head.

By this point, Kuza's eyes had started to bleed. He would've easily welcomed death, no matter how hard he was fighting. Sorrow finally released him and gave him a shove back. He fell over on his side, seeming nearly paralyzed. His body was stiff, but if Chris was still alive, so was he. Even if he was just holding on by a hair.

A thread of darkness began to dart along the ground. It curved back and forth like a snake, quickly heading for Chris. The Wiccan stood up and jabbed it. Believe it or not, that did stop it. It may have looked like a shadow, but it was a living strand of magic. That bought Chris just enough time.

Truth be told, he missed the snow. He might say otherwise to the others, but he thrived in the cold. That was his entire home, anyways; miles and miles of tundra. He placed his hand down on the train, producing a steady stream of ice that began to crawl around him in a circle. It was colder, more dense than normal ice. So much so that this heat wouldn't even faze it. Spikes erupted from the circle, pointing up towards the sky.

They were almost like lightning rods that called upon a blizzard instead of bolts. Dark clouds began to move in on a sky that was previously clear. They twisted and twirled around the sun until it's warm rays were vanquished. With such a rapid change in climate, calamity was bound to happen. High winds started to stir with the very likely chance of forming into a tornado.

"No!" Sorrow screamed at him, "Stop! You don't know what you're doing! His mind can't take this, please!"

"You do realize how fucking hypocritical that is coming from you, right?" Ricky yelled over the hissing winds.

Out of anger, Sorrow caused the strand of magic he was holding onto to explode. It made the Wiccan stumble back but thankfully didn't hurt them past that point. They caught their footing and turned their spear around until it was at Sorrow's throat.

"Don't try anything." Ryan sneered.

As the temperature dropped drastically, terror filled Fortune's gentle eyes. It didn't help that Chris looked just like Kuza. Flashes of the past began to flood the young one's mind. He couldn't tell between the frost in his memories, and the ice culminating around him in real life. Snow swirled down from the dark grey clouds, falling with as much grace as the tears in his eyes.

"N-No, p-please..." He quietly whimpered, "I- I won'... Th-they'll come... They'll come... I won't tell you, just-"

"If you keep doing this, you're no better than us! We at least know we're vile. We don't lie to ourselves! I won't let a sinner paint themselves as a saint!" Sorrow stated.

Chris hated to let the words of the enemy get to him, but he was right. Torturing Fortune wasn't the right thing to do. They just needed something that was enough to stop him. He retracted his palm from the ground. As he did, the spikes all shattered simultaneously. His energy was completely spent. With Kuza in the state he was, Chris didn't have much to start with. He lost consciousness fast and fell to the ground.

Fortune fell to his knees. His makeup was smeared down his face. The poor thing couldn't stop crying. The Wiccan actually did feel sympathy for him. He never deserved any of this. After all, he was just a child when he was brought into Demon's Card. They all were, but Fortune, he could've had a chance. A black circle opened up under him, swirling around until it consumed him.

The Wiccan pulled back their weapon and kicked Sorrow in the middle of his chest. He started to fall off the back of the train, but he never hit the ground. A similar darkness caught him and swallowed him up whole. It would've helped if they could've kept the two hostage. Unfortunately, it seemed Ezra didn't want the game to be played that way.

They walked over to the end of the train car they stood on. Vinny was gone now, meaning he could officially be considered kidnapped. As if they didn't have enough problems. The Wiccan was beaten down. Truthfully, they weren't in any shape to be aiding others. However, they were at least conscious. They couldn't say the same for Chris and Kuza.

After receiving some help from the Eclipse and the girls, they were able to get Kuza and Chris back in the train car. Even if another train comes along soon to help, they were going to be stuck here for awhile. Trapped in a small space with a storm raging on outside? It seemed they'd come full circle.

"Where's Vinny?" Ghost questioned, seeming as whiny as a scared puppy.

"Ezra took him. I wouldn't worry too much about it, though. They'll treat him better than you'd think." Ryan explained.

"You really think I'm going to believe that? I've seen what they've done to Mike and the others in the past. They're monsters."

He sighed, "Mike was their enemy. Vinny, he is... But at the same time he's not. He's still blood, and he was one of them, even if he left. They're a lot more likely to heal him in efforts to earn his trust again."

"Vinny's actually in a lot better position than we are." Ricky replied, "We can't stay here, but we don't have enough people to move the injured. We're too weak right now. In all honesty, we could probably use someone to carry us, and you ladies aren't strong enough to carry grown men like that."

"I'm not sure how close the nearest city is, but I'm really the only one that's in any shape to go looking for it. I'll find a train station, tell them about the train and call Heart, let him know why we're delayed. Hera has troops in nearly every city in this area. There should be some men there I can find to help us. I'm not sure how long it'll take me, though." Ammonia said.

"Maybe I should go with you. I feel uncomfortable letting you do that by yourself." Ghost responded.

"No, you'll only slow me down. I have two Arcadia's, you know." She smirked, "I can get there pretty past. It's the return trip that might be a little tedious. You just stay here and take care of your brother and everyone else. You're in charge now, okay?"

It was kind of hard to believe Ammonia was so... Nice. Ghost always had ideas in her head that she was a bitch. They'd never met before now, but she can see she was wrong to make assumptions. They both were. Even though Ghost wanted to burst out in tears over this whole situation, she agreed to the plan. It was their best option for now.

☤ ☤ ☤

Hey guys! So I'm curious, what do you want to see happen soon in this story? Maybe backstory development for Heart & Autopsy, some hatefuckery between Kuza and Chris, maybe Deysa's comeback or appearances of the other generals? Or any other suggestions you guys have? I'm really open to any ideas! <3