After I took my outfit off in the bathroom and changed back into my other clothes, Sal and I were ready to confront Courtney. I felt somewhat indisposed. I was wanting to do it, but part of me felt as if I shouldn’t want to, and I should just stick to my job until the time comes when we can leave.

“Alright, so if you want to make it clear that a woman is pissing you off, you avoid that urge inside of you to hit her, and-”

“Huh?”

“Don’t you have that too?”

“No Sal, but I’ve now learned that you hit women.”

“I specifically said I resist the urge to do so. Are you going to follow me here or will you keep making fun of me?”

“Yeah I probably will…” I stopped halfway down the stairs from the second floor. “Wait... you hear that?”

“What?”

The sound of Courtney arguing caught my ear.. We both picked up on it and froze now, intently listening.

“So what, Axel? It’s not like your sister wanted that!” Courtney angrily explained to her daughter.

“I am going to go out there and find her! I want her back! She was closer to me than you EVER are! All you care about is this stupid fucking villain group! You don’t care that your daughter has been missing for a year!”

“It… it was my choice. I couldn’t risk myself getting exposed. She was already considered… weird, so I thought she’d be better off in a group who wants her.”

“Do you have any fucking clue what you just said?! I want her! And I’m going to find her! It’s been a whole year, and if she’s dead and gone, at least I’ll have some closure! Fuck you, Mom!”

I then heard the impact of flesh against flesh. Someone hitting someone else. I couldn’t tell who did it, but by the time we ascended the stairs to investigate, the only person there was Courtney, who looked out the open front door in regret. A red mark covered her face, and I swear I noticed something else… her gem was faintly glowing.

Must be something to do with her powers… I thought.

“Uhm, sorry to intrude.” I began with a consoling smile.

“Yes?”

“We should talk about this later, when she’s more malleable.” Sal whispered into my ear. But I knew she was at her weakest, this is when I could farm some good faith, and perhaps make her a valuable asset. I’m pretty sure this villain trick was taught to me by Stocklord. He is like half the reason I am as evil as I am. Although some other people consider this business relations, whatever that means.

“That… was your daughter, right? I am so sorry…” I said, trying to be genuine.

“Yes. She’ll come around though.” Courtney replied.

“I know the type. You can’t win with them. They’ll hate everything you do to try to empathize.”

“Yes… that’s exactly how I feel. She’s lost, isn’t she?”

“That’s up to you to decide. If you don’t give up on her, she may come back. But, it might serve to care a little more about what she’s going through right now.”

“Her sister… She was taken by TUHF. She had powers, but Axel didn’t. I had powers too, but…”

“You tried to keep them off of you, so you threw your other daughter to distract them?”

“A mother should protect her children… but I knew if I gave myself up, we’d all be caught and questioned. I didn’t want to ruin Axel’s perfect life. I made the choice on the spot, I didn’t have time to think it through.”

“That’s a tough decision to make,” I pitied, she actually had a pretty rough backstory all things considered. “There wasn’t really a right choice, but I’m sure this can be fixed.”

“My poor daughter… both of them… I don’t think it can…”

I had her on a fish hook. Time to reel her in.

“It can be fixed. I talked to her, gained her trust, and I might be able to help you.”

“You would?” she said, her eyes lighting up.

“Of course. I know we had a rough patch at the start, but I want to help you now. I feel so bad for your situation.”

“Oh my… why of course. I didn’t know you felt that way. I… have never had a slave treat me like this before…”

“I’d really prefer like ‘butler’ or ‘housekeeper’ or something though, ‘slave’ kind of irks me.”

“If you wear the outfit, I’ll call you by your actual name.”

“Alright ‘slave’ it is then.” I resolved. Oh well, at least I don’t have to wear that garbage any longer.

“Now then, what is your first course of action?”

“Getting her back here. It may take some smooth talking, and… I can’t say I’m amazing at that,” I lied, if she thought I wasn’t confident at speaking, then she wouldn’t suspect I am playing her like a fool. “But I can only try my best.”

“Of course you can, Quin- slave.” she slipped up. I knew she had her faith in me.

That’s exactly what I needed.

With Courtney’s full trust, I set out after Axel. Sal was not allowed to come, and begrudgingly took up the arduous remainder of my workload. Luckily without the stripper outfit on.

I got pushed out though, I didn’t have time to tell my sister where I was headed, so Sal would have to fill her in, and probably receive the speech of worry and distress for my safety.

The thought of escape crossed my mind a couple times, and also the thought of how stupid I was to lower myself to this hunt through the snow just for a shred of goodwill with a woman with her head up her ass. Neither of these thoughts were successful in stopping my hunt for Axel.

I knew in my heart that if I got Courtney on our side we would have an entire group of villains at least somewhat willing (or forced) to help us rescue Stocklord and return my life to normal.

I followed some convenient tracks in the snow for about a mile, my body wanting to give up already.

I had no idea where she was even headed, I didn’t know the area, but I knew if she stopped, I’d be able to catch her. But if the tracks somehow cut off, I’d be lost in the mountains and have to walk all the way back.

The cold air got to me as it had many times before. If I had a mirror, I’d probably be looking at a blueberry shaded smurf face.

I refused to turn back though, it was very foolish. I walked through a mountain pass where the rocks could easily fall, but yet I had no care, no fear.

Was this bravery? Was this what people who didn’t procrastinate felt like?

Nah, I’m pretty sure I was just blind and stupid. That’s what bravery is, after all.

Wait… so I am brave?

“Yes, Quincy, you are.” the cricket in my brain that narrated my life said to me. Was he always there? Or am I hearing things?

Gosh… it is so fucking cold…

How long have I even been out for?

Thirty minutes? An hour? Two hours?

The sun is setting!? And the tracks keep going!?

This bitch is crazy… and I’m even crazier… wait… do I have hypothermia? Oh no, what if that’s what keeps driving me forward!?

I stopped.

I looked out over the valley, I was unable to make out anything I recognized. Trees, rocks, hills. There was no town, no villain mansion.

The whimsically insane light in my eyes began to fade. I was lost, and if I kept following these, I’d only find a corpse, and then I would soon join her as I freeze to death.

The steep hills grew more gentle in the distance, I considered carrying on, hoping I could find her easier now.

Fuck it… I’ve come this far.

I continued to walk. One step, two step, three step. One foot after the other.

I felt deranged, but my stupidity moved my feet.

And then I saw something that made my shivering brain feel like a genius.

Over the hill, nestled in between some pine trees, was a quaint old log cabin. The lights inside were shining, and the chimney was smoking. I was truly saved.

My legs gained new vigor as they dashed down the slope, nearly tripping on rocks multiple times as I embraced the light on the building like a moth to a flame.

And I use that analogy for a good reason.

I jumped up onto the porch and quickly tapped on the door. I just felt so relieved to know I would not die.

The door opened, and an unexpected, yet entirely plausible face met mine.

“Quincy. What the fuck are you doing out here, following me?” Axel greeted me, she gazed directly into my eyes, wigging me out a little.

“I’m sorry you came here.” she muttered.

It was mere seconds when I saw the silenced luger come out of her pocket, poking me in the guts. For a second, confusion racked my mind, but then when I saw the two other people in the house, everything became a bit clearer.

“Excellent work, Axel! At this astounding rate, you’ll be able to keep the peace alongside your sister quite well!” Gammal smiled at us. Captain Canadia and him touched their beer glasses together in a resounding *clink* as they admired their handiwork.

“Now, as for you my dear Quincy Whistlewood. Perhaps you can spend the night and talk about your friends? Hmm?”

Man, two betrayals in one… this is why you don’t consider villains your friends.