Your Intent

It had to be Christmas town. At the city Jeff found, there were lights and decorations everywhere. Yet nobody was there. Gingerbread men patrolled the streets like soldiers in war. There was no apparent need for that. The streets were empty of anything except snow.

Whereas the girls were fascinated with the town, Andres creaked his head to ask about the old woman who was supposed to help them.

Parked in front of a clinic, an old woman wobbled out, "Oh good. You're here".

Jeff, Mina, Vanessa, and Leira gave her a hug.

Andres coughed, "Sorry but this is really-".

His coughing got worse, "Killing me. Can we get the antidote"?

"Oh yes yes," smiled the old woman, "I will get right on that. But first, let me get you out of the cold".

Andres insisted they needed to hurry up and leave. Unfortunately in his state, he didn't have the charisma nor the persuasion to win the old lady over.

"Yo, chill out," pleaded Jeff, "I know how you guys feel and all. But she is gonna take care of us. So just chill out".

"Is everything okay?" asked the old lady.

Jeff smiled and assured her everything was okay.

Logan shivered with a dry throat, "I really need to lay down please".

The old woman fidgeted her fingers, "Oh dear. Quick, carry him inside for me. I will take him straight to get his terror cured".

Latching his hand onto the old woman, Logan leaned into Andres and Jeff's arms. They carried him inside where Andres noticed in his hazy vision a picture on the wall with the word "Acedia" on it.

Entering the hallway, Andres stumbled trying to carry Logan. Every time Vanessa tried to help, his large body would crash into her. Jeff and the lady were frustrated trying to coordinate how to carry Logan. Hakim and Dani just slowly paced themselves behind.

Logan's illusion worked. He cast an illusion on the old hag upon grabbing her. Jaivva crept through the clinic to find the real antidote. She used a tracking ability to see the old woman's footprint on the tile floor.

Jaivva searched through hoards of drugs in a cabinet. It took time to fiddle with the different simulated bottles.

She remained calm as everybody got closer despite her terror. After a failed search, she followed the footprints to a bigger room with many antidotes and poisons. It felt like a frog was crawling out her throat. Jaivva wanted to cough her brains out. She breathed through her mouth instead as she searched the cabinets for the antidote.

Coming to that same room, Andres fainted against the door. The old woman was furious when she stepped over Andres to open the door. Logan remained latched to maintain his illusion. Everything had appeared just as the old lady last left it.

Everybody stepped over Andres to lay Logan on a surgical table. Mina and Leira were the only two trying to help him. Jaivva stood by a countertop preparing the antidote.

The old woman stepped away to get the opposed antidote. At this time, Andres signaled Jaivva with his hands. Jeff and Vanessa were lost to their scheme.

After injecting herself with the antidote, Jaiva tossed three antidotes to Andres for himself and the two girls. The old woman hadn't noticed, but Jaivva had doubled up a few cleaning cloths and got an antidote ready for Logan.

Andres stumbled to a bed to maintain his act. The old woman was now cleaning Logan's arm. Just when she stuck the needle in, Jaivva placed a few rags on his skin.

All awhile Jaivva injected him with the real antidote. Logan felt at ease, yet forced himself to relax as though he was going to sleep. The old woman walked over to Andres and attempted to do the same. Once again, Jaivva intercepted.

Confused on the matter, Vanessa watched Jaivva hide the rags in a drawer while the old lady wasn't looking as well as Andres passing out on the bed.

The old lady turned around, "Who's next"?

Mina and Leira shook their heads.

The old lady noticed Jaivva leaned against a countertop, "When did you get here"?

"I literally just ran inside," said Jaivva, "I was asleep in the sleigh".

"Odd," said the old lady with her wrinkly face crunched, "I could have sworn I saw you for a moment outside".

Jaivva rubbed her shoulders, "I might've gotten up at some point. But I knocked right back out. Thanks though for taking care of our friends".

The old woman began walking them out the room, "Oh it was nothing. I help travelers all the time. It will take some time for your two friends to fully heal. But I will let you know".

"Thanks, ma'am," said Jaivva with the most innocent smile to be seen on a 17-year-old girl, "By the way what is your name?"

"You may call me Ms. Dia," smiled the old lady, "Hot chocolate anybody?"

The team had all rejected the kind gesture, causing Jeff to lower his hand. "Are you sure?" asked Ms. Dia.

Now in a break room, Jaivva took a seat in a comfy chair, "Are you Latin by any chance".

Ms. Dia took a seat, "How did you know"?

"I like to teach her Spanish sometimes," said Dani.

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Meanwhile, in the room, Logan three needles with terror antidote and two with poison.

Andres sat on a surgical table, "Nothing. This place has nobody else but her who happens to be trying to poison us".

"Seems like a nice town for us to loot. If only they can kill this woman".

Andres stood up, "If only Jeff let's us do our thing".

He took note of the three extra terror antidotes Logan placed in his pocket, "Okay then. I guess we'll see something new from you".

Logan smiled and popped his brows.

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In the dining room, Ms. Dia was laughing along with everybody. She dismissed the rumbling outside as a mere storm.

Jaivva noticed 30 minutes have gone by. She excused herself to the bathroom against Ms. Dia's wishes. Dani attempted to keep the conversation going when Jeff intervened, pointing out how rude they were being.

Jaivva was already gone and Dani was smiling.

Jeff rushed over to calm Ms. Dia, "Look, this is an elderly woman. And no matter what game we play we will respect our elders. There is a reason why we're not heroes and it is because of things like this".

Dani burst out a laugh which caused Jeff to start lecturing her.

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"What's up?" whispered Jaivva while standing by the bathroom door.

Andres handed her a poison, "Just giving you a poison".

She rolled her eyes, "Imma need an antidote instead because I already poisoned her drink and she won't drink it".

"Probably because it was already poisoned," said Logan, "Got a plan Andres"?

"Wanna go look for stuff while Jaivva struggles to assassinate an old lady," he asked.

Logan pleaded before she said anything, "Please no bickering between you two. Jaivva will cut her throat. You and I will find stuff and search for monsters. And you two won't bicker about your short-lived whatever you want to call it".

Jaivva walked off with the antidotes.

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Ms. Dia was agitated by how little care Dani had from Jeff's lecture. She threw her poisonous tea at her.

Dani jumped up to fuck that bitch up. Jeff ran to hold her back.

Vanessa drew her sword, slicing Ms. Dia's face. It was like a blur to Hakim who barely registered how quick she appeared In the old woman's face.

Blood poured from Ms. Dia's face as she scurried on the ground.

Dani's punches, which were growing weak, were aimed solely at Jeff.

Jaivva ran in and stabbed Dani with an antidote, "Calm down Dani".

During the commotion, Vanessa stood with her blade aimed at Ms. Dia's face. That wrinkly woman stretched her palm out, sending Vanessa flying back. She stood with blood still pouring from her face.

"Respect your elders now Jeff," said Dani in a scornful tone.

Jeff rose his hands, "Hey, ma'am... We're sorry".

Ms. Dia grinned, "Don't be. I was going to kill you all anyway".

She pushed her hands out which caused everybody to fall back against the walls. Vanessa and Jaivva jumped back to their feet to find that the old woman already ran out the door.

They chased after her into the storm. A sudden push from within threw their bodies down into the storm.

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Logan and Andres were picking a treasure chest they found outside when Logan, who was carrying a brown bag, noted the old lady must be a summoner. Andres figured this was the case given Jeff's previous encounter.

After opening the chest and obtaining 5,000 points for the team, Logan detected a snowstorm brewing by the clinic.

"What you want to do?" asked Andres.

"Might as well plan our escape," said Logan looking into the mountains, "I can tell this will be pretty bad".