#Spring bada bing!

[lifeofthe-barty]

bada bing bada boom motherfuckers! your guy got himself a boyfriend 🤘

@whokilledevanrosier 🖤

@james-the-amazing-potter @starlight-starbright-thatsme @looneymoonyy @wormy-loves-ch33se @mystical-magical-me @king-ofthe-crop @xeno-graphical @malfoy-lu @rodolphus-le-strange @averykissableguy @fire-allayer @poison-penmanship @lifeofthe-barty @whokilledevanrosier @pandoras-nox @little-king-official @cas-not-the-band @marls-mckinn0n @hjonesworld @mary-mcdeal @emmelineandhervans @sybill-patricia-trelawney @lilytheginger @alicethekindone @flowers-of-narcissus @andromedashoax @the-queen-bellatrix @severusprince-snape @fabian-with-an-f @mollberryshortcake @fawningamos @k1ndest-keeper @aelius-with-a-quill @annajohn-silvae @adam-lukas-morningstar @imogenmorningstar @oxxen--free @camille-laurier @luciagraham @your-favourite-callie @addison-caddel @daughter-of-spring @magandang-kaluluwa @flyasaphoenix @tjsinclairofficial @secretlifeof-asher @toby-newtman-tics @bones-and-edgar @ted-the-teddy-tonks @scattered-across-thesky @alectocrow

[fruity-gutz]

NEW AU ALERT RAHHHHH

ok I know this isn’t a head canon post but im very excited for this so hear me out

I introduce to you the totally epic ANIMATRONIC AU!!11!1!1!!

ok so basic info is this is very obviously based off of fnaf, but the plot isn’t exactly the same. basically the smiling friends still exist in this universe but one day they got a call from an inventor who didn’t feel fulfilled since he felt like he was wasting his talent making animatronics for a random children’s restaurant. so the smiling friends scurried on over there, and usually I hate aus where the characters get killed for it but this is my one exception yea they get murdered. But due to their unique body shapes, the critters got special animatronics they could fit in. So the inventor made these 4 animatronics, put spring locks in and baca bing bada boom the animatronics are possessed now. but, the inventor put a certain code inside the animatronics so at night the critters end up getting a taste for MURDER 🔥🔥🔥 basically they snap and kill anybody that enters the restaurant. im making character pages right now but for now just take these doodles

[asteroidgalore]

There’s two alternative myths regarding Medusa (149). The Roman version is the version that we commonly know. Neptune being married to Athene (2, 881) rapes Medusa and then Athena going after Medusa, eventually killing her mounting her head to a shield blah blah blah.

In the Greek version, Medusa makes an oath of celibacy and to be a nun. She later falls in love with Neptune/Poseidon (4341) and Athena (2, 881) goes to punish her for breaking her oath.

[micro-expressions]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Bada Bing Neon Sign Woman Sexy Party Festival Birthday LED Mancave Gamer Light.

[sunahjewelry]

Setup is a struggle! It’s so easy to let yourself just fall into the same setup you had at the last show because it’s easy. And honestly most of the time my setup is a variation on my last show, but I try to tweak things each time just a little bit. Like working out, if you keep doing the same exercises over and over it does get easier, but you don’t see any progress. I was really in a rut for about 3 years with the same setup until American Craft this year. Kirk helped me build a totally fresh design I had been throwing around on paper. It always takes longer than I think it will haha! I had planned to have it all packed always and ready to go a week or more ahead of time. Ummmm ya right. Haha 😂😭 it had been raining they week we made the cuts in the wood and when it came together, well it didn’t. The wood had expanded so it didn’t fit the holes we had drilled and we were up (well Kirk was up) the night before my show started sanding the poles to grind it down to size. At least the Winter Olympics were on to help pass the time because it took foreverrrr. So for my setup for Spring Bada Bing I’m trying to get it down ahead of time again… shouldn’t be so many surprises but I always say that? 🤔🤔🤔

[funnywormz]

spamvil spring prompt one: bloom

a little thing...... for spamvil spring............. bada bing............

(i only realised partway through making this that maybe not everyone knows abt the fake flower trick so: common clown trick where clown has a fake flower on their shirt and asks someone to sniff it. unwitting victim sniffs flower thinking theyre gonna sniff a nice flower smell and then immediately gets water sprayed at them from the hidden nozzle in the center of the flower which is attached to a concealed container of water. clownery committed.)

(also sorry this is Bad my brain juice has not been flowing so great recently but i desperately wanted to put this idea out into the world)

[juantheashura]

30k Words Update!

Hello, everyone! If you're on the CoG forums, you may already know about this but I pushed a small-ish update a few hours ago!

It consists of the reworked Prologue and Chapter 1, alongside a surprise at the end of Chapter 4.

The plan was to have Chapter 5 fully done as well, but some... personal situations have shown up, so I'm uploading this for now. Chapter 5 should come soon, by next month, most likely.

Anyway, here's a list of what to expect in the update:

Meet Lat! Again! This time, with more pizazz.

Nova’s a real joker.

Bing bada bing goes the energy bolt.

The League has learned how to actually recruit people!

The distance to the top is made a lot clearer.

Better explained politics!

Seeker and Ignis are really into each other, ain’t they?

Play the game all the way to the end, and see a little surprise!

There's also some very slight additions to Chapter 4. A new option when talking with Seeker, some reworked bits at the start of the hot spring scene if you're romancing Ignis (which will continue to get edited, so that Ignis' issues with intimacy are made clearer), and a different possible response to Latooni if she confesses to the MC.

Anyway, here's the link: https://dashingdon.com/play/juan/a-tale-of-heroes/mygame/ I hope you have fun! As you also know, I have a Ko-Fi, in case you would like to support my writing: https://ko-fi.com/juancuevas0168 There's also a bit of specific feedback I'd like, please check out this forum post for it: https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/a-tale-of-heroes-wip-162k-words-updated-2908-2022/93292/863#what-i-would-like-from-you-all-2 (And obviously, if there's anything else you'd like to offer feedback on, please do so! I'd love to hear all your thoughts!).

[sleepsart]

Herald of Spring, Hearer of Us, Doer of Wills, yada bada bing bong Martyn

[ ID: A profile sketch of Martyn from 3rd Life. He has a confident expression. He's holding an axe over his shoulder. He's got small scars around his visible arm, face, and ears. He has two ears on one side of his head and he's wearing a shirt with a swirl on it. Behind his head is a large amount of flowers and fern leaves in a halo-like pattern. End ID ]

[zephrr]

EEEEEEE ok haven't wrote Munver in a bit so here's.. something... !! 🙏🏼 (It's.. It's an AU)

You guys know their backstory; They used to be close but then highschool happened yadda yadda *raspberry* but here's some like depth ♥️ (Starting at Highschool.. ofc)

When Jason was going into being a freshman, he started to realize his feelings for Eddie was more than platonic. He, of course, freaked out.

He went to go talk to Eddie about it in freshman year but ya' know...Eddie hurt his feelings by making fun of him. This made Jason surpress them.

Now, Eddie knew he was queer. Knew since middle school. So when he realized his feelings for Jason, he immediately shut them down; hince the 'hurting Jason's feelings' part.

They both buried their feelings into the depths of hell their brains. This made them both angry at each other, then leading to fights damn near every-fucking-day.

All this happened until Senior fucking year. That one 'magical' argument that Eddie had taken too far and Jason had run off. Eddie felt bad and went looking for him and like...for you guys who read prev. post, you know what happened.

Now...their complicated relationship. When I say COMPLICATED...I MEAN IT.

They don't know if they love each other or not. They've been enemies for literally years, but before that they were...best friends. They don't know how to process.

Due to these feelings, they still get into petty arguments that often lead to hate-fucking. Sometimes it ended up in make-up sex, due to Eddie hurting Jason's feelings and vice versa.

They have feelings for each other but don't know if they.. love each other. (At the time)

Then...Spring Break happened. Jason of course knew Eddie wasn't fucking guilty, he literally just got done sucking him off. But he had to not make it obvious. So he had to go along with the team.

Once Jason caught up with Eddie he, obviously, only had Lucas with him (because o my plot reasons..but ntm) but he flaked. Eddie thought Jason thought he did it but when Jason held his hadn and told him that he knew Eddie wasn't guilty and kissed him so sweetly, Eddie fell in love.

Fast forward, they defeat Vecna (CAUSE I CAN'T...MY HEART.) Eddie's hella injured. Jason's worried. They love each other.

bada bing bada boom. They're dating. The fucking end.

If it ain't obvious... I'm... I'm high. As ALL living hell. I'm not thinking clearly, so i probably mad mistakes ngl. but oh the fuck well. I hope ya' enjoyed 🙏🏼

[fazbear-ent-official]

1.3 Meet the staff !

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springs ⋆ @shadowbonns

He uses he/it pronouns, is lesbian, agender, and a mechanic.

He's 100% human, and literally done with everything and anything going on, no matter what it is.

he's 5'7, 20, and pretty friendly most times.

He acts like a classic dad- dad jokes, wears Hawaiian button up shirts, socks and sandals, you name a dad trait and he probably has said trait.

Its' favorite is probably balloon boy.

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opal ⋆ @i-love-freddy-fazbears-pizza

she's a transgender woman (she/her)

she seems nice and bubbly at first but you'll very quickly learn to know she snaps easily and it doesn't bother her to do violence/commit murder.

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janus ⋆ @uwu-scraptrappy

Im Janus, he/him and she/her, I will be carrying around pronoun pins so yall know my gender of the Day™️.

I am very good with kids, and I can clean well if given all instructions. In fact, I may or may not adopt anyone who steps in this hellish place. If you're reading this, Im your parent now.

Im introverted, laid back, and (not) funny.

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ink ⋆ @cat-and-corgi-girl

They/Them

Remnant leaks out of their eyes and sometimes their mouth

Is technically a animatronic

Performed inside Springbonnie when Mr. Afton was busy

One of the first people to be given remnant8’0 tall. Was 6’0 at first but remnant added height

Dead inside

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luna ⋆ @projectmoonlightproductions

Pronouns: she/her

Sexuality: bisexual

Abilities: I'm an introvert, good with kids, and can clean. I sometimes stay up at night to figure out what the hell is going on with the lore and I love animatronics.💜

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bernese bridgette ⋆ @chaospenelope

She/They

Used to work as a manager/Kitchen staff before… “Changing occupation” and becoming an entertainment Animatronic.

Generally kind, talkative, and I can pick up children and run with them to safety.

Has Smol child bot I have adopted: https://toyhou.se/11748985.delia-dogbear">https://toyhou.se/11748985.delia-dogbear

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alyssa ⋆ @xfnafweirdox

Pronouns: any!

Sexuality: Unknown

Bio: she is kinda sassy but sweet at the same time.

Their favorite character from the franchise is Bon Bon but still likes the others.

There good friends with Kk and have been friends for about 3 years now. He hates adults and loves kids and is very good with both.

She will hurt you in a heartbeat so be careful.

She likes to spoil people so expect a LOT of gifts.

Their text is blue.

He’s very confident and is not scared to punch a Karen.

They go over to Kk’s house quite often.

She sees the animatronics as friends and is adopted by Kk.

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end ⋆ @i-throw-pies-at-tall-people

Pronouns: He/Xe

i make some pretty good pies if i'm gonna be honest (that definitely aren't made of cardboard and shaving cream)

i might not be able to walk around without a suit but hey hey looky here bada bing bada boom no one can tell

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bartholomew ⋆ @fazbearsmechanic

He/Him

Literally just an author </3 but he came to Freddy's for gay reasons. also animatronic insides special interest reasons. but mostly gay.

Great with kids, not with adults.

Non-confrontational, probably won't be causing many problems (not on purpose, anyway).

He is simply tired and needs money, my dude is just vibing.

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[evilkitten3]

Well, you could still make Rule 34 art of it provided you yourself were in the fucking mafia.

mafia members, sitting around a shadowed table

boss: jimmy, we need to talk.

jimmy: ey, boss, bada bing?

boss: bada boom. you been drawin' them horse girls again, ain't ya, jimmy?

jimmy: boss, you gotta understand–

boss: you a member of this family, jimmy. a good bagman. a goodfella. we don't want nothin' to change that, do we, boys?

boys: fuggedaboutit!

jimmy: boss–

boss: this is an sitdown, jimmy. yer last pass. do some spring cleanin', jimmy. ain't nobody wanna havta take ya for a ride, wiseguy.

jimmy: i understand, boss. i won't let ya down.

boss: i'm proud of ya, jimmy.

jimmy: thanks, boss.

boys: *rhythmic snapping*

[asteroidgalore]

If you feel real weighed down like stuff or shit or whatever keeps pushing you down and you can’t rise up or get out, you’re probably Athena (2, 881) stuck in Jupiter. Jupiter is the 5th planet from the sun and has the highest density of gravity of any planet.

All you need is a quick Juno (3) to cut off that nigga head in a jealous rage and you get to spring out and the the beauty female you are.

I’ve always said Athena is Jupiter’s A-sexual demon spawn but maybe her mom is Juno because she needs her to cut off the head to be birthed. 😁😉🌙

[artificialqueens]

Pale Yellow, Prologue (Group Fic) - Candy Cane

A/N: i know i havent shut up abt this for the last forever on my side blog but its just bc ive been so excited lol this is a post-apocalypse/doomsday au & lesbian au wherein after the world ends, people still find each other. without @chaoticnachokitten id be totally lost bc this really needed a beta and some extra confidence thrown in and im so lucky u were there to help me out <3 thank youuuuuu!!! this is very focused on the cast of AS2 bc it sparks joy so bada bing bada boom here we are. u can follow my side blog @sillylittlecandycane where i post wip updates and get wayyy too invested in these aus!! this is the kind of fic that im still fleshing out, so if u have any suggestions for thing i may have missed id love to hear it! anyways sorry for the long a/n hope yall enjoy <3 Summary: Nearly seven years after the apocalypse, Alaska has been a part of a few different groups. None have been like this one, and she wouldn’t give it up for anything. Little does she know that change is on the horizon. 

It’s been years since Alaska could look at her friends and not immediately see them as just walking corpses. All of them are on a time limit, they’re only delaying the inevitable. No one can fix this. No one can change what has happened to their lives. Sometimes she doesn’t see the point in continuing forward. And sometimes she sees those small smiles Detox and Roxy share, sometimes she hears how carefree Tatianna will laugh at a joke, sometimes she catches her friends holding hands just because, and she knows they have to try. Even destroyed, their world still holds love and hope. Otherwise, no one would be around.

The gun in her hand is heavy and slick with sweat, her whole body is sore from walking in heels for way too many miles. Apparently the price of looking hot during the end of the world is pain, who would’ve thought?

Alaska looks over her shoulder at Katya and Phi Phi, the Russian is clearly lost in thought, while Phi Phi has her weapon poised to aim, even though she looks almost bored. Alaska almost feels bad for asking them to come with her, but there’s no way she would’ve been able to go out alone.

The whole group understands the importance of checking out supply houses, even if it looks like a longshot. Even if all they find is expired food packets and half-used emergency kits, it’s better than nothing. Sometimes they get really lucky and find crates upon crates of supplies. Weapons, ammo, medical products, food, even bottled water… It’s not often, but it happens.

Alaska breathes a sigh of relief when she sees the emergency clinic come up in her field of view. Soon they’d be home, and Alaska could kiss her girlfriends and put her feet up. She hates being away for so many hours, no matter how necessary it is.

“Let’s go,” Alaska says quickly, speeding up her pace, barely checking to see if her friends are following her lead.

The hot, spring’s day asphalt clacks beneath her heels, the sun beats down on her bare shoulders, and she breathes in the heavy, humid air. There’s a storm on the horizon for sure, she’ll have to ask Ginger to check the weather for the next week.

The cozy, two story emergency clinic that is both the best place in the world and an eternal prison looms before her. It’s the only safe place she’s been able to find and make work, but it represents how trapped they all are.

At least they’re not alone. At least they have each other. That’s what Alaska tells herself as she opens the heavy metal doors. Once upon a time they were glass, but glass doors aren’t great for defense, no matter how nice they look on the outside.

She steps into what was a trashed waiting room when she first found this place and is now a well-managed front room. The receptionists desk is where they keep all their communications equipment, and is also where she sees Ginger, the one who runs the equipment.

“You’re back,” Ginger says, a wide smile on her face that Katya can’t help returning, “Almost thought you’d be gone for good.”

“We weren’t gone that long,” Alaska frowns, letting the door close only when Katya and Phi Phi come through it.

“We were out there almost all day,” Phi Phi says, “Left at dawn, and now it’s almost sunset.”

Alaska sets her weapon down on the counter, “I guess I just lost track of time.”

She looks up to see Detox round the corner, and could almost cry with how happy she is to see her.

“Thought I heard you guys come back,” Detox smiles.

There’s a worry and fear in her eyes that Alaska wishes only a kiss could fix. There’s no way it would, but she can try. The two hug tightly, and Alaska kisses her for a long moment. It’s so good to be with her again, even with the missing presence of their third.

“I couldn’t stay away for too long,” Alaska teases her when they pull apart, “Where’s Roxy?”

“Training,” Detox sighs, “I was barely able to get her away for lunch.”

Alaska understands the need to always be prepared, it was drilled into her once this whole mess started. She still wishes they would all take better care of themselves though.

She looks over to see Katya talking closely with Ginger, and figures she’s probably just relaying what all happened. There’s a ‘ding!’ sound from the computer, and Ginger leans over to take a look. Alaska’s breath catches in her throat when she sees Ginger’s expression.

“What’s wrong?” she asks, almost scared of the answer.

“It’s… It’s Alyssa’s sister,” Ginger says, completely shocked, “Her group- They’ve got an extreme injury.”

“How extreme?” Katya asks, trying to look at the computer scene.

“Gunshot wound to the torso at the least,” Ginger says with a frown, “They want to bring her here.”

“Can we even help with that?” Detox grimaces.

“Coco saved me, didn’t she?” Alaska says, biting her lip nervously.

“Do we have room? Supplies? It’s been a while since then, Alaska-”

“Who else would be able to help? There’s no hospitals, no working clinics or doctor’s offices,” Alaska reminds her, on the way to making up her mind.

“We don’t even know this person, all we know is that Alyssa’s sister knows them,” Phi Phi points out.

“Alyssa’s sister knows them well enough to want to reach out to us,” Alaska corrects her, “During a fucking apocalypse.”

Katya turns and stares Alaska in the eyes, “So you want to help.”

It’s a statement, and not one that’s wrong either.

Alaska takes a deep breath, then turns to Phi Phi, “Tell Coco she’s going to have a patient,”

Even though she looks skeptical, Phi Phi ducks out of the room, and Alaska is left with three of her teammates staring at her with open mouths.

“Well? Get to work, we have company coming,” Alaska drawls, leaving no room for argument.

It’s a longshot, but they owe a lot to Alyssa, and Alaska wouldn’t be where she is today without the kindness of strangers. If she doesn’t ‘pay it forward’ now, she may never get the chance, and she thinks she would regret that for the rest of her life.

[micro-expressions]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Bada Bing Neon Sign Woman Sexy Party Festival Birthday LED Mancave Gamer Light.

[sunahjewelry]

Packing up for Spring Bada Bing tomorrow :) if you’re in the Richmond area be sure to stop by the Hardywood Park Craft Brewery from 11-5 for this amazing show! I have added some new pieces just for Spring 🌸 This is one of my favorite shows I’ve done so far, the venue is fun, and the Artists are even more fun!

[savannahsdrabbles]

Ocean Song - Part Five

rating: PG summary: Marine biology student April O’Neil makes a startling discovery.

notes: 2k words. A03 link can be found here. Special thanks to @cloakedrabbitand @starfiretheninja for beta-reading! 

“Okay, you can’t seriously expect me to believe that you’ve never snuck out of the house,” Casey rapped his knuckles on the cracked leather steering wheel and tossed a glance towards April. He’d given the girl rides in the Jonesmobile before – his affectionate name for the Jeep that was older than the two of them combined – but this was different. The two could usually listen to music or crack jokes while they were driving through Osaka, free from the stress of life for just a few moments. But now her whole body looked tense, like a coiled spring about to break free and launch out onto the dark highway. She’d been like this since they had left the lab earlier that afternoon, her expressions twisting tighter with each hour as they formulated a plan. “I mean, I know that you’re a goody-two-shoes but come on. Nobody is that perfect.”

“I’m serious,” the redhead insisted, though she didn’t meet Casey’s probing gaze. Her eyes were instead focused on the vibrating, glowing laptop perched on her thighs as she rapidly typed in lines of data. “Besides, where would I even go?”

“Uh, wherever you wanted? Like you could, I don’t know… go swim with whatever weird fish your dad is studying? And then you could be back before he even realized that you were gone!”

She snorted, her expression momentarily relaxing just enough to make Casey smile in approval. “Yeah, right. My dad is way too much of a nervous wreck for that to go well. The second he noticed that I was missing he would call the police or something.”

“Not if you had an excuse like tonight, Ms. Wild Woman.”

“That’s different,” April finally looked up from her laptop and gave Casey an unimpressed look, the tightness in her body returning. “I’m helping you to study at your house, remember? Which we did, so it’s technically not lying.”

He gave a noncommittal shrug, eyes shifting back to the road as he upped the brightness on the headlights. Streetlights had started to become fewer and farther between as they turned off of the freeway and passed a sign marking the entrance to Hamato Lab’s property. Despite how brightly lit and colorful it looked during the day, during the night he couldn’t help but see the massive building complex as a haunted maze. “Whatever helps you to sleep at night. Anyways, we should be at our destination in just a few minutes.”

“Awesome,” April turned back to her computer and entered another few keystrokes. “In that case, let’s run through the plan just one more time. The last of the main staff left at eight and the transport truck is supposed to arrive around midnight, so someone on staff will have to be there to unlock everything about an hour prior. Since it’s 9:30 now, that means we have a little over an hour to get in –”

“And then we’ll use your keycard, you’ll mess with any security cameras we run into using your laptop, and bada bing bada boom we’ve got ourselves a turtle,” Casey interrupted, taking a hard left to direct their vehicle onto an ‘employees only’ driveway. “Yeah, yeah, we’ve been over this like a hundred times today- you’ve been repeating yourself all afternoon.”

A pregnant pause fell over the car, and Casey allowed his eyes to momentarily flick towards April to make sure that he hadn’t gone deaf. Based on the color that her face was turning, he suddenly wished he had.

“How can you be so flippant about this?” April snapped her laptop closed, voice raising as she tossed it into the floorboards and turned sharply in her seat. Without taking his eyes back off of the road, Casey could already tell that she was strongly considering smacking the hockey mask off of his head and possibly beating him with it. “We’re literally about to commit a CRIME by breaking into a government lab and STEALING one of the subjects! HECK, I still can’t believe that I talked myself into this? What’s my dad going to say when he finds out? And heck, what’s the government going to say? Neither of us are actually citizens of Japan – are they just going to fling us out into the ocean and be like ‘swim back to America, you dirty criminals’? I have my whole freaking life ahead of me, and I’m about to throw it away so that I can save some random turtle? Who does that?!”

Casey waited silently as she vented, before finally taking his eyes off of the road to face her. By now they were approaching Hamato Lab’s parking garage, a four-story concrete structure that spiraled down into depths of the Earth. Casey pulled past the guard gate, absently noticing that the crossing bar was raised before he turned left and started their descent into the belly of the beast. Their destination would be the last level, which opened onto the same floor that the creature was being held. “If we don’t do anything, they’re going to eventually kill him, right?”

“… Right.”

“So screw the rules. If we’re arrested or something, we can deal with that then – but as long as I’m able to help, I’m going to. Casey Jones doesn’t go down without a fight.”

The car fell silent while April hesitated, her shoulders still tense as she considered his words. The Jeep had just rounded a corner onto the third level when she finally let out a huff and turned back in her seat. “I’d still rather not be arrested.”

“Eh, you’d look nice in a jumpsuit.”

This time she did smack the mask off of his head, eliciting a yelp of surprise from the teenage boy.

“What?! It was a compliment!”

April opened her mouth to respond, her eyes sparkling with renewed energy, when she suddenly lunged across the center console and slapped at the headlights control. “Shoot shoot shoot – stop the car!”

Casey immediately slammed on the brake, bringing the car to a lurching stop right as they were about to turn onto the lowest level. The Jeep rocked forwards, front tires already gripping the incline and sending half a dozen empty soda bottles rolling towards the front seats. April grunted in surprise as her seatbelt locked in place, just barely saving her from tumbling into the floorboards alongside the trash.

She’d spoken not a moment too soon – the door that they had been planning on entering through was propped open, sending a long beam of white light into the darkness of the parking garage and illuminating a solid black van parked in the handicap space. The car rumbled quietly, headlights turned off but taillights signaling that it was still cranked and running.

The two teenagers exchanged wide-eyed looks before Casey slowly reached for the gear shift, allowing April to move back into her seat before he put the car in reverse. Eyes trained on the door for movement, Casey backed the Jeep off of the incline and into a shadowy corner of the parking garage. When no alarms went off, and nobody suddenly exploded through the door in pursuit, he killed the engine and whisper-hissed. “I thought you said they weren’t supposed to be arriving until midnight?”

“Well apparently they came early!” April hissed back between gritted teeth. She unbuckled her seatbelt and gripped the ceiling bar as she pulled herself into a crouching position. “Crap- what do we do now?”

Unbuckling his own seatbelt, Casey twisted to reach behind his seat. “Here, take one of my hockey sticks – or I think I have a baseball bat-”

“Are you crazy? We are NOT going to beat up scientists with hockey sticks!”

“But –”

Before he could argue further, the sound of footsteps on the lower level brought them both to silence.

“Get the door.”

“I’ve got it, I’ve got it,” A middle-aged man in a lab coat stepped meekly into the garage, his head ducked as he went to open the back of the van. “But I still think there are better ways of handling –”

“Just get it, Doctor.”

The scientist nodded and moved quickly, then cast a nervous glance back over his shoulder that allowed the limited light to illuminate his features.

April gasped and pressed her palms against the window. “Oh my gosh – Dad!”

Two more figures emerged from the hallway, nearly blocking out the light with their massive forms. The first, a tall black man wearing dark glasses, brushed roughly past Dr. O’Neil and climbed into the driver’s seat. The second, moving a big more slowly, was a large white man carrying the creature over his shoulder.

Both teens gasped. The turtle’s arms and legs swung limply as the man moved, uninhibited by chains or any form of restraint. His head bobbed against his captor’s shoulder, keeping pace with each step, but not showing any sign protest or even an attempt to get into a more comfortable position. In fact, he showed no signs of life at all.

Casey leaned across the center console, one hand on April’s shoulder and growled. “They killed him.”

April’s breath hitched in her throat as she rapidly shook her head. She leaned forward, pressing her forehead against the window and straining to make out the details on the turtle’s face. “No – they wouldn’t. They couldn’t. Dad wouldn’t have let them just kill him.”

“That’s what they were planning on doing in the first place, April – that’s why we’re here!” Casey balled his free hand into a fist and pounded it on the dashboard. “We were too late.”

“No, wait,” April placed a hand over Casey’s, urging him to be quiet. “Listen!”

The two teenagers fell silent again, watching as the large man stooped down at the rear of the van. The way that their car was positioned blocked April and Casey from being able to see straight into the vehicle, but they could tell based on movement that he had set the turtle down and was messing with something back there. Dr. O’Neil stood a few feet away, nervously rubbing his arm and throwing anxious glances into the car.

“T-that cage is fairly small for a creature his size – and he should really have some source of water. If it would help, we have several transport trucks that would be better suited for relocating specimens. If you could just wait until morning, I could personally deliver-”

The man in the driver’s seat grunted and rested an elbow on the edge of his open window. “As I’ve already stated, the boss is not a patient man. He wants the turtle in his lab yesterday and does not care to be kept waiting.”

“But surely he-”

“You’ve done enough, Dr. O’Neil,” the second man said, finishing what he was doing and slamming the back of the van shut. “The specimen is now our responsibility, and we will do with it as our boss sees fit. The check for Hamato Labs should be arriving soon, so how about you just go back inside and pretend as if this night never happened?”

April watched as her dad shrank slightly, clearly still not willing to give up on the issue but understanding that he was outnumbered. “Just… please be careful on the drive.”

“Of course,” the man clapped a massive hand on Kirby’s shoulder, nearly bowling the scientist over, and squeezed once before heading towards the passenger side of the van. “We wouldn’t dare do otherwise.”

Blinding headlights erupted from the front of the car, flooding the parking garage with light and sending Kirby stumbling back into the building. With a rev of its engine, the van lurched forward. Casey yelped and pushed down on April’s shoulder, forcing the two of them below the sweeping beams as the vehicle slowly climbed the ramp to their level. The two kids remained low, breath held as the spotlights slowly passed over their heads. Time seemed to slow down for a moment, and then the van’s engine revved loudly and took off with a squeal of tires.

As soon as she heard the car moving on the next level, April scrambled back into a sitting position and grabbed for her seatbelt. “He’s alive – follow them!”

“On it!” Casey pushed himself upright and slammed his keys back into the ignition, bringing the Jonesmobile roaring to life. “Hold on to your butt!”

Next Chapter