Chapter 6

Hunters' Side

JOSEPH

"I'm sorry."

"We tried what we could, but his heart is no longer able to take the strain anymore."

Joseph watched everything before his eyes.

The loss of the one he treasures the most.

He witnessed everything, for he actually had a decent conversation with him before the unexpected decides to take its turn.

"Claude! Claude! Please!"

Claude is not giving any response.

"You promised you'll see the world with me! You have to fulfill it!" Joseph cried, his tears soaking the weak body of his twin brother, hoping for a miracle to happen.

But nothing happened.

Tears streamed down young Joseph's eyes, hands intertwined with that of his.

It was when Claude's grip on him loosened, and he flatlined.

***

I jolted awake as the dream took its leave from my head.

I was still recovering from my trance when I felt something cold and wet flowing down my eyes and to my cheeks.

Tears.

I took deep breaths, trying to pull myself together. I had been assigned to play in today's match and I should not let this chance slip.

"Jose? You ready? Thirty minutes left 'till the match starts! I'm coming in to give you the details!" Jack said from the outside.

"Okay." I answered, my thoughts still lingering inside me.

"Wow..... what a state, huh?" Jack said, his mouth hanging open the moment he opened my room door and saw me.

I didn't realize how much of a messy state I'm in before noticing the look on the Ripper's face.

I had just jumped out of bed with my hair hanging loose in my back when he came in.

Not to mention I was wearing nothing but a blue oversized shirt and a pair of shorts with camera patterns on it.

"Oh! Um...." I stuttered, my head coming to an absolute blank.

Dammit, Joseph.

"I know what you're thinking, Jose. It's fine. Now you better get yourself ready or everyone will see you in that state." He chuckled before leaving.

I deliberately slammed the door with my face redder than Joker's hair.

I sure hope Jack is not a blabbermouth.

Staring at my reflected self in the mirror, I splashed some water into my face and held my breath.

I'm doing this for you, Claude.

I always am.

***

Every of the hunters are ready for me the moment I made my way to the main lobby with all my cameras on set.

"The day has come for the classy man to get all photo-ey!" Bi An said before something black came out of his umbrella, making out the exact appearance of him but with black as his main appearance, making me act motionless before him.

"Oh! Sorry to scare you! I am Fan Wu Jiu, a really good friend of Bi An! Just wanna wish you goodluck and get'em good!" He said before switching back to Bi An.

"Hey, don't tell me you still aren't used to see me and him switching at some occassions. You should! Hey!"

"Okay, okay! I get it! It's just I still can't believe you and him are able to switch whenever you guys like!" I said, pushing his hand off my hair.

"And just to let you know, I'm 27, so stop treating me like a kid. Please."

"Wow! Wow! Don't snap out! Can't you take a joke?! Jeez! This man here is so damn boring! Right? Wu Jiu?" Bi An said, talking to his umbrella.

I don't know why, but my heart felt like bursting into a million pieces realizing that the Wu Changs are somehow still able to talk and interact with each other, despite their past.

No. I do know why.

The feeling I had from earlier came back, but the match had came to a start, forcing me to dismiss it.

Michiko's cheering was the last thing I heard before everything around me went dark.

"So please be noted, Joseph. Once you are up for a match and that it is about to start, you will feel all lightheaded and sometimes feel like you can't move your body at all. It is pretty normal, for that's you being moved to the match's location."

"You can never tell where it is going to be. Just go with the flow. And remember, don't hold back."

"You'll feel like walking into a whole new world. Trust me."

I opened my eyes and to my surprise, there lies a whole new place right before my eyes. Everything Michiko and Jack had said to me about the match is true.

I looked around to realize that everything is covered in snow, leaving behind a cold sensation in my skin.

"First of all, look for ciphers." I muttered to myself as my head recalled everything the hunters told me.

It was when I noticed an average-looking female with a walking cane in her hands.

I don't need anyone telling me what to do.

I turned on my camera, and took a picture of her.

3rd PERSON POV

Hunters' Side

"What the?! What is that?!" Joker yelled, smashing all the utensils he holds.

"He might talk to me the most, but I seriously had no idea he is capable of doing this...." Jack said, fixing his mask.

The hunters were huddled in front of the monitor as they kept their eyes on the screen, spectating Joseph's first match.

Joseph's agility and sharp reflexes. How he managed to smoothly switch between his camera world and that of the real one. And most of all, his swordmanship.

All those perks in him had made him earn an easy victory in less than ten minutes.

"Damn. The new one's got skills." Hastur said, flexing one of his tentacles.

"10 minutes? That's a whole new record."

"Godfuckingdammit!" Joker said in rage.

"I'm supposed to be the most superior here, not that kid! He let one escape!"

"You're the one acting like a kid." Michiko hissed.

"Let's welcome him back and give him support. He did amazingly well for his first match. No one has ever managed to get all three within a time that short."

The door then opened, revealing the photographer. He was wet in sweat, and is breathing heavily.

But despite the physical strain he had in him, his lips formed a smile.

"Jose! You did amazing!" Jack said, pulling a chair over to the still recovering photographer.

"Bet you're happy now, eh?! Here. Drink something!" Michiko complimented, handing him a bottle of water.

"What?! You think I'm gonna admit you're powerful?! You let one survivor escape!"

"Just shut the hell up or I'll shove my claws down your throat you conceited freak." Jack piped in, much to the clown's fear.

"I'll head myself out. I'm pretty drained." Joseph said, ignoring every of those around him, and trudged back to his room.

Back in his room, Joseph smiled.

A happy smile, the happiest he had ever done for the first time after all those years.

He stared at his hands, which had been held by someone he never thought would be holding his.

He remembered it clear inside his head, how the encounter happened.

"Aesop Carl....." he said the name out loud.

"You really are him."

Survivors' Side

"Aesop! Hey! You okay?!" Emily panicked the moment the embalmer stepped his feet back into the manor.

Aesop gave no answer. He just went back to his room and immediately locked it.

"Goodness... what is with him?! He talked to me yesterday and now he's all icy again! I should have came with him during that match! Something bad must have happened to him!"

The doctor was about to make her way to the third floor when William stopped her.

"Em.. weren't you paying enough attention to the match he was in?"

"I did!"

"Then you should know that the hunter from earlier...."

"Yes? Talk it out!"

"He spared Aesop."