During Austin's time in the military, he had developed strong connections with his subordinates. They became more than his juniors, they became his best friends. They spent most of their time together so it was natural they grew close.
After the incident five years ago, he was a shell of his former self. His own family turned their backs on him, seeing him as inferior—save his mother. After everything that happened, his father didn't even sympathize with him.
Even after Evelynn died… He looked up to father when he was much younger. Now, he's just a name on his birth certificate. That was a long time ago though, now, he had new people around him, Lucas Ross being the newest.
What were the odds he would end up here with someone he just met? Austin recalled that unfaithful night. The man John introduced them to suddenly decided to investigate Lily's fifteenth floor penthouse. Finding the idea interesting, he and Eve tagged along.
He didn't see it as much until… that feeling of certain death gripped them as Lucas was about pressing the elevator button. Clenching the mug in his hand, Austin took a sip of the beer inside. It was cool, relaxing his mind as it went down his throat. Behind the bitter hops was that hint of malt.
Behind the bitterness that made some avoid beer, was the sweetness that made most love it. It reminded him of Lucas. The man who pressured him to escape this place. How was such even possible? Maybe he hadn't come to terms with their situation, though that didn't matter.
Austin already made up his mind to come here after he felt that… presence. Lucas tagged along, while Eve left. She was never the violent type so he wasn't surprised. A part of him wished he left with her that day.
If he did, they would have been together in John's place drinking coco or something. Then again, that was just a part of him. He was grateful for this experience. He was grateful to Nyxshade, his tormentor. He was grateful to Lucas, his… friend, for giving him—Looking into his drink, he saw the foam separate themselves into distinct words.
It was slow, but precise, like the foam obeyed a hand he couldn't see.
"Lucas… is… the… killer…"
"Lucas? Killer?" How did his beer even—Nyxshade. This had to be a trick from that bastard. Slowly, rain began pouring from the sky. Austin noticed Lucas on a distant hill. The only people that died were James and John, the ones that once saved his life.
"But it was Jude that killed them…" Austin said this out loud but within himself he had his doubts. The place they found the triplets had the earth roughed up. Like someone wrestled in the ground.
He recalled how Jude had bruises around his joints and neck. Likely from constant squeezing. "What martial art was that again? Judo?… No… Jiu-jutsu…" The one Lucas claimed he could use to take him down.
Austin's clothes clung to his body as the rain's intensity gradually increased. All his subordinates continued dancing, ignoring the cold rain falling from the sky. It was unnatural. He wasn't going to believe the words his tormentor fed him, not now, not when things were finally getting better.
Slamming his mug on the table, he looked up to see Lucas staring at him. Without thinking, he drunkenly mumbled, "Jude remembers."
***
Austin kept a good distance between himself and Lucas, following the trail his boots left. Where was he going? This wasn't where they kept Jude. Carefully, he avoided any twigs and leaves he could see. The rain gave him a cover, letting him move with more allowance.
Slowly, the rain covered the trail left by Lucas' boots. He had to run to catch up, but that would blow his cover. While thinking of a solution, one flashed in the sky in the form of purple lightning.
He stood in contemplation, the rolling boom that was thunder should be heard anytime now. Nothing. The trail was almost gone so he had to move now or lose Lucas. If that bastard really wanted him to follow Lucas then… Powering his legs, Austin burst into a sprint.
BOOM!
It was like the devil waited for him to start running. In a few seconds he could see the trail once more. It led to an open field, in its center, was a wooden tent. To his horror, he watched Lucas drag out a defenceless Jude from the tent with a pistol at his head.
"Lucas!" He screamed.
Charging towards him in a mindless rage, Austin swung at him but he evaded.
"Wait! Listen!" Lucas pleaded.
"To what? Your lies? You killed John! Jude! And now…"
Looking down, it seemed Jude didn't have much fight left in him.
"I'm different! I understand you now!"
"You're the real devil here!" Motioning to his belt, he withdrew his gun and pointed it at Lucas.
Simultaneously, Lucas grabbed Jude. "Wait! Lucas, you're better than this."
"You are, I'm not," changing the direction of his hand, Lucas fired at Austin as he did the same.
"Lucas, no!" A familiar voice said as their worldview began shifting. The forest around them dissolved to nothing with the sound of sand pouring from a bucket. Light distorted around their eyes as everywhere became blurry.
Gradually, the light left their eyes, leaving everywhere void of it. It was black, no up or down, left or right. Looking around, Lucas was nowhere in sight. Before him, the darkness began turning until a princely looking figure emerged.
"Nyxshade," he said dreadfully.
"Congratulations, you passed this stage." With a snap of his fingers, Lucas appeared next to him.
"You too," he smirked.
You haughty boys really entertained me, so as reward, before the next stage, why don't I tell you a little about myself?"