Carson spun wildly, pointing his gun at the sound. A black haired girl with a cat ear head band and snowflake earrings pointed a Glock at his head. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcmJYds5R0
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"I know my girlfriend said we welcomed party crashers," the cat-eared girl said. She had a high-pitched nasally voice. "But you're not just some party crasher, are you?" copyright protection123ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3JvHKJd9a
The silver-eyed girl stepped up. "Now, Glace, don't be so rude to our guest," Goldie Rose said. She was the one with the bright cheery voice. "Now, Mr.…" Goldie looked at Carson expectantly. copyright protection123ＰＥＮＡＮＡq29J2gs8G7
"The name's Carson," he responded. copyright protection123ＰＥＮＡＮＡyf1hOAE3yM
"Mr. Carson, join us for a drink," Goldie continued, grabbing a glass. "Fauny dear, I'll grab the rum. Entertain our guest." Glace hissed, watching Goldie disappear into an adjacent room. copyright protection123ＰＥＮＡＮＡepPXVxHFKR
Carson frowned, lowering his gun. "Are you turning yourselves in?" he asked. He reached for his handheld. copyright protection123ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbTZUVgn4W
Glace shrugged. "No. I guess we're inviting you to hang out with us. She's a bit much sometimes, but we're just among friends here." Even with her pretend apathy, every word sounded genuine and sincere. It all made Carson feel uneasy, and the intense, learned classical music floating in the background surely didn't help dispel his sense of implicit complacency.copyright protection123ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCcwU06y4F
Suddenly, a piercing shriek of glass shattering erupted from the other room. In one quick, panicked motion, Carson turned, got up, and pointed his gun at the sound. He plainly tripped on the rug, the event of a genuine accident. He held the trigger of his S-24 too tightly, the result of genuine misfortune. He had failed to secure the gun's safety completely, the child of genuine carelessness. copyright protection123ＰＥＮＡＮＡki4af0HXFs
And he shot the girl with the rose necklace standing in the doorway, the girl who merely dropped a glass of rum. copyright protection123ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuEHuyDKVH
Blood soaked through Goldie's red hoodie, and her icy blue eyes dulled. She fell too fast, too autonomously to have survived. The girl lay on the floor, bleeding out, too much liquid spreading on her chest. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvgzAE6D6E
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"Goldie!" Glace screamed. "Goldie Rose! No, please, no!" copyright protection123ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8fNivN0st
Carson stepped back, shocked. "I'm so sorry," he whispered. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmDDYbsn3h
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Glace glared at Carson, enraged. Her blue eyes almost felt frosty. "Claim it," she shouted. "Claim her!" copyright protection123ＰＥＮＡＮＡjU2DN0SG4F
Carson looked around, surprised. "Take her?" he asked. copyright protection123ＰＥＮＡＮＡENOUA6po7S
Glace pointed at Goldie's body. At the same moment, Carson noticed that there were two Goldies. One was standing up above the other one, looking around. It took Carson a second to realize that the standing Goldie was staring at him. Take me, she seemed to say. Take me, my new master. copyright protection123ＰＥＮＡＮＡRA9PH8inKv
Confused, Carson reached out towards Goldie's figure; all the while Glace radiated with unwavering cold. Goldie's blonde hair shined and she crossed the distance between her and Carson faster than seemed possible. Up close, Carson could see that this Goldie was indeed a shade, a spirit, a ghost. He shivered, but Goldie's ghost only smiled. copyright protection123ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4p2Ic2AT6
Then she joined him. copyright protection123ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxT4subSSi
It felt like a summer breeze, a dash of madness, and the bliss of childhood innocence. And time. So much time. Immediately, Carson felt the momentous opportunity of Goldie's two hundred forty years. copyright protection123ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKSUAA3SXO
As soon as this change occurred, Glace stopped glaring. "Mr. Carson, you're one of us now," she said. "Welcome to being a Time Thief." copyright protection123ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWSNZB01bT
Carson pushed down all his feeling of glee. "No," he insisted. "I am not a Time Killer." copyright protection123ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rr1vTvHMo
"You have her," Glace said. "I saw it on your face. I know you felt it. She had more than two hundred years." copyright protection123ＰＥＮＡＮＡZx9SsJsvCq
"Two hundred forty," Carson whispered before he caught himself. "I cannot. I'm not one of you. I'm a Catcher. A Time Killer Catcher." copyright protection123ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0mcNlNOnZ
Glace shook her head. "Not anymore." copyright protection123ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvr8wX22EO
Carson ran towards the stairs. "Keep this a secret," he said. "I won't take you. I won't turn you in. Just please." He stopped at the bottom of the stairs. "Don't tell anyone." copyright protection123ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDlzvNjYjV
"I won't rat you out," Glace said finally. "I mean, you are one of us, regardless…" copyright protection123ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDVLQJ7Exu
"I’m…" Carson stopped, turning to look one last time at Glace. She formed a thin smile, and then looked at her dead friend. Her face fell slightly, and Carson turned to go up the stairs as Glace walked to collect Goldie's body. copyright protection123ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfZ5ow2ryG
Carson walked up the stairs lighter and heavier. He heard soft crying behind him, but he continued up the stairs, down the hallway, through the door, down the tunnels. He would be hunted for sure. But for now, covering up was more important. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QtuzrH2xz
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