February 7, 2023

[Willis is already up, walking down the sidewalk. Cop cars pass by before he crosses the sidewalk. He rubbernecks, watching them heading towards Wes's apartment. Willis mumbles to himself] Good luck.

[He makes his way past town and into the woods. He finds himself at the base of an old light house hidden away from sight. It's metal door is unlocked as he slowly opens it. Inside he sees a large spiral stair case surrounded by boxes of papers and shelves full of research. Ceramic masks with different designs hang upside down from the ceiling by strings. He squints and goes to flip on a nearby light switch. Lines if christmas lights, haohazrdly placed light up the room with a mild flicker. He makes his way to a box. He picks up a few papers and looks at them. His brow furrows as he reads] Wait...but that's.

[The metal door is slamed shut]

[Willis quickly looks to the door and sees Jemia. She wears her mask and holds an open switch blade. Willis drops the paper] This is all signed by Julian...none of this is Usha's fault.

[Jemia steps closer. There's a strange feeling of bad luck as Willis sees the mask move, contorting into a snarling smile and shiwing golden teeth] I'm sorry but I can't let her get cuaght

[Willis steps back as he keeps an eye on the knife] Mads...let's take the mask off huh? We can think about this

[Jemia lunges towards Willis who quickly sprints up the spiral stairs] MADS YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS

[She snarls and follows him up the lighthouse. Willis reaches the top. The light house light is on now and floods the area with light as it turns. Madelyn steps up and walks to him, the wind tuging at both of them in the dark] She's the last tjing I have left, I can't let it happen

[Willis backs into the railing, behind him is a drop into an unforgiving ground. He's breathing quickly] Mads please, we need to save Lock, Julian is going to-

[Jemia slashes at his arm as Willis yelps. He grabs his arm that begins to bleed] Please Madelyn, you're not alone if you still have me

[Jemia yells as her voice cracks] I DON'T WANT THIS- [She goes to swing at Willis as he ducks. His back slips from the railing as he acidently ducks below the railing, he slips and falls]

[Jemia stands alone at the top as she hears the hit. She drops the knife as her mask chuckles. Her hands shake while stari g at the railing. It speaks to her] Well done, well done! Another annoying backstabber gine to the wind. I told you it would make you feel better

[It speaks] Now just add him to the list down stairs as soon as Wes hits the ground and we can pretend none of this ever happened, I'll even let you dance in the sun

[Jemia] He hits the ground???

[It speaks] From a window, seems he won't keep his mouth shut around Lock. He deserves it

[Jemia's ears fold back as she looks to the horizon. The sun begins to peak over the trees] Im not alone.

[It speaks] Yes, I'm here

[Madelyn bolts down the stairs and swings the door open. She goes to run out the door and into the woods. She falls over as he muscles freeze up and she yelps in pain. The mask growls] Like I said he deserves it

[Madelyn struggles to move her arms but mamages to yank the mask off. The mask loses its life and its teeth are hidden again. She can feel anything but her legs as usual. She growls to herself before starting to army crawl as fast as she can] -I don't fucking deserve him but I'm going to fucking take him-

[She grits her teeth through dirt and gravel in her arm. Her other arm holds the mask. She winces and makes it into town. She pauses to catch her breath. In the distance she sees Wes and Lock walking down hill to Blair's house and chatting. They close the door behind them. Madelyn growls in detirmination] I'm not letting you go this easy-

[She opens her jacket and hugs the mask to protect it as she lines herself up with the side walk. She ducks her head into her arms and goes to roll. She quickly starts gaining speed as the hard sidewalk rams into her on every side. The tumble continues until she slams back first into a tree in Blair's yard, knocking the wind from her for a moment. She hears yelling from inside the house and footsteps heading upstairs. She puts on the mask that now has a crack from the tumble. Her legs can move again but feel much weaker. She quickly gets up and stumbles as she runs to the backyard. All of garden tools are still put away leaving an open space for madelyn to stand in. The window is open as she sees Wes thrown from the window]

[Madelyn catches Wes and falls over from the force. She has him in a hug. Wes blinks as he looks around. He pats himself down a moment] I'm alive- I'm alive!!!!

[Lock runs to the window and peers out. Usha peeks out from behind her with a worried look. Madelyn takes the mask off and stays laying down as she groans in pain] Get the fuck off of me

[Wes quickly gets up and steps back] Sorry- sorry

[Wes faintly hears Julian's voice as Lock and Usha look behind themselves. Wes glares at the window] Alright Mads, let's catch us a weasle

[Madelyn nods as Wes helps her up] You're not going to murder me again are you?

[Madelyn shakes her head] I refuse

[Wes nods. Madelyn puts the mask back on s the both quickly head into the house through the front door. Lock, Usha, and Julian are heads back down stairs. Lock is taking deep breaths. Julian gives Usha a glare as if she had said something. Usha looks irritated. Lock speaks between breaths as she goes to sit on the sofa] N- no one- died- it's okay

[Wes's ears go down some] Lock I'm sorry, for all of it

[Lock's breathing calms down] Whatever-

[Usha sounds worried as he looks to Wes] Are you ok?

[Wes nods] I'm fine

[Usha] Thank go-

[The power turns off to the house. The room is lit up some by a few windows as everyone looks up at the light fixtures. Usha nervously laughs] Did someone forget the power bill?

[Lock gets up and runs to a hall] Blair-

[The others look at eachother before following. Lock geads to the door to Blair's room. A dead end door at the end of the hall with claw marks on the door]

[Wes] Uh oh...

[Lock opens the door. Infront of them is a windowless room. In the dark they can make out Blair's figure. She lights a match that lights the area around her. She has her back to them. In her other hand is a jar of blood. Blair's mask is down as her head turns to face them. She has an owl's beak and bright eyes with a few tears soaked into her feathers. Her words sound cold and hollow] All I wanted was to be normal. Have a cute nose like everyone else. But no. You have to run away before I could have that. I never asked for a disgusting hybrid. [The match goes out as she drops it. She pops the blood jar open]

[Wes] What about loving yourself for who you are and being a role model to your children?

[Blair sneers] This isn't about someone else's insecurities, this is about ME.

[Madelyn mumbles] Well that's healthy

[Usha stutters some in nervousness] B-Blair lets not go to e-extremes here- drinking that much of that kind of blood c-

[Blair's eyes narrow as shr tilts the jar up and begins to drink. Usha pauses and slowly takes a step back] We need to leave.

[The door to the end of the hall slams shut, locking them with Blair. A feeling of bad luck rises as her figure distorts in the dark. She groans in pain. Wes quickly gets out his phone and turns on his flashlight. Blair laughs, now with a beautiful lion's muzzle instead of a beak as she always wanted. A distorted hand of talons and 8 fingers reaches up to wipe the blood from her face] I'm finaly beautiful!

[Looking past her face is a mesh of something vial. She cackles as insanity takes over. Lock grabs her hatchet from her back in fear. Madelyn checks her pockets but only finds a bottle of pink perfume. She had lost her knife. Usha backs more into the hall as he starts crying] Jewls- I don't want yo do this anymore- I can't fight that for you-Im scared

[Julian looks at Usha with annoyance]

[[[4SpaivbeP THdeLrc s c

>Save Her https://youtu.be/4pibPTdLcsc 

[Theres layers of groaning pain coming from Blair between the rising cackles as a claw reaches out for Lock. Lock backs up to doge. Wes and Madelyn step to the side to avoid getting grabbed. Blair blocks off the hall and seperates the others from Wes and Madelyn. Wes quickly looks around the room with his flashlight. On a desk of research papers is a small box of matches. He quickly runs to it and picks it up and tosses it to Madelyn] Perfume is flamable-

[Madelyn quickly catches it and strikes a match. Her breath quickens on seeing the flame. She hesitates as Blair moves further down the hall, cornering Julian, Usha, and Lock]

[Wes] MADS DO IT

[Madelyn sprays the perfume with the match held out, a gust of flames engulf Blair's side of the room. Blair is wrapped in fire as she turns her attention to Madelyn and steps towards her, showing her fangs. Madelyn's eyes widen at the flames. She's frozen in place with fear]

[Willis drops the matches] MADS-

[Blair suddenly stops as her eyes go glassy. Lock pulls her hatchet out from the back of Blair's skull. Blair falls onto the ground. Willis grabs Madelyns arm and they rush out of the room and down the hall. Wes rams into the door as it bursts open, barely missing Ushand Julian. Lock follows and grabs Usha by the arm. Julian follows. They all escape the building and into the street. Wes slows down to a stop and lets go of Madelyn as he looks back at the house. Flames slowly take each room as he catches his breath in the cold air. Wes scoffs] And I thought my parents were toxic.

[Madelyn glares at Wes]

[Lock looks back at the house and down at her hands holding her hatchet. She drops the hatchet as her hands shake]

[Wes's ear flicks at the the sound as he looks back at Lock] Lock?

[Lock's voice sounds on the verge of tears] I-I didn't mean to kill her...[she puts her hands to her eyes]

[Wes] oh...Lock, it's not your fault, she wa-

[Lock yells with a crack in her voice] YES IT IS. None of us would be in this mess if it wasn't for me

[Julian looks impatient. Wes sighs] You can't blame yourself for all of this

[Madelyn] It's not like you burned down the manor or anything

[Wes].........welllll

[Madelyn looks over at Wes]...right?

[Lock] Yeah, I burned it down and I'm never forgiving myself for it

[Madelyn lunges as her mask jumps to life with golden teeth. Wes sags her arm intime to keep her from reaching Lock] Mads- your mask

[Madelyn snaps back at Wes] She murdered my whole fucking bloodline- I think I have every right to turn that snowflake into a pretzel!?!

[Lock turns and runs away from them. Wes yells] LOCK WAIT

[Julian smiles at Wes before calmly walking the direction Lock went]

[Wes struggles to hold Madelyn back from sprinting at Lock. Wes looks to Usha] Usha, help- please.

[Usha looks between Wes and Julian. He looks scared. Julian doesn't wait for him as she walks in certainty. But she was wrong. Usha stares at Julian before running to Wes's side and taking Julian by the arms] Hurry, don't let Jewls reach her

[Wes nods and lets go] Thank you- [Wes quickly darts in Lock's direction]

[Wes runs pasts Julian who's eyes widen some. She snarls and picks up her pace to sprint, following him. They all enter the woods, dashing past trees and through bushes as Julian catches up to Wes. She lunges and grabs Wes by the ankle. He falls and flips onto his back, using his other leg to kick at Julian's face. Julian turns her face away as a tooth gets knocked out and she gets another hit to the eye. She grabs his other leg and stands up, Wes hangs by his legs and starts flailing to get her to let go. The pair of cuffs from the police appear on Wes's wrists as he panics more. Julian cackles] So your girlfriend saved your ass. Where is she now?

[Wes] Let go of me-

[Julian] I'll have to end you myself.

[Suddenly Julian is cuaght off guard and tackled by Lock as she hits her back to a tree. Wes manages to stand up. The trees around them have shifted and are wrapped in colorful Christmas lights. Wes furrows his eyebrows at the sight] What the hell is happening???

[Lock yelps as Julian overpowers Lock and tosses her aside] HELP

[Wes snaps out of it and throws a kick to Julian's gut. Julian is winded and stumbles back. Lock gets up and has her hatchet in her hand. Julian goes to lunge at Lock but Wes trips her. Lock panics and swings the blunt side of the hatchet down on Julian's head, knocking Julian out]

[Lock drops the hatchet again with tears peeking out from under her hair. She continues running further into the woods again. Wes yells] LOCK

[Wes grumbles before giving chase, his hands still cuffed. More and more lights line the forest as he follows. Green glow in the dark stars are stuck to the sides of trees and branches] LOCK SLOW DOWN

Lock stops. She is looking ahead at of an open doorway that looks out to a blue sky with pink clouds. Strings of lights block the way as she slowly steps closer to the doorway, ducking under and steping over lights as she goes. She hyperventalates as she goes]

[Wes tries to follow the best he can] Lock, hold up

[Lock pauses and looks back at Wes] I-I'm leaving for good, n-none of you are stopping me.

[Wes] Please I just want to talk

[Lock sneers] So what? You can mock me more?

[Wes catches up to Lock] I want to know why you are leaving?

[Lock sniffs] I don't deserve this world.

[Wes has a somber understanding expresion] Yeah. I get that all too well. But why does that mean you have to leave?

[Lock shakes her head. Her voice is strained through crying]...I don't know

[Wes]...can I move your hair some? I want to see your face

[Lock] You wouldn't want to I'm a mess 

[Wes] I like messes

[Lock] Whatever. Fine.

[Wes carefully moves the hair away from half her face. Locks face is messy, red, and ugly from crying. But Wes smiles as he puts his hands bavk down] That's better. Now I can see your beautiful face

[Lock sniffs again] So what? You're going to flurt your way to me staying?

[Wes shakes his head] No, just giving you a compliment while you need it, I'm already taken.

[Lock] And why do you care? Not like I deserve it

[Wes] You're right. No one deserves it. But sometimes we still get what we want. [Wes shifts his sleeve up, showing the fourleaf clover bracelet as he holds it out to Lock] I think it's worth sticking around through the worst of it to see whats there for you just out of sight. Luck runs out but you can always find more if you look hard enough

[Lock takes the four leaf clover bracelet back and looks at it in her hands] I thought you hated me?

[Wes] I guess all the things I said comes across that way... I did hate you but for stupid reasons. I changed my mind. I'm sorry. Maybe you could learn to forgive youself one day. Wouldn't want to run away from a chance like that.

[Lock hesitates as she looks at Wes. She then quickly gives him a tight hug. He blinks in surprise. The hug is held for a moment before she lets go with a small smile and tired eyes] Thank you

[Wes nods] Of course

[[[EDkiMi aprJm0tao5 cnotkd9o st t KLo Mo scD

>Dirt to Lock Jack to Diamonds https://youtu.be/EMp05o9tKMs 

[Lock] Let's get you home

[Lock holds up some Christmas lights for Wes to duck under. He goes through and Lock follows. They head away from the doorway and back into town. The christmas lights fading away as they walk] 

[End]

February 8, 2023

Wick - It's Lock, So uh. The other night Julian and Willis went missing. Usha is staying with Wes and Madelyn. I overheard Wes talking to her about wearing the mask less and she didn't snap at him like she tends to do. Franky had us go to the cafe for a bit today and hang out. She was finally happy with how it went so I'm finally done with this trip. I'm ready to go home now

Luna - {- You got it Lock. We'll bring you back right now. -}

Lock appears. her hair is a bit messy but she has it partly out of her face, "that was a llooooong 3 days."

"I can imagine, Lock. Glad you managed to return though," Krystal smiles.

Cole jolts awake at hearing Lock's voice, "Heh what who when?"

"Lock is home."

Cole slowly looks over at lock as his tail wags slowly. Luna's eyes return to their usual blue.

Lock sits down by the wall and sighs in relief "I'm never going to therapy again."

Cole nods, seemingly excited to see Lock back, "Good, good."

"Glad you're safe. That was uh.. s-some adventure you went on, good Gods above," Luna sighs.

"Is Oleander still alive somewhere?" Lock asks.

"Probably kitchen? I'm not sure where he is."

Cole shrugs, "Somewhere in the house."

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