User blog:SaenihpNnylf/Things Just Got Real Chapter 5

After a while of searching, the four came across an apartment they could reasonably afford. It would be one bedroom but they could all manage with each other. They didn't really have any better options.

Just like everything else, they had no idea what to expect as they took the keys to their apartment and headed to the indicated one, on the first floor as they requested.

They found that there was no furniture except for some advanced looking appliances that they could barely pair with an equivalent. Some of which were completely foreign to them. "Well, I guess this is what we'll have to deal with until we have enough money for furniture."

Cuddles motioned to the dark landscape outside the window. "For now, we should all get some sleep, I think this is the bedroom over here," He directed to a room they found empty but carpeted.

Soon enough, everyone was settled on the ground for sleep, Giggles and Handy slept on their backs, Flaky slept on her stomach (probably a left over habit from when she had quills), but Cuddles didn't sleep at all. Instead, he just stared at the ceiling that he can't even see.

He wouldn't admit it to anyone but he was afraid. After a few seconds of terrified starring, Cuddles got up to his feet and went over to the door. In the morning, he could pretend that this is for Flaky as he turned on the hall light and left the door open just a crack so as not to wake anyone up.

Unfortunately, due to her paranoia, Flaky was a very light sleeper so when he came over, Flaky was already sitting up and rubbing her eyes. "Cuddles? Why did you turn the light on?"

"Well, I know you're afraid of the dark. So, I was just looking out for you."

"I'm not afraid of the dark, Cuddles. I don't know where you got that idea from but I'm not and never was."

"Oh well… Cuddles started tapping his fingers together hoping that Flaky couldn't see it. "We never know; it might be effecting your sleep."

"I was sleeping just fine and it's hard to sleep with that dang light on." And there went his last leg to stand on.

"Well, I am," Cuddles whispered, still tapping his fingers together. He wondered where he got that habit.

Flaky caught what he said but couldn't make any sense of the words. "You are what?"

Cuddles hung his head, a bit weird to not have his ears flop into his face when he did that. "I'm afraid of the dark," he admitted, just barely loud enough for Flaky to catch it.

"You are?" Flaky stopped everything for a few seconds. She hadn't expected her daredevil best friend to have a phobia of any kind. "I didn't know that."

After she said that, she remembered that Halloween with the Haunted House ride with Giggles and Sniffles. Cuddles was with them at the carnival but immediately backed out when the ride was brought up and gave no explanation.

"I'm sorry I didn't know that," Flaky said looking down at her feet in shame.

"I didn't want you to know," Cuddles admitted without a hint of joke in his voice or stature. In fact, Flaky had never seen him seem so serious. "I didn't want anyone to know. I'm supposed to be the brave one."

It was obvious that Flaky was having trouble knowing what to say but finally agreed, "You have a phobia. I get that. Just leave the light on and I'll try to ignore in and take the blow tomorrow morning."

They both settled back down on the floor and before they fell asleep, Flaky whispered to Cuddles, "Thank you for being honest with me."

Lifty, however, had used two of the five dollars he was given to get a small roll to offset the pain in his stomach but he couldn't find this elusive 'homeless shelter' anywhere.

For the night and likely many more in the future, he was stuck sleeping on a park bench. It was uncomfortable but still better than back 'home' with Shifty. He was lucky it wasn't raining or too cold. He's lived on the streets before but that was with a thick layer of fur covering his whole body and now that was gone.

He pushed those thoughts away, getting into a more comfortable position and reminded himself that this was still much preferable to his previous set up with his greedy, hypocritical bother.

His hand tentatively went to his neck, remembering the feeling of his brother's paws around it and let out a single tear even though his expression hardened. "Fuck you, Shifty," he grumbled before going to sleep.

First thing in the morning, back in Tree Town, Shifty woke up fuming in the park. Sure, he couldn't deny that he had been a terrible brother but to go to a supposedly safe world and leave him to suffer? That was a whole new low.

In hindsight, trying to strangle his brother was a bit of an overreaction but he was desperate and if he succeeded, Lifty would have been back, alive, and in Tree Town. Now he's gone forever.

Shifty laid there glaring at the sky until his stomach begged food, and unlike Lifty, he only had one way to satisfy it. So, he got to his feet, wondering what he could pull off alone.

By contrast, when Disco Bear resurrected, he was more confused than angry. He racked his brain for how he died and remembered that one of his disco balls fell on him but that was far from his most pressing question at the time.

The real question is what is he still doing in Tree Town. He remembered agreeing to go to the other world right before he died so he should be there instead of here… right?

Naturally, he assumed that they must not have gone yet and they will go later. Unaware that his spot was stolen by someone who wasn't even invited, he just laid there and waited for a while.

After a while of obviously nothing happening, he went and set out for someone to flirt with, preferably Giggles.

Speaking of Giggles, she was the first to wake up of the group and was surprised to find the light in the hallway on. "Tsk, tsk, tsk," she chided, going over and turning off the light so it was no longer wasting energy.

She looked over at the group, the light being off not being an issue because of the light coming in from the window. She was racking her brain, trying to figure out what the catch to this trip is.

So far, the only drawback seems to be the shortage of money for now but that's so temporary and definitely not the reason the Cursed Idol sent them to this world.

Now there's no turning back and trying to figure out the catch is only turning her into Flaky. She just couldn't relax with the idea though. She'd almost prefer the reason be obvious.

She went over to the window and peered out, finding it so peaceful and carefree. 'Why is it so hard to figure out what's wrong?!' her thought screamed in frustration.

"Are you okay, Giggles?" Flaky's voice suddenly asked in Gibberish from behind her. Giggles turned around seeing her sitting up and rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

Giggles hesitated to tell Flaky the truth, though she decided that Flaky would understand better than anyone else. "No, I'm scared."

Flaky hesitated not being used to being on this side of things. "Umm… let's take this to a different room," Flaky suggested, awkward as ever but she did listen and they went to the hallway outside the room. "First of all, let's get this out there that I understand that you're scared, I am, too."

"Yeah but you're afraid of everything."

Even though it was mostly true, Flaky didn't take that well. "Hey, I'm trying to help you, the least you could do is not insult me."

"Right, sorry," Giggles apologized, looking down at her feet. "So, what do I do then?"

Giggles' hope of getting any kind of answer from Flaky diminished every second she didn't answer. However, after a while, she did give a real one. "Well, you came here to get away from Lumpy, right?"

"Yes," Giggles answered truthfully. "I was tired of being his slave but what does that have to do with anything?"

"Well, just remember that whatever is planned for us here, Lumpy is back in Tree Town and could never reach you again."

Giggles thought about that for a few seconds but then did smile genuinely. "That does actually really help. Thank you, Flaky. Though, could I asked you something?"

Flaky started involuntarily tapping her fingers together but answer, "Um… sure, what is it?"

"Well, it's obvious that you've been against this trip from the beginning so I have to ask: why did you come here in the first place?" Giggles asked, hoping she wasn't crossing any kind of line by doing so.

"Honestly, you're right, I was against this trip from the beginning and you have to keep in mind that I was there with Cuddles when the offer was made. I tried my damned hardest to talk him out of it but you know how he is; he never listens to reason. So, I came to try to protect him from himself."

"That doesn't make any sense…" Giggles hesitated before asking the next question but asked it anyways, "What was it like when the offer was made?"

The ghost of a smile that was un Flaky's face faded at that question, "I don't like to think about that. It was terrifying, even Cuddles was scared and I didn't think he was afraid of anything." As those words left his mouth, though, she remembered that episode last night.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to strike a nerve there."

"It's okay," Flaky said but her voice said something entirely different. "I do have a question for you though."

"And what is that?"

"Well, not so much of a question as an observation but when we woke up here, you called Lifty a bogart. I don't know what it means but I know I heard it before… from Disco Bear."

As soon as Flaky brought that up, a look of terror crossed Giggles' face. "Don't tell anyone!" she unexpectedly commanded.

Flaky, who was supposed to know fear better than anyone else, could not figure out the reason for that reaction, "What do you mean? Don't tell anyone what?"

Giggles was just getting worse and worse with every word. "Oh… you didn't… never mind, forget I said anything."

"No, just tell me. I promise I won't tell anyone." Flaky promised, still unable to figure out why Giggles was suddenly acting this way.

"You promise you won't laugh?" Giggles asked, only confusing Flaky even more.

"Yes, I promise I won't laugh," Flaky promised with certainty, no matter what it was Giggles had to say. "I would never laugh at you."

"Well, I guess it doesn't really matter now since he's back in Tree Town but…" There were quite a few seconds of silence as Giggles tried to muster up the courage to actually say it. "I have a crush on Disco Bear."

Flaky was shocked and wasn't sure whether to believe her or not but she did keep her promise not to laugh. "But… you always acted like you hated him."

"That was the point, you and everyone else was supposed to think that," Giggles admitted, not looking Flaky in the eye. "I was worried that everyone would laugh at me, especially Petunia. I didn't want to lose her as a friend… and now I have neither."

"Well…" Flaky tried to think of something comforting to say, having never expected this kind of news. "If it helps, Disco Bear would have come on this trip if Lifty hadn't stolen the last spot. He even asked about you specifically which seemed to be why he agreed."

"He really did?" Giggles asked as if Disco Bear asking about her came as a surprise, which it did.

"Yes, really," Flaky answered, deciding to leave out that he was told she was coming, before he asked. Besides, it was still a pretty big deal she supposed.

"So he really does like me." Giggles smiled. "I know he always flirted with me but he flirted with every girl in town."

"That's not true actually," Flaky commented. "He's never flirted with me before, not once, and I don't think he's flirted with Lammy either. So, just you and Petunia."

"Oh… I never realized that…"

"Never realized what?" They heard from behind them and turned to see Handy standing in the doorway.

"It's none of your business, Handy," Giggles said much to quickly and short. "It's just girl stuff." Well, okay, none of that was actually a lie…

"Wait, Flaky's a girl?" Handy asked and the look on his face said that he was serious.

"Yes, I'm a girl," Flaky affirmed, seeming unfazed by the question. After all, she was mistaken for a boy plenty of times before.

Handy thought about that for a second the just shrugged and said, "Alright, you just always struck me as a boy."

"Handy! You're being rude!" Giggles defended.

"What?" Handy asked feigning innocence. "It's just how I saw her. You have to remember that almost everyone in Tree Town is male and with you, Petunia, and Lammy it's obvious."

"It's still rude!" Giggles chided seriously.

"It's okay, Giggles, really, I've gotten used to people mistaking me for a boy. I'm not exactly sure why but they do." Flaky assured Giggles both truthfully and just wanting the arguing to stop.

Giggles was still hesitant to just let it go but reluctantly agreed, "Alright, as long as you're okay with it I guess."

"What's all this yelling about?" Cuddles mumbled from the doorway, trying to rub the sleep from his eyes. After a few seconds he decided, "Never mind, that's not really what's important right now. What's important is finding a job for Giggles. Assuming you're still up for it, Giggles?"

"Yes, I am."

"Well, then think of all the jobs you've had back in Tree Town, even though they were all forced, is there anything that really stuck out to you?" Cuddles supplied figuring that was the best place to start.

"Well… I had worked this hospital a lot. Normally I hated it but that was because of Lumpy and also the large demand with the curse, neither of which would be an issue here. I did prefer just working the front desk there though. I'm not sure hospitals are even needed here; these bodies just seem so durable. So what would they go to one for."

"Well, it's worth looking into at least so let's start there. We should also get something to eat, we should have more than enough money left." No one had any complaints at that having not eaten since yesterday morning and, unlike Lifty, they were not used to that.

At about the same time, Lifty woke up freezing, obviously still on the park bench. The sun that was shining now was not enough to make up for the cold that clung to his skin like a reverse blanket.

He looked in his wallet reminding his that he still has three dollars left of the five Aiden gave him but looking at how expensive that roll was, he could already tell that won't get him very far.

He got up from the bench with his arms wrapped around themselves in order to preserve some warmth. He had quite a few hours before he was supposed to meet Aiden in the Auto Shop so he figured he should probably look for this homeless shelter though he wasn't exactly sure what to look for there.

Still, he pressed on not wanting to spend another night the way he had spent the last, he's not sure how this body could take it.

As he went, he found that keeping the promise to himself not to steal anything was only getting harder and harder every purse, every store, even every house he passed. He resisted the urge but he could not deny that it was there.

After all, he was incredibly desperate and he already knew how, but his will to be a better man was stronger. This isn't Tree Town. He has other ways of getting the money he needs.

As he walked, he came across the other ex-tree friends but turned and headed the other way.

As you had already figured out, Giggles, Cuddles, Flaky, and Handy were out looking for some kind of hospital for Giggles to work at. Despite his best efforts, Flaky did catch him but said nothing for reasons she herself couldn't figure out.

She was already baring the weight of two of her friend's secrets, there really wasn't much to lose in keeping one herself.

"I think this is it." Cuddles commented pulling Flaky out of her thoughts as the stopped in front of a huge, boxy building. "Even the hospitals are sharp like that though. Gosh, this world seems to have no regards for safety."

"Like you're one to talk," Flaky mumbled, just barely loud enough for Cuddles to catch. Unfortunately, he did and did not take the comment lightly.

"Flaky, that was completely uncalled for," Cuddles chided looking back at her. "Anyways, are you still sure of this Giggles, we could find a different job."

"No, I'm sure. This seems to be my best option and it can't be nearly as bad as it was in Tree Town for obvious reasons." Giggles agreed and actually did seem genuine this time. "So do we head in together?"

"That would be best yes," Cuddles said, not wanting to have to leave her alone again like he ended up having to at the fast food joint.

No one had any objections so they headed in through the front doors. It was obvious right away that they were right about this being a hospital but looking over the patients waiting, they wondered what they were even doing there since they didn't seem very injured at all…

"There must be something we're not seeing," Giggles mumbled in Gibberish before going up to the counter and trying out her English. "Um… I'm Giggles and I would like to inquire about doing what you're doing."

The lady stared for a second before stating, "You'll have to apply online at our website."

Those words meant nothing to any of the four but Giggles tried her best. "Um… we… I don't have access to online."

The lady rose an eyebrow at the weirdly worded question, "You mean the internet?" She sighed and offered, "I see what can be done just have a seat in the waiting area for now."

They took a seat was directed though they couldn't find four in a row, they went as close as they could. Giggles noticed that a native next to her was crying and holding her wrist, which was a darker color than the rest of her skin and was slightly misshapen but there was no bone exposed. 'Did she really come to the hospital for a broken wrist? Especially a closed fracture like that?' Giggles wondered to herself. 'Well, I assume if they're not used to real injuries, that might actually be a big deal.'

"You should probably splint that for the wait?" Giggles supplied not sure how long she was there or how long she will be.

The native stopped crying and looked over at her. "A splint? I don't know how to do one of those."

"Well, I do if you're willing to let me help." The native was hesitant to accept this offer but did agree. Though Giggles didn't have the best equipment for this, she was able to fasten a functional splint for her write. "There, that should keep it safe until the doctor sees you."

"Thank you… Miss…."

"Giggles, my name is Giggles," she supplied. "And… well… let's just say I've handled much worst injuries."

"What do you mean?" the native asked confused. "Were you in the military or something?"

Giggles only shook her head and gave a candid response that, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Try me," The Native challenged.

Before Giggles could even start to explain Tree Town though, something she'd barely have any idea where to begin honestly, a nurse came from around the corner and called out a word Giggles did not know, "Alice."

The native got up from the seat, pushing herself up with her good arm. "That's me, sorry it had to cut short but thanks, Giggles,"

"I think Alice is supposed to be her name." Flaky cut in once she was gone. "Back at the burger joint, Cuddles and I meet these two guys with just as weird names. I think it might be common in this world."

"Well, if that's the case then just add it to the already long list of other weird things about this world." Giggles trailed looking around her at the other patients, some in even better shape than "Alice".

It wasn't much later than that when Giggles was called up herself, "So, I spoke with my boss and though we don't have any paper applications, you can use one of the computers here to complete the application. Alone though," she added, looking over the rest of the group.

"Giggles isn't going anywhere without me," Cuddles countered, stepping up to the counter.

"The application has to be done in privacy. Company policy. She either takes the application alone or she doesn't take it at all." Cuddles luckily did step back at that, knowing that they were desperate for some form of income to stay here. "Alright, then follow me 'Giggles'." The native said, not believing that was her real name as she led her down the hallway, leaving a different native to run the desk.

After a short walk, they stopped an unfamiliar device with a glowing screen. "The application is pulled up and ready to go," the native explained before leaving Giggles to flap in the wind with how to use this machine. The native made it seem like it should be common knowledge… which it probably is in this world.

To Giggles though, she had no idea. On closer examination, she found what looked a lot like a typewriter in front of it, she hoped it worked the same way as a typewriter. It was the small object with two buttons that was right next to the typewriters, also connected to the screen that still left her dumbfounded.

However, as she moved the object, she found that a small, white arrow moved the same direction across the screen. She lined it up and pushed the right button on the screen which pulled down a slew of choices. 'This is going to be harder than I thought.'

After a while of what seemed like endless walking, Lifty was pretty sure he came across what he believed to be what Aiden had described. He went in finding rows of beds and alluring looking blankets. He really hoped he was right as he went to the most official-looking person there. "Umm… is this the homeless shelter?"

"Yes it is. Do you need a place to say?"

"I do. All I have is three dollars, a driver's license, and these clothes." Lifty explained honestly motioning himself over. "I did just apply for a job yesterday and am supposed to return this afternoon to see if I got it."

"That's great!" The native stated, her voice saying just that. "It is actually a requirement to stay here that you are actually trying to get a job."

It took Lifty a few seconds to process that. "So… does that mean that if I get the job then I'll have to leave?"

"Oh, goodness no." Lifty was quite taken back by the phrase that he never heard before but he hoped with the last word, which he did recognize, was the answer and the rest didn't create a negative and any doubt was soon squashed. "You can stay here for as long as you need, until you can afford your own place that is."

Lifty couldn't believe it. It was all too good to be true to him. Back in Tree Town, there were absolutely no resources available, once they quite, they were entirely on their own on the streets until they stole enough money to get their own apartment. He was actually lucky that Lumpy accepted that as long as they were able to get the rent to him one way or another… well, there was only one way. "That's incredible, I could definitely use that right now."

"Well, then follow me and I'll show you to what will be your bed." She led him over to a fairly simple bed with a blanket and pillow that even just get that was much better than he had at his apartment in Tree Town, even when you take Shifty out of the equation.

"Where does all this even coming from?" Lifty tried wracking his brain of any kind of explanation. Surely this stuff doesn't just materialize out of thin air in this world, does it? Well, it might be possible…

"It's usually donated." That didn't help Lifty at all have never heard such a word and he wasn't able to break it down like the last couple times. The native just went on not realizing that Lifty missed that word but she did end up answering his unasked question. "People will either give money or sometimes the item directly that they don't need for people in your situation."

"That's incredible," Lifty breathed looking around at other native who were at their own beds at about the same shape he was. That could help explain why nothing like this existed in Tree Town, the demand was too low… that and Lumpy's a greedy bastard and that's coming from an ex-thief.

"Well, if you need anything else. I'm Martha so just call for me."

'This place sure has some of the most random names.' Lifty thought as he sat down on the mattress trying to think of what to do until he's to head back to the Auto Shop.

Since I imagine none of you want to just listen to how bored Lifty is, let's move onto a character we haven't even seen from since the first sentence but is still well-effected by a character's disappearance. Yes, I broke the forth wall, deal with it! I'll rebuild it now.

Mole was just leaving the house that he used to share with Handy wondering why he hasn't heard anything from the beaver for a while. Sure he knows that, unlike him, Handy's one of the friends that dies regularly but usually he would hear something by now.

So, why hasn't he? Mole had no idea. He was crossed off the list as a "living weapon" so they never even tried to ask him.

All he knew is that he couldn't find his best-friend anywhere and that was really bugging him as he got in his car to head to head to his job, which was going to be at the barber shop but he received a new verbal schedule from Lumpy the morning with no explanation given.

All he was told was that he'll be headed for the hospital instead of the barber shop. He's never worked the hospital before but he did work as an EMT twice. He has overheard horror stories about working there but even he had no choice in the matter.

He pointed his car in what he was pretty sure to be the right direction of the hospital and slammed on the gas hoping to "accidently" hit a few Tree Friends on the way.

After all, he did have a spot to keep.

"Figuring that device out was harder than the questions themselves, and that includes his having to translate it from English," Giggles tells the rest of the group in Gibberish as soon as she got out of applying. "The technology they have here is was more advanced than anything in Tree Town."

"More advanced technology?" Flaky gasped, by nature, fearing the worst. "What if someone's using it to watch our every move?!"

"Um… I hate to break it to you Flaky…" Cuddles hesitated, unsure if he should tell her the truth and decided it was best not to. "Never mind."

Unfortunately, he had already gone too far to mend his mistake that easily as he could tell as he could see her fingers tapping together and also realized that was likely where he got that habit. A look of terror crossing her face as she demanded, "No, not never mind, tell me what you were going to say."

"Back in Tree Town… Lumpy was watching everything we said and did everywhere but our own houses."

"What?!" Flaky gasped, surprising the other three. "How come no one told me that?"

The rest of the three looked at each other and shrugged before Cuddles answered, "We thought it was common knowledge."

Flaky only fumed for only a few seconds before sighing and admitting with a hint of shame, "I guess I shouldn't be that surprised, and it does explain how Lumpy knows everything he does."

"Okay… back to the topic at hand." Giggles interjected as they left the hospital. "It's a good thing our apartment came with a phone because they need one to reach us. It also asked for something called a cell phone… I have no idea what that is but it seemed important."

No one else knew any more than she did. They know what a phone is, they had those in Tree Town and used them all the time but the cell in front meant absolutely nothing to them.

A while into the walk, Cuddles came across a familiar face, or, more so, a familiar face came across him. Catherine skated over to the group, stopping just in front of Cuddles. "I was just looking for you, Slippers."

"You were?" Cuddles asked, a bit surprised, though he did remember the meeting it was brief and he didn't think he made that much of an impression. "And my name's actually Cuddles."

"Cuddles?" Catherine raised in eyebrow and actually started to laugh. "There's no way in hell I'm calling you that. I'll just stick to Slippers." Cuddles did have anyway to time to interject as Catherine went on. "Anyways, Slippers, I was wondering if you'd like to get in with my group and we'll show you how to have some real fun."

Cuddles knew exactly what he meant by that, the same kind of stuff Cuddles did back in Tree Town, except that his excuses for doing that stuff no longer exist in this world. Would he be willing to risk his life when he had the choice? For reasons even he was unsure of he answered, "Yes." He was already regretting his answer with every word. "I will need to get a new board though. Mine… broke."

"Alright, well, I'll catch up with you later, Slippers. Just remember YOLO!" Catherine called after as he skated past the group.

Once Catherine was out of earshot, Giggles cut it, defaulting back to Gibberish, "I thought you said we were only spending money on necessities."

Cuddles hadn't even thought about it when now that it was brought up, he realized that he was being a hypocrite. "Well… I know I said that but…" Cuddles was having a hard time digging his way out of this hole and this time, it actually was his fault. "But, I said until we figure out how to get more, which we just did."

"So, that applies to all of us now?" Giggles asked, with her arms folded.

Cuddles didn't really have any choice but to answer, "Yes, yes it does."

"Cuddles," Flaky suddenly cut in. "You barely learned how to walk in this body, do you really think you can skate in it?" Cuddles did not think about that...

After what felt like too long for him, Lifty was heading out of the Homeless Shelter and over to the Auto Body place.

He wasn't sure what to expect from this. The shelter had got him somewhat nicer clothes than the ones he entered this world in, it wasn't full of holes at least but could his score on the test part really make up for him being a total nobody in this world… literally, actually.

He was also trying to figure out how to explain the blanks on the application because the truth would be nearly impossible to believe. Not to mention that he didn't even know what some of those things were.

When he left the shop, he had felt so confident about his outlook but on his way back, he was full of nothing but doubt. The only thing he was glad for was that he did have that as a demonstrable skill or he wouldn't have any leg to stand on.

Once he reached the shop, he was also glad to see that Aiden was working there that day. He wondered if people in this world only have one job, there's certainly a much larger population so that is a distinct possibility.

Lifty came up to the counter. "Please tell me you have good news, Aiden."

Lumpy leaned back in his chair nibbling on a block of cheese, he had finally finished rewriting and distributing all of the new schedules. The good news, for him at least, was that besides the five he already knew were gone, everyone else was out and about, getting themselves and others killed but not permanently losing any more workers.

He questioned having Mole work the hospital but he couldn't deny that he did a fairly good job as a EMT. Not as good as himself but certainly better than Sniffles so he seemed to be the best option for the time being.

He didn't assign any specific job for himself for the day so that he could try to figure out how and why they were sent to this other world.

He looked over all the footage he could find relevant but there were massive gaps both the day of their disappearance and the day before. Whatever sent them there, must have somehow wiped the incriminating footage from all his security cameras. But who would have such power.

He knew there was only one answer as to who but that left the strong and unanswerable: Why?

Shifty was really struggling on his own pulling off even some of the simplest heist without the help of his brother and he knew it was all his fault. As he headed to his once shared apartment, he spotted an eviction notice.

This was not an uncommon sight for the twins but with how things have already been turning out, he had no idea how he was going to come up with the money for rent in time to not be sent back onto the streets.

He ignored the notice heading into his apartment to get a bit of rest but accidently knock a framed picture off the desk and when he went to pick it back up, he couldn't help but look at it. It was a very old picture, back when he and Lifty were only kits.

Things were much simpler those days in almost every day. There was no curse, Lumpy did not rule the town as a tyrant. They weren't as poor as dirt. There was no need to steal a thing.

Most of all, nothing could ever come between the twins. In fact, Shifty had even promised that nothing ever would but that was over a thousand year ago and a promise he knows he's broken innumerable times.

Even then, what he told Lifty on the very first day seemed to be permanently burned into his brain. "Come on, we've always been fast. Maybe we can out run death. I promise I won't let go. I'll never leave you behind. We'll make it through this together."

A single tear fell as he returned the picture to his desk, cracks lacing the glass from the fall right down the middle. "I'm sorry I was such a bad brother, Lifty. If I only kept my promise, we still be together."