Edge of Immolation
So Boscha was back… that was fun. Because it totally was fun, it was fun when she called out to “Captain Tholomule” and told him to bring his guests to the student council chambers. First off, the biggest sticking point for the group was that Matt’s full name was not Mattholomule as previously assumed but rather Matt Tholomule. Like, hold the phone, how did nobody know that? This is a whole guy who they know personally, who has been on at least two meaningful adventures with Gus and cameoed in several of Luz’s personal trauma fodder.
Names aside, Luz silently stressed out as she made her approach to the student council chamber, aka the old Hexide gym that had been repurposed. At the far wall stood a couple of patchwork banners that were so crude in their composition not even Hunter could have done worse when he was alive. The main banner read “New Hexide Is The Future!” in bold text, with the last work being in a red that she really hoped wasn’t anyone’s blood. That banner hung over what appeared to be the chair from Bump’s office, converted into a throne… one that Boscha was currently sat on looking mightily displeased.
Flanking the triclops to the left and right stood a small crimson-skinned critter of indeterminate age with long white hair that was totally real and not fake, a set of goggles that conveniently covered their eyes, and a cloak that obscured most of their body. Now to the right, Luz wasn’t even sure if it was the schizophrenia acting up or if it was genuinely real or not. Seriously, the sight was one to behold. There was just this hulking beast of a man silently standing next to the throne, hunched over with his arms slack. Seriously, this dude’s foot was the size of Luz’s torso.
“Uh, so, if we get a group to organize supplies we can keep track of perishables.” the voice of Jerbo stuttered from across the room as Luz, her mother, and the Hexsquad entered the room. Luz wasn’t going to lie, he wasn’t selling his plan well enough. Being fair, she too would crumble under the weight of anxiety if she had to give a pitch meeting with the Hulk’s unfairly swole cousin in the room, but she digressed. “That way we wouldn’t have to fight over food anymore.”
Boscha looked like she was genuinely considering it, that is until the gremlin advisor popped up next to her, the literal devil on her shoulder, and said “Madame president, if I may be so bold.”
Luz was so happy that she felt the exhaustion of a million souls for one moment only, as it kept her from loudly shouting to the world. That didn’t stop her from silently scoffing.
“This would take valuable resources away from your guard.” The advisor continued “You don’t want to be collected like the others… do you?”
“You’re right Miki!” Boscha instantly replied, shouting “Next!” with the snap of a finger, sending Jerbo off.
The teenager sighed and started to walk away, grumbling to himself a second before he caught sight of the group. “Oh my gosh it’s you guys!”
Matt stepped forward and greeted Jerbo, asking “Did she take any of our ideas?”
“No” Jerbo answered, sounding utterly defeated. “Sorry, I gotta go make sure that the kindergarteners aren’t hunting down the lockers-- it was a bloodbath last time-- so glad you’re alive!” With that Jerbo swiftly exited the room and Matt led the group closer to Boscha.
“Boscha, we found-” Matt started, only to be rudely cut off by the guard. The teenager’s expression fell as he let out a deep annoyed groan. “Allow me to introduce student body president Boscha and her trusted guards Miki and Roka.” Matt proceeded to say in the most frustrated and passive-aggressive tone of voice he could muster.
You see, this was where Boscha continued and Amity started to get into it over the existence of a student council. Luz was sure this was probably very interesting and all, but of course, now ol’ static breath decided to make an appearance. However, unlike usual he wasn’t taunting Luz. Instead, Dread Hunter lumbered over towards Miki inquisitively, with a bemused expression. He examined the little red woman as a bear would another bear it has not seen for a while, animalistically giving her an up and down, complete with an extended-neck to get extra creepy while examining. It chuckled, snapping back to Luz and muttering “Old friends, newly anointed. All but one, to reap the benefits for the future.”
Then Luz snapped back to reality and realized that everyone was looking at her very awkwardly. “Sorry,” She quickly tried to save, “spaced out for a sec there. What did you say?”
“Why are you here, Noceda?” Boscha asked. “Titan, the least you could do is pay attention.”
Luz took a deep breath and tried to remind herself to stay cool and confident. This was it, big hero speech time. She could do this. “Long story short, we are here to help. We’re gonna rescue everyone from the archives and save the Boiling Isles!”
In a perfect world, there would have been thunderous applause followed by the creation of a plan of action. However, since Luz was pretty sure she was in one of the worst possible timelines, instead she got a silent nothing. “Not the reaction I was expecting” she mumbled.
Miki stepped forward, launching into a monologue about how it was a suicide mission and that they weren’t going to offer any support to Luz and co. To make things worse Boscha actually agreed with them. So just as fast as they entered, the entire group was kicked out and into the hallway.
“What… just… happened?” Luz was seething.
“It’s been like this ever since Miki and Roka showed up.” Matt attempted to explain. “We want to make progress but anytime we suggest something, one of them threatens to throw people into the detention pit.”
“The what?” Luz heard her mom ask. No time to explain what that meant, gotta keep moving.
“Maybe there’s another way.” She mused aloud. “I don’t know how to get into the archives, but we may actually be able to get close by teleporting to the Titan’s skull!”
Cue gasps from the witches and human mother who didn’t know that was possible. She drank the feeling of the reveal for a moment before deterring focus away from herself, allowing Matt to lead the group to an old classroom hidden behind one of the walls. It was a rather impressive feat, very room of requirement. As soon as they entered the room, Luz took a seat. The bad thoughts were building up again, she could feel the presence of the Dread Hunter before her, staticky eyes boring holes into her even if she refused to give it the time of day.
Images flashed through her head: Hunter’s first day with his goofy new haircut, him and Gus geeking out over a random sci-fi book, Flapjack tugging on his loose strang of hair, Hunter trying desperately to free her from Philip’s possession, the two of them on a beach in the mindscape. Opening her eyes, Luz watched as her hand flickered between her normal form and the claws that were used to end her Hunter’s life.
She violently grasped her wrist, squeezing the flesh around it until the viscous green claws vanished from view and were replaced by her regular hands. She let out a noise that was something between a gasp, a sigh, and an exhale as a shaking hand balled into a fist and came up to her forehead.
An unexpected pressure on her hand caused Luz to look up, seeing Flapjack perched while watching her with a worried expression.
“What do you want, Flap?” She tried her best to put on a fake happy tone of voice, but Luz was fairly certain it came out with more edge than she intended.
“You are not well.” Flapjack commented.
Luz laughed bitterly, “Understatement of the century Buddy.” She cast her gaze around the room, taking in the piss poor state of her friends and family. Her mom looked like she was one surprise away from a heart attack, Gus said as luckily keeping himself distracted, Willow was barely able to keep herself from crying while looking at a photo of the Emerald Entrails, and Amity was just barely forcing stability on herelf.self. Then there was Luz, dealing with whatever the hell was happening to her post-resurrection; talking to a palisman that wasn’t her own. “Flapjack, I shouldn’t even be able to talk to you. You were Hunter’s palisman.”
“I was Evelyn’s palisman if we’re talking semantics.” Flapjack said back “If anything Hunter was my boy more than anything.”
It was touching how Flapjack saw Hunter. It made Luz want to cry or scream even more.
“Then why?” She asked intently, holding back from yelling. “He is dead because of me.”
“No.” Flapjack shot back firmly. “Hunter chose to save you. You were kind to my boy, you saved him countless times over, and he chose to repay that kindness. Of course I wish Hunter was still here, but he is gone. Right now I want nothing more than to make sure the people he left behind are going to be okay.”
“Oh,” Luz staggered in a breath, the floodgates preparing to open. “T-that’s what I wa-ant too.”
She sniffled and wiped the tears off her face. That was a lie. She knew damn well what she realy wanted, and it wasn’t to make sure everyone was okay. But she wasn’t ready to confront that yet, so instead she pushed those unpleasant feelings down and walking over to the closest workstation and grabbing a memory clip.
In one movement, Luz placed the clip on her ear and thought of her time with Philip in the past, specifically when they teleported to the Titan’s Skull. Honing in on the complex structure of glyphs that Philip drew on the ground, once she was sure she had it, Luz pulled and used the artifact to drag a copy of the memory out of her head and into the physical world.
As the rest of the group gathered around to look, Luz shook the polaroid picture until the dark veneer faded away to reveal the image of what was supposed to be the teleportal glyph combo. However, what stared up at them in actuality was far worse. Instead of being Philip Wittebane showing off the complex glyph pattern, the Dread Hunter stared up at them, eliciting responses of shock and horror from the group.
Willow, for one, looked from the photo, to Luz, to the photo, to Luz. “Oh Titan. Luz- you- I- I never even considered that-” Before even finishing her sentence, Willow was out the door.
“Willow,” Luz called after the girl, moving to follow her. “Willow!”
Gus stopped Luz before she could pursue. “No Luz, I’ll do it.”
“Gus?” She asked, watching as the younger witch shuddered slightly. “What’s wrong?”
“I keep thinking” He said, his voice guarded. “I knew Hunter was a Grimwalker, I saw it in Belos’ mind. If I had said something, done something differently… would he still be here?”
“Gus” She started.
“Don’t.” He cut off. “Stay here, rest up and get that glyph. I’ll go get Willow.” And then he was gone too, out the door before Luz could react.
She sighed heavily, watching the wherewithal of her friends disintegrate before her eyes. “So much to do, so little time.” A garbled voice whispered in her ear, a clawed hand being placed on her shoulder from behind. “How much more can you take, before you break?”
Spurned on, Luz let out a chilling wail.