Maria, Maria Read online

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  Deadguy, Jill, and Kiri walked into the Blesk, a rather lively small music venue that had lightning motifs scattered across the walls and furniture. The bolts glowed neon among the darkness in the room. "Oh yeah," DG commented. "This isn't ominous at all."

  "How is anyone suppose to see my super cute outfit in there's next to no light here," Kiri complained.

  Our Hero looked down at her low-cut top. "Kir, I don't think anyone's going to be paying attention to your outfit," he remarked.

  "They damn well better," she said. "I spent too much time making this thing perfect to not have anyone even see it."

  "So what's the plan, boss," he asked, trying to change the subject.

  "We spread out, we mingle, and get ready for the cult to show up," Jill replied.

  Deadguy cracked his knuckles, then his neck. "I can mingle. I am the Mingle Master." He walked off into the crowd.

  "Mingle does not mean beat up on people," Jill called out, but he was already lost in the crowd.

  "Yay socializing," Kiri cheered, then happily walked away. Their boss just shook her head, then started blending in. The band on stage was finishing up their set.

  "Next up is Tamashī no tori," the host announced. "in twenty minutes."

  Our Hero was making the rounds when he heard a familiar voice. "Yeah, so I'm working on my next film project," the young man with a mess of brown hair told the giggling brunette. "If you want, I can get you a part in it?"

  "George," DG exclaimed. "What's up buddy?"

  The young man turned, his eyes full of fear. "Oh god," he whimpered. "Not you. Anyone but you."

  The giggling brunette's eyes grew wide. "Oh my god," she exclaimed. "You're that dead hero guy."

  "It's just Deadguy, but yeah."

  "You didn't say anything about knowing him," she said. "Is he going to be in your movie?"

  "Yeah, am I going to be in your movie," Our Hero repeated, placing his chin in his hands. "because you never said anything about what happened to the last one."

  George stuttered, trying to find the words to cover his tracks. "Um..well...that is...I lost the camera."

  "You lost the camera," DG asked. "You are officially the worst director I have ever met, and I've met Michael Bay. I've got the restraining order to prove it."

  "Ho-ly Schnikes," a voice called out behind Deadguy. "It's the hero himself."

  "Why yes, I am..." he started as he turned, but stopping suddenly. Before him stood a man with frosted tipped black hair. He was thin and a little lanky. A part of his brain started to hurt, like a growing headache. "Do I know you?"

  "Oh, that's right, you forgot." The man reached out and shook Deadguy's hand. "Never mind I've been watching you. I'm a huge fan of your work. You're doing an awesome job, no matter what he says."

  "He who?" His head started hurting more, almost as if his entire brain was being attacked by a jackhammer. He started rubbing his head. "Look, glad to meet a fan, but I've got to go...sit down and have a drink. Or something." He walked away and sat at the bar. "One of whatever's the strongest thing you've got," he said to the bartender.

  "I'll take one too," a woman's voice hissed beside him. It was another familiar voice. He turned to see the pale, gaunt face of the woman who stabbed him standing there. She wore the same purple dress from before, but with a large black hat on. She took one of the drink when the bartender placed them down. "Thanks for the drink, handsome," she said with a smile as she walked away. He glared as she faded away into the crowd.

  "You know her," the bartender asked.

  "Yeah, she killed me once," he replied, taking a drink.

  Jill's phone vibrated in her pocket as she was chatting with a cute guy. She pulled it out to read a notice when Kiri crashed through a few people to find her. "We've got a problem," she yelled. "Big, huge, jolty problem."

  "Kiri, calm down," she replied, reading the warning about Maria Jones escaping from prison. "We've got bigger problems to deal with."

  "Bigger than Maria escaping," she asked.

  "No, I just read that same story," Jill stated. "We need to find Deadguy." The two Heroes looked around, and Kiri spotted him at the bar. He appeared as if he was also looking for someone. "Deadguy," Jill called out as they made their way through the crowd.

  "Either one of you see a woman dressed in purple with a big black hat," he asked them as they approached.

  "Now's not the time to follow your heart," Jill said. "Maria Jones just escaped."

  Deadguy spat out his drink. The ladies backed away. "That is the worst drink I've ever had," he said, slamming the glass onto the bar. "Now that I've done something completely random to throw off the reader, we need to get everyone the hell out of here."

  As Our Hero stood up, Aaron almost barreled into him. "You," he said, sounding very upset. "You need to do something. Maria's escaped and she's coming for me."

  "What makes you say that," DG asked. "She might have broke out to find her was back to the sea." Jill and Kiri both raised an eyebrow. "Look, in any case, we're here to make sure nothing happens. Now go on stage and rock your little shvitzing heart out." Deadguy spun Aaron around and pushed him towards the stage, where the rest of Tamashī no tori was waiting for him. Our Hero noticed that the lead singer of the band was the same frosty-tipped guy that spoke to him earlier. He felt the growing headache again.

  "You okay," Jill asked

  "Yeah, just need something to get rid of a headache," he replied. Almost on cue, twelve hand shot out, holding various pills. He looked at the selection. "No. I don't trust any of you."