"It's life that's shaping you. I know it's hard to accept and even more burdensome to understand how it happened. But I want you to know that I don't blame you for anything. I understand you. You were going through a war, and depression led you into alcoholism. But did you know? I'm grateful that it happened."
"Are you grateful that I forced you to have sex with me?"
"Not quite. I'm grateful because, thanks to this, you will become a mother. This was the motivation you needed to get rid of your addiction. You started your rehabilitation and psychotherapy. Little by little, you are returning to the Lori I remember. But do you know what I like most about you now?"
"What?"
"Despite everything, you still chose to have this child. You will love and protect him with all your heart."
Lori couldn't take it anymore and started crying. Lincoln was about to hug her, but he didn't expect Lori to kiss him on the lips. At first, Lincoln resisted! But when he saw how she was crying, he couldn't resist and exchanged a kiss.
Lincoln caressed Lori's cheek while she put her hand inside his shirt, caressing his abs.
Finally, they both separate. They both had red cheeks.
"Why did you do that? It doesn't bother me, but can you tell me?"
"I don't know. I just felt the need to do it."
Lincoln hugged Lori while caressing her stomach.
"Lori, I promise I'll take care of our baby."
"No, Lincoln. You don't have to do it. It was my fault. And even though I would love this child, it's something I have to carry alone."
"I will not allow it! I will not allow you to raise our child without help. Even though Mom and Dad have offered to help you, it is also my responsibility. Then please, let me help you take care of our son or daughter."
"Lincoln."
Lori was touched by Lincoln's words. She hugged Lincoln tightly. So much so that the boy began to feel pain in her arms. It was an emotional moment. But what they didn't know was that someone was listening to them through the half-open door.
"Lori's kid from Lincoln!?" Lisa put her hands over her mouth in shock at the revelation.
-afternoon-
Lincoln accompanied Leni to the mall. The boy was carrying several bags as Leni took him from one store to another, pulling him by the arm.
"Thank you for joining me, Linky."
"Anything for you, honey."
Leni blushed when she heard her brother call her that.
As they walked through the mall, Leni saw one store in particular. She asked Lincoln to wait for her in the dining area while she shopped.
Lincoln drank red fruit juice while waiting. The boy felt very peaceful. One he had long forgotten. Ever since he started in the Battles of Dracoviam, his life has revolved around fighting and fighting more. But now that it was temporarily suspended, he could relax.
"Leni's finally back. She was carrying two black bags."
'Maybe she bought Lucy a gift,' Lincoln thought.
They were about to leave when they passed by a shop selling all kinds of things that could only be found in Lucy's room. There was a sign in this saying: chiromancy.
"Sounds like fun. Want to try, Lincoln?"
"Oh really? I didn't know you were interested in such things. I expect that from Lucy. But not that you believe that."
"It'll just be for fun. Come on!" Leni pulled Lincoln into the store.
In the picture shown was a person whom Lincoln recognized.
"Hi Haiku."
The girl looked up and recognized Lincoln. At that moment, her cheeks turned red, highlighted by the paleness of her skin. Well, her black hair gave her an attractive aura.
"Lincoln? Hey, hi!"
"What a surprise! I didn't know you worked at the mall."
"They recently opened this store, and it's better than my previous job."
"Oh. So what were you doing?"
Haiku didn't want to answer that, so she changed the subject for the better. "What can I offer you?"
"Oh yeah. We want you to read our future."
"Fine. Follow me." Haiku took them to the back of the store. There was a room decorated with curtains on its walls, and in the middle of it was a table with two chairs."
"Who wants to go first?"
"First?"
"Only the clairvoyant and the person consulting can attend a reading. The presence of more than two auras in the same place disturbs the energy and causes confusion in the readings."
"You go first, Leni."
"Thanks." Leni kisses Lincoln's cheek and chimes in with a haiku.
-Inside the room-
Leni sits in front of Haiku. The goth girl handed her a deck of cards.
"Mix them, stop, then mix them again and take out three."
"Shouldn't you mix it up?"
"If I do that, it will be my future that emerges. Not yours."
"Okay." Leni obeys the order and starts shuffling the cards, then takes out three and hands them to Haiku, who throws them on the table.
The cards fall face-up. One falls straight. Another somewhat inclined. And one horizontally.
The first showed a knight carrying a shield with a heart and a falcon standing on his shoulder. In the second, there is a road that extends to the horizon. And in the third, there is a great opportunity in the open sea.
"Paladin, Path, and Twilight."
"What do they mean?"
"Paladin: represents a protective being. Someone you love and who always takes care of you. This is a very powerful card for couples. Are you in love with someone?"
"Yes. That's how it is."
"Do you see anyone as your knight in shining armor?"
"He takes care of me even in my dreams."
"I see. Let's move on to the next one."
"The road: It represents a long journey. Being slanting means that the crossing will not be easy. There will be obstacles. It is not always good for the last paladin to follow. But it looks promising."
"Awesome. And what about the last one?"
"Twilight: It can represent two things. The end and the beginning. A day ends, and a new day begins. Falling horizontally means it's full of possibilities. Both good and bad. But it's up to you to choose which one. Even if it doesn't look good."
"So. Is my future good or bad?"
"It's yours. But if you really want to know if it's okay"
Haiku throws the cards on the table, scattering them face down. "Take one and show it."
Leni holds a card. "This was a girl kneeling with her hands together in a prayer position."
"Hope."
"Is this good?"
"It's very good."
"Thank you, Haiku." Leni hugs Haiku.
The girl was not very fond of hugs, but she let them go at that moment.
After paying, Leni left the room to let Lincoln in.
Haiku explains to Lincoln the same process that Leni followed with the cards.
After shuffling them, Lincoln took out three of them and handed them to Haiku, who then threw them on the table. These were two wolves. One white and one black, with feathered wings and horns, are fighting each other.
The second was a ruined place with a red eye shadow standing in the middle.
The third is a masked old man with a blood-stained bandage covering his eyes, holding a dagger in his right hand and an eye in his left hand.
The first card fell upside down, the second horizontally, and the last face down and tilted.
Haiku opened her eyes wide. Which is what Lincoln noticed.
"What does it say?"
"I don't know. I've never seen these cards fall like this."
"Is it strange that they fell like this?"
"Very much. I have to ask my mentor. Unfortunately, she's not here at the moment."
"Oh. Okay. Can you tell me tonight?"
"Tonight?"
"At the club. Lucy told me today would be the dedication."
"Oh yes, indeed. I forgot."
"How much do I owe?"
"No, no. This is free."
"Oh, excellent. Thank you, Haiku."
"Wait. Before you go." Haiku throws the group back on the table, scattering the cards. "Pick one and show it."
Lincoln picks up one of the cards and shows it to Haiku.
"Thanks. That's all."
"Okay. Okay, see you later." Lincoln says goodbye to his friend and leaves the store with Leni.
In the car, Leni clung to Lincoln's arm, smiling.
"You seem happier than usual."
"You noticed that?"
"A lot."
"Good. I have reasons to be happy."
"Does it have anything to do with Haiku's predictions?"
"Let's just say it gave me a lot of hope."
while at the store-
Haiku looked at the cards, then left the room and walked towards the door, which she proceeded to knock on and wait for a response.
"Straight ahead."
Haiku entered a library-like place. There was a woman wearing black clothes and a veil covering her face. She was in front of a small cauldron, adding herbs while reading a book."
"Mrs. Beldam." Haiku bowed before the woman.
"Haiku, what's going on?"
"Ma'am, I just read the card. The result was strange."
"So? What were the messages?"
"Monsters, ruins... and the blind man."
Hearing that, Mrs. Beldam dropped her book. Her expression showed horror.
"The cursed trinity. Those letters individually are a bad omen! But together! Who did you read this for?"
"To my friend's brother: I know what they mean. But... the way they fell... I've never seen it before."
"Show me."
Haiku takes Madame Beldam to the fortune teller's room.
"There it is."
"Interesting."
"Monsters: Up represents the inner struggle between evil that wants to escape the light. Below, good wants to break out and be freed from the shackles of darkness. A card that usually corresponds to people who have sides that they want to hide at all costs. Or who fights to maintain a balance between the two sides."
"Ruin: represents destruction. A life full of struggle, danger, and survival. Being horizontal means that the scales can tip in favor or against at any time. Generally, it appears to police, soldiers, and murderers."
"Blind Man: represents denial or manipulation. Up means you are being manipulated, but you don't know it. Down means you are aware of your deception, but you don't care. Well, his sincerity is blinding him."
"But the fact that it is down and tilted means that he knows he is being used, but for a greater purpose. This blinds him to all reason. Well, his conviction in his cause will lead him to suffer the ultimate consequences."
"It doesn't matter what situation you find yourself in. It will always end in tragedy."
"This boy has been marked for death."
"Okay. That's right. There's one more thing, Mrs. Beldam."
"Anything else? Did you perhaps use the four-card reading?"
"This is the case. The fourth message. The one that includes all."
"Which one did he take out?"
"That's it." Haiku shows a card with a picture of a human made of light with two shields in each hand.
Beldam takes the letter. "Divine design. This changes everything."
"What does that mean, ma'am?"
"Means. The Dark Boy's fate is part of a greater destiny plan. I have never seen a destination like this. At least not personally."
"Has this really happened before?"
"My teacher once told me a story her teacher had told her. Years ago, when she was living in London, a man came to her house looking for a card reading. He got the exact same cards in the same order."
"What happened to him?"
"I don't know. She never heard from him again. But she never forgot his eyes. Eyes that can see the color of emotions."
"Can he do that?"
"That's what I was told. But these letters always reflect catastrophe. The divine. Good and evil are incarnated as windows to the soul."
"The eyes."
"Yes. Who is this man? He has a very uncertain future."
-That night-
The Gravediggers Club was meeting at Royal Woods Cemetery. That night, the moon was full, and the sky was gradually covered with clouds.
The weather report predicted rain that night, but that didn't stop them.
"What time will Lucy arrive?" Morpheus asked.
"Are you sure about this, Haiku? Lincoln joined the club before, and it didn't work out. Plus, there's the matter of his fights."
"I agree with Dante. Is it safe to have someone like this in our club? Also, ever since I saw him, something has made me feel uncomfortable. As if his aura is too heavy. What do you think, Persephone?"
"Well, I don't know. But I trust Haiku and Lucy. And if they believe in Lincoln, then so do I."
Haiku couldn't stop thinking about what her teacher had told her. Morpheus's words made a lot of sense. Well, ever since she saw Lincoln in the café, she felt like something had changed about him.
"We'll see if he's one of us."
Howling and the sound of fast, heavy, rhythmic footsteps broke the silence of the cemetery, as if someone or something was running.
This alerted the girls and boys, who turned in the direction where the footsteps were heard. Their gazes were trained on the large creature that leapt at them, momentarily blocking their view of the night sky. The loud noise from the other side made them look in that direction, and what they saw ended up breaking their patience.
A huge monster the size of a horse. Majestic and intimidating, but at the same time, its white fur shimmered under the silvery moonlight, giving it a spectral appearance. The group believed they were in the presence of a supernatural being, but that belief faded when they saw Lincoln dismount from the animal's back.
The boy was wearing the same clothes he wore during filming. Upon descending, the boy guided the wolf to a stair-shaped tombstone, then extended his hand. On the wolf's back was Lucy, who took her brother's hand and lowered herself using the stone.
"Good evening, dark comrades."
The club members looked stunned and unable to say a single word, except one.
"L-Lucy... what, what, what is this thing?" Morpheus asked.
The next to break the silence was Dante. "It... it's... a wolf!"
"His name is White-Flame. He's my brother's pet."
The goths saw the boy, who was petting the wolf's head. The huge animal slowly walked towards the club members, and they remained motionless as it walked around them. Finally, he approached Haiku. After sniffing, he brought his head closer as a sign that he wanted to be petted.
"He likes you. He lets you touch him," Lincoln stated.
Haiku reached out her hand, making contact with the wolf's fur. It was silky and smooth. At that, Haiku smiled, and her eyes filled with sparkle. "He is nice."
The wolf responded with a small lick on the girl's cheek.
The rest of the club approached White-Flame. He sniffed them one by one and responded by rubbing his head over them, where they started to caress him.
"White-Flame can seem very ferocious. Even if he is, when he loves someone, he becomes very docile."
"Where did you find him?" Haiku asked.
"I didn't. He found me."
"Do you always transport yourself on that wolf?"
"Not always. Actually, it was Lucy's idea. She wanted to arrive at the meeting in style."
"Speaking of which, let's start the meeting immediately."
"What about him?" Persephone asked, pointing to White-Flame.
"Don't worry. It won't bother you."
White-Flame began to walk in circles within the site and eventually sat down.
After that, the club members began their meeting.
Among the topics of the meeting also appeared personal questions to which Lincoln did not clearly provide answers.
"Hey, Lincoln. Can I ask you something?"
"Okay. Say it, Murphy."
"First of all, don't call me that."
"Secondly, doesn't it scare you?"
"You? Nah. Not at all. You're my sister's friends, and I've known you since we were kids. Besides, I'm already used to this kind of thing, thanks to Lucy."
"I don't mean that. I'm talking about your... fights."
All members paid attention to Lincoln regarding Morpheus' question.
Lincoln thought about it for a moment and replied, "Yes, all the time. When you walk through the doors of the place you're going to fight, you never know what you'll find or if this fight will be your last. You never get used to that."
"Whether you are new like me or a veteran like others, the possibility of serious injury or even death is high."
"You... have you ever seen someone... die in those battles?"
Lincoln remembered his battle against Horace and its results. But he could not admit something like this in front of his beloved sister.
"Yes..."
"Do you think it's worth it? Would you risk your life for money?"
"I know you're doing it for a reason. And let me tell you, it's a very noble thing. But do you think your parents would want to know what you're doing? What if you don't get out alive next time?"
"This almost happened to me."
"What!?"
Lincoln's response shocked everyone, especially Lucy.
Lincoln lifted his shirt, revealing his bullet scar. "In my last fight, my opponent was carrying a gun. This completely surprised me because the use of weapons is strictly prohibited."
While Morpheus and Dante had pained expressions when they saw the just-healed scar, Persephone and Haiku's eyes were fixed on Lincoln's body, which was accompanied by noticeable redness and anxiety when seeing the scar.
But for her part, Lucy seemed annoyed.
She quickly ran towards Lincoln and hugged him.
"Please, Lincoln. Please stop these fights."
Lucy's reaction was unexpected for Lincoln. Even though he already knew what he had done, aside from the occasional worry that was not unusual for someone dedicated to fighting, he had never received a response like this before.
"But, Lucy. What about paying off the debt on the house and the spa and getting Leni into the hospital?"
"To hell with that!!!" Lucy hugged Lincoln and began to cry into his chest. "I don't care if we have to work until we're old women. We'll help you pay off this debt. But please. Please don't fight anymore. I don't want to lose you."
Lincoln hugged Lucy, stroking her hair.
"Lucy. I understand you. I'm also afraid of losing you or any member of our family. That's why I fight. Not for money. Not to pay off debts. I fought for you. To be strong for you."
"Why? Why do you keep sacrificing yourself for us? Why does it always have to be you?"
Lincoln brushed the hair out of Lucy's eyes and then wiped away her tears.
"What's with that question, Lucy? Do I need a reason to protect the people I love?"
Her brother's kind words calmed Lucy's heart. She couldn't help but hug him again and cry again. But this time it was tears of joy.
"You are an idiot."
"But I'm your idiot," Lincoln replied, hugging Lucy.
This affected other club members as well.
The beautiful moment was interrupted by a silent drop on everyone's heads. Then another, and another. Faster and faster, and more followed.
Heavy rain fell.
Club members ran for cover under a tree. Bad choice. Since it was knocked down by a strong wind. Fortunately, they managed to jump in time. The storm promised to be the strongest ever.
Lincoln put two fingers in his mouth and let out a loud whistle. His faithful wolf came at his call.
"Get on board."
Dante, Morpheus, Persephone, and Lucy rode on the back of White-Flame.
"There's only room for five," Lucy pointed out.
"Good. Haiku, go with them. I will seek shelter here and wait out the storm."
"Are you crazy? I won't leave you here alone."
"But..."
"Silence. As co-president of the club, I won't leave anyone behind. So you don't want to be a hero."
Lincoln realized he couldn't win an argument with Haiku. He gave up and nodded with a firm look. "Okay. White-Flame, take them to mom and dad's house. And don't stop until you get there."
"Cover yourselves in this." Lincoln gave them his raincoat to use as an umbrella. Immediately after that, the wolf started running.
"Now, where can we protect ourselves from the rain?"
"Follow me." Haiku grabbed Lincoln's arm and pulled him away.
They both ran until they reached a hidden part of the cemetery covered in plants and trees. Behind all that, there was a wall. The girl removed some plants and revealed a stone staircase.
They both went up and then down the other side.
In front of them stood a large weeping willow tree, its branches touching the ground and merging with it. These were so dense that they gave the appearance of a dome.
The boy was amazed at the greatness of the tree. "Amazing."
"Enter." Haiku entered a space between branches that was not connected to the ground, like a door.
On the inside, it was even more amazing. At first, there was not a single puddle, and the ground was dry, but there was still grass in it. A closer examination of his surroundings revealed more. Improvised furniture made from logs, such as a chair, table, and armchair, was the strangest thing in the center, next to the trunk. A stone fireplace? Everything seemed to be taken from a fairy tale.
The strange place puzzled Lincoln, who at that time had thousands of questions.
"Haiku, what is this place?"
"It's my secret haven. I come here when I need to disconnect from the world and take a break from the darkness."
"I thought Lucy was the only one who did that. And what's with all this furniture?"
"I made them."
This surprised Lincoln even more. "What? Really?"
"I have a lot more talents than you think."
"And the fireplace?"
"No, that was already here. I think there used to be a house here, and the tree grew inside it until it covered it."
"Brilliant. But wait. If you knew about this place, why didn't we all come here instead of sending the others out riding in the rain?"
"My shelter is a secret. Not even your sister knows about it. I had to show you because I had no choice."
"No offense, but don't you think that's mean?"
"You should understand more than anyone else what it feels like to want your space to be yourself, without fear of being ridiculed or judged for who you are."
"If you put it that way, I understand. My apologies."
"No problem." Haiku approaches the fireplace and lights it with some matches. "Take off your clothes."
"What?" Lincoln asked, blushing.
"To dry them by the fire. Don't get any strange ideas."
"Of course," Lincoln said, taking off his shirt and placing it on the rock in front of the fireplace. "Oh, and you..."
Haiku walked behind the willow trunk, and after a while, she came out wrapped in a blanket, holding her dress in one hand.
"Do you have blankets too? Do you sleep here?"
"Sometimes," Haiku said, spreading her dress on the ground so the heat of the fire could dry it.
The girl turned her back to Lincoln. They were both silent. Sometimes she looked in his direction. At that moment, Haiku noticed something she had never seen before: the tattoo on Lincoln's back.
"I see you like wolves."
"Do you mean because of my tattoo? Yes, they are my totem. According to Edenshaw,"
"And who is Edenshaw?"
"He was one of my teachers when I lived in Canada."
"One of them?"
"I had four. I don't think you'd be interested in hearing about them."
"Actually, since we're going to be here for a while, I think I have time to hear the story."
"Okay, if you want to."
"I had four teachers. They all taught me something different."
"Janpaul Gontier, Alexa Sokoloff, Edenshao, and Wang Xu."
"They all taught me things that helped me in my life."
"Janpaul was a European League boxing champion. Known as the Giant of the Ring, he taught me boxing. They said he was so good that he could teach a blind man to box, and it turned out to be true."
"Alexa taught me judo. Despite being blind in one eye, she could subdue the strongest opponents, like that time she handled a bear as if it were nothing."
"Edenshao was a shaman, also blind like me, but he could perceive the world through his other senses. His teachings were valuable, especially training alongside Junpaul and Alexa."
"And finally, Wang Xu. He taught me how to channel and control my emotions through training and meditation, among other things."
Haiku took a keen interest in Lincoln's story. "Okay, I see you had great teachers."
"Yes, they were the best."
"They were?"
"They died, at least three of them. I'm not sure what happened to Mr. Wang."
"Oh, I'm sorry if I brought up painful memories."
"Don't worry. Actually, talking about this makes me feel better."
"Can I ask you something else?"
"Yes."
"Why did you decide to accept the invitation to join the club? At other times, you didn't seem very interested. What changed for you to decide to be one of us?"
"It was for Lucy. This is important to her, and you know I can't say no to my sisters."
"I see. So if you sleep with them—"
"How!?" Lincoln froze. "Lucy told you I sleep with her and my older sisters?"
"No, I figured it out. The way you all are so close, it's more than typical sibling closeness. And you just confirmed it for me."
"Damn. I have to learn to be less talkative."
"Don't worry. I won't say anything."
"Let me guess. You don't find it strange because Lucy shared something with you. But you won't share it with me because it's something only she can tell me."
"You're perceptive," Haiku said with a stoic expression, giving no hint of surprise.
"Of course. What surprises me is how well you're taking it. It's different with Luna and Lynn because we're close in age. But with Lucy."
"You're not the only one with a secretive side."
"What do you mean?"
"Okay. I've never shared this with anyone, not even my friends. But... I recently managed to break free from a bad phase I was trapped in."
"Did you receive some kind of help or intervention?"
"No, nothing like that. Let's just say it involved some... 'immoral' activities."
"Immoral? What!? Wow! I mean, you? Were you involved in that?"
"I'm not proud of it. It caused me a lot of problems— a tarnished reputation and a lot of unwanted attention. Like that loudmouth from poetry night."
"Was that guy from the café one of the people you were involved with?"
"As I said, I'm not proud of who I was. There are even rumors about me at school."
"But I haven't heard anything directly about you."
"They only talk about it in the girls' bathrooms or during gym class when they think I'm not around."
"I find it hard to believe you were like that. I mean, I've known you since we were eleven. Even though I've been away for a few years, you've always given me the impression of being a classy person. I'm sorry, but I can't bring myself to believe it."
"I understand. You've only seen the surface. Back then, my family was going through a rough time."
"My parents were constantly fighting. Their love had faded long ago. They only got married because my mother became pregnant with me. Even though they loved me and assured me that their issues weren't my fault, deep down, I knew I was an unplanned child."
"It wasn't until I was fourteen that things completely fell apart."
"My mother discovered my father was having an affair with his secretary. The fights escalated to physical altercations."
"I had to cope somehow. That's how I ended up in that world."
"I managed to break free when my mother found out. I'm still in therapy, but the consequences of my actions will linger forever."
Lincoln noticed Haiku's saddened expression and reached out to hold her hand. "Okay, Haiku. You don't have to carry this burden alone. If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here. I won't judge you."
A small smile tugged at the corners of Haiku's lips.
"They both moved closer, but then paused, realizing the moment they were about to share.
"Oh... I... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to overstep," Lincoln apologized, looking away as he scratched the back of his neck.
"Don't worry. Nothing happened." Haiku covered her head with the blanket, her face turning from pale to fiery red, hiding her embarrassment.
The moment was very embarrassing. Lincoln had to say something to break the tense silence. "I wonder if the storm has passed yet." Lincoln opens the "improvised paper door" slightly. Not only has the storm not stopped, but it is stronger. "No. It's still going." The wind and rain lifted Lincoln's hair and exposed his eyes.
"It's windy outside."
Upon seeing the boy, a blush invaded Haiku's face again, and she was left speechless.
Lincoln sat down in front of the fire to shake off the wind chill. "Oh. There is nothing like a warm fire during a storm. It reminds me of my first year in Canada."
Haiku didn't respond, lost in her thoughts.
"Haikou? Are you okay?" The boy noticed how she was staring at him. "Oh. Obviously. I get it." Lincoln placed his hands on his head and let his hair down to cover his eyes again. "Ready. I think Lucy forgot to mention this about me. I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable."
Haiku placed one hand in Lincoln's hair, stroking his bangs so she could see his eyes. "They are more beautiful than Lucy described."
"Hey? Wait. You knew that already."
"Lucy told me. But. The words I use cannot describe her beauty."
Beautiful obsidian mirrors. "Black as the darkest night."
"She said that? Oh... Haiku?"
Lincoln received no response. Haiku is still staring at him.
The boy knew what was about to happen. He had lived through it so many times that he had practically developed a sense of foretelling when it was about to happen.
Haiku slowly approached, but Lincoln moved away.
"I'm sorry. I can't tell you this, Haiku."
"Something wrong?"
"I don't want you to think I'm like those people before me. I value you and our friendship. I don't want you to change the way you think about me."
"You're right, Haiku. I didn't just do this to my sisters. My friends Ronnie-Anne, Polly, and Tabby."
"It seems like you are also trapped in this situation."
"No, it's not like what happened to you."
"You had your reasons. You had to deal with difficult things, and that's what made you do it. I'm just a pathetic submissive who can't say no."
Haiku places her hand on Lincoln's cheek.
"Lincoln, we're both trapped. Mine for the past. You for your debts. We're both pulling heavy chains. But tonight, let's forget it. Let's forget the past. Let's forget the debts. It's just the two of us."
"Haiku," Lincoln said, looking into the girl's eyes; they were so big and bright. For the first time, Lincoln noticed their color. A beautiful purple shade reminiscent of wine or perhaps amethyst. A comfortable and elegant color. "You do have beautiful eyes, Haiku."
Finally, they both joined in for a passionate kiss.
Lincoln took off the blanket that covered Haiku's hair and then began kissing her cheek, all the way down to her neck. The perfume she was carrying mixed with the scent of the surrounding environment.
For her part. Haiku could also smell Lincoln's deodorant. Aroma combination between pine and mint.
The boy broke away from the Gothic. She pulled her hair up, then turned around and put her hands behind her back as she unhooked her bra.
On her back, Lincoln could see that she had a tattoo as well. It was a spider extending from her neck to his waist. Which made it look more beautiful.
She then stood up and put her hands on her hips to begin pulling down her panties, giving Lincoln a great view.
Finally, she turned to see the boy.
"And good?" Haiku asked
"You are very beautiful."
"I knew that. But I was referring to you. Do you know how uncomfortable it is for you to be the only one naked?"
Lincoln understood what Haiku was referring to and quickly proceeded to unbutton his pants and remove them along with his underwear.
Haiku saw that the boy was already ready. As for what she was not ready for, he is. Because she had no idea that what Lincoln was hiding would have such dimensions.
"Just for the darkness. How is Lucy still able to walk?"
This made Lincoln feel a little embarrassed. "Ah, we can leave it here... if you like.
"Forget it, my dear. I will tame this snake."
"Don't call him that."
Haiku kneeled down and took Lincoln's member, then began licking it. Haiku's tongue moved up and down, causing spasms in Lincoln's member and a huge release of pleasure.
"Haiku, wait!"
Haiku ignored Lincoln and proceeded to swallow his cock. The girl moved her head back and forth while her tongue made circular motions.
"Ha-Haiku. Please. If you continue like this, I won't be able to..." Lincoln couldn't take it any longer, so he expelled a stream of his seed into Haiku's mouth, which she gladly swallowed. Due to the orgasm, Lincoln's legs trembled, causing him to fall to the ground.
"Hmm. One minute. Not bad for the first time I've done this."
"Oh? First time? But you said, "
"It's my first time doing this. I will never let those pigs put their dirty things in my mouth."
"Oh. I understand now."
"Now. Let's get to the main event." Haiku sat on Lincoln, rubbing her ass against his cock. "Are you ready, my handsome wolf?"
"Wait just a second." Lincoln looks into his pants pocket and pulls out a condom. "Safety first. You don't want to have little vampires yet, do you?"
"Good thinking." Haiku then proceeded to put on the condom.
"Now yes. I'm all yours, beautiful vampire."
Haiku slowly lowers herself until Lincoln's member is fully inside her vagina, making her moan. "Ah. It's so thick. I've never felt anything like this." Haiku starts moving up and down. "Oh, my God, yes."
Lincoln caressed Haiku's ass. "Haiku. Oh. You're so good at this."
"Shut up and kiss me," Haiku said, pressing her lips to Lincoln's again.
They both hugged each other. And in the middle of a moment of passion, they rolled over, leaving Lincoln on top of Haiku. The boy started moving his hips.
Haiku let Lincoln take over. 'Oh. It feels so good. He knows how to please a girl. These idiots were only focused on their own enjoyment. but. He wants us to have a good time.'
With every movement Lincoln made with his hips, Haiku felt bloated.
Lincoln took Haiku from her cheek to kiss her. The boy and girl's tongues were twisting and floating against each other. At that, Haiku caressed Lincoln from the back of his neck to the small of his back. Finally, the lack of air forced them apart, but not for long, as they joined their mouths again.
Among the amusement, Lincoln began to wander in his thoughts. "She's so beautiful. Her skin is so soft, and she smells so good. She's so sensual, and her lips are a delight. I don't want this to end."
Lincoln separated from Haiku's lips to say a word.
"I love you."
That caught Haiku's attention. "What did you say?"
"I love you, Haiku. I love you!!!" Lincoln increased the speed of his movements.
Haiku is attacked by Lincoln, which leaves her paralyzed with pleasure. Her mind became more and more lost in that joy, until they both reached orgasm with the final collision of their hips.
They were both so exhausted that they went to bed without separating.
For a moment, Haiku didn't know what to say. None of these boys had ever told her in any of their sexual encounters that they loved her. "no"
"No, what?" Lincoln asked.
"You don't really love me. I just said that out of lust for the moment."
Lincoln hugged her and kissed her forehead. "I'm telling you seriously, Haiku. I love you."
"Do you like the other girls you've slept with?"
"I know what it's like. But I can't just let this go for once."
"Don't worry. This isn't the first time someone has used me; it just happens to please themselves."
Lincoln tenderly placed his hand on Haiku's cheek. "This is exactly what I cannot allow."
"What are you talking about?"
"I don't want to be like those idiots who only see you as an object of desire to satisfy their perversions, Haiku. I want to give you the love you deserve—unconditional and pure. I want to know you better—the Haiku inside of you. I want to be the one who listens to your problems, who reaches out to you when you need it, who shares your tears, hears your poetry, and takes care of your heart."
"I know that a welcome from someone like me may seem like empty words. But—"
Before he could continue, Haiku silenced Lincoln with a kiss.
"You're so cheesy, but I love you so much." Haiku hugged Lincoln, resting her head on his chest. "Yes, how are you planning to divide your time between all your girls to make something for me?"
"I will think of something. But don't doubt it; if you need me, I will be there for you."
Haiku took the blanket and covered them both. "It feels weird."
"What's the weird feeling?"
"Happiness."
"But when it's with you, I think I like it."
Lincoln kissed Haiku's head and then hugged her. "Anything for you, my little spider."
Thus, the two lovers ended their night of love and finally fell asleep.
-next morning-
Lincoln slowly woke up, and the first thing he saw was Haiku, sleeping peacefully using his chest as a pillow. The boy yawned, which woke up the goth girl, who also yawned as she stretched.
"Good morning, my strong wolf."
"Good morning. Did you sleep well, my little spider?"
"Spider, is that what you're calling me now?"
"I can keep calling you a vampire, if you want."
"No, I like spider more. But why did you come up with that nickname?"
"Well, because of your tattoo. Speaking of which, what meaning does it have?"
"It's Queen Arachne, Ruler of the Spider Kingdom. It's a symbol of improvement and protection for women. Lady Beldam introduced me to her world when I told her about my situation. I wear her tattoo in honor of her glory. She's like your 'totem'."
"How wonderful."
Lincoln was fascinated by that and wanted to know more. But an intermittent voice made them look at each other's stomachs, signaling it was time for breakfast.
"Do you want to come to my house for breakfast?" Lincoln asked.
"I'd like to."
After getting dressed, Lincoln and Haiku headed to his grandparents' house.
When they arrived, Myrtle opened the door, excited to see Lincoln and shocked to see Haiku.
"Son! Where have you been? We've been waiting for you all night. You don't know how worried I was." Myrtle stopped when she saw the goth with her grandson. "Ahh!" Myrtle's excited scream startled both teens.
"Albert, heaven. Lincoln brought his girlfriend."
Upon hearing that, Haiku and Lincoln turned red in embarrassment.
"Grandma, she's not... well, yes, but no. I mean..."
Myrtle found it adorable how flustered Lincoln was. "You don't have to explain now. Come in and sit down for breakfast. By the way, dear, what's your name?"
"My name is Haiku."
"What a unique name! I love it."
'This is going to be a long morning,' Lincoln thought, recalling his sisters' similar reactions when he was younger.
The morning went relatively well, aside from Myrtle's questions to Haiku about weddings and children, which made both teens uncomfortable. Haiku seemed to get along well with the grandparents, despite this.
After breakfast, Haiku thanked Lincoln's grandparents, and Lincoln later accompanied her home.
On the way to Haiku's house, Lincoln apologized.
"I'm sorry if Grandma's questions made you uncomfortable. She tends to exaggerate sometimes. I think that's why she gets along so well with my sisters."
"Don't worry. She's cute."
"I know. That's what I like about you."
"What do you like about me?"
"You're one of the few people who can handle the embarrassment of talking to someone like my grandmother. That makes you a strong woman. And... I think that's a very attractive quality."
Lincoln blushed, as did Haiku, who was flattered by the boy's words. At this point, Haiku clung to Lincoln's arm again. Passers-by looked at them affectionately, despite the couple's extravagant appearance. However, among the people, there was someone who did not look very happy.
-At Haiku's house-
"Well, here's my house. Thanks for joining me. And I thank your grandmother again for breakfast."
"You're welcome. Come back when you want. I promise I'll tell Grandma to control her questions."
"I'd love to come back. See you, my handsome wolf." Haiku took Lincoln by the cheeks and kissed him deeply, then entered her house.
Lincoln froze in surprise. Even though he slept with Haiku and supposedly made their relationship official, he was still somewhat shy when receiving a surprise kiss.
When he woke up from the surprise, he began his journey back to his home, walking with a smile on his face and thinking. Maybe this harem thing isn't so bad. Maybe I should stop thinking about how to divide my time between them and just enjoy the moment. No, I still have to think about what I should do if two of them want to be with me at the same time. Good heavens. I haven't had an organizational problem like this since Sadie Hawkins' Party and Dance.
Lincoln was lost in thought, walking down a path next to a grassy slope that descended to a canal that ran under a bridge.
Sometimes, he liked to take the long way home so he could have some time alone with his thoughts. Suddenly, someone tackled him, causing him to lose his balance, and he ended up rolling down the hill next to the unknown person.
He left Lincoln on the ground. Suddenly, the person who pushed him got up on him and started hitting him in the face, shouting insults at him.
"Damn you, son of a bitch! Bastard! Die! Die! Die!"
Lincoln covered himself with his arms. He then grabbed the boy by the wrists and finally broke away from him by hitting him on the nose with his head.
The boy put his hands on his nose, which was bleeding.
Lincoln stood to look at his attacker.
It was a boy about Luna's age. Long hair. He was wearing a black jacket with a hood covering his head. Red pants torn at the knees and black shoes.
Lincoln didn't know this boy, so he kept asking questions.
"Who the hell are you? And why did you attack me?"
The boy didn't answer. He just took a metal pipe that was on the ground and attacked Lincoln again.
The former albino had no choice and had to use his fighting skills to disarm the boy. He holds the pipe with his right hand and hits his chest with his left palm, leaving it lying on the ground.
Lincoln watched as the boy stood with his hand on his chest.
"Now, will you answer my questions?"
The boy looked at Lincoln with an expression of hatred. Then he put his hand into his shirt pocket and took out a gun. Before he could escape, the boy had already pulled the trigger.
Lincoln fell silent with his back to the ground. A stream of blood flowed from under his hair.
The boy walked towards Lincoln, stopping next to him.
"You don't deserve her. She's mine. She gave herself to me first. She's mine. Haiku. She's only mine!!"
The boy was about to shoot Lincoln, but suddenly grabbed him by the wrist of the hand that was holding the gun.
The person holding him was Lincoln. Even though his eyes were covered, he didn't look happy.
"You say, What's yours? Don't make me laugh. She doesn't belong to anyone. If she chooses to be with me, that's her decision."
The boy tried to hit Lincoln, but he stopped his fist with his other hand.
"I will protect her from anyone who wants to harm her."
The boy's hateful face turned to horror as he saw how Lincoln's skin turned gray with noticeably bulging black veins, while his hair stood up, revealing his eyes.
The last thing heard from afar was the boy's screams of terror and pain.
-We are now in the public bathroom-
Lincoln washed his hands in the public bathroom.
He poured water down the drain, washing away the blood and bone fragments that remained on the boy's knuckles. Lincoln, in turn, removed the remnants of skin and flesh that were trapped under his fingernails.
When he was clean, Lincoln smelled his hands.
"Disgusting. The smell of blood won't go away. Either way. I'll have to wash myself at home with something stronger."
Lincoln saw himself in the mirror. "What the hell is happening to my body?" Ever since he entered the bathroom and saw himself for the first time all day, he had been asking himself this question. Because his hair and the whites of his eyes had returned to their usual white color.
"Good. At least I can still see. I'll have to ask Lisa about this later."
Lincoln left the bathroom and resumed his way home.
While returning, Lincoln saw someone carrying several boxes. She was staggering, trying to balance the boxes one on top of the other, until a small stone in the road interrupted her journey. Before she fell, Lincoln rushed and grabbed the boxes from the other side, preventing them from falling with whoever was carrying them.
"Are you okay?"
asked the boy. The person on the other side of the pile of cardboard answered yes. Her voice sounded familiar.
"Giggles? It's you."
"Lincoln?" Giggles lowers the boxes. Upon seeing her, Lincoln was amazed. The girl was not dressed as a clown. Which made her look different.
"Really, you look different without your uniform. I almost didn't recognize you."
"Ho ho. Yes, I started using it less as I got older. Now I only use it when I'm working."
"Why the boxes?"
"They are my props. You already know. Confetti; banners. Cake ingredients. That's what I use most."
"Do you want me to help you carry them?"
"Yes. Thanks."
Lincoln takes two boxes and carries them, one on each shoulder. These were the ones that contained the ingredients for Giggles cookies. Which made them heavier. But the boy carried them without a problem.
Resas could see how Lincoln's biceps and triceps, as well as his chest and back muscles, were visible under his shirt.
"Daddy, you are richer than bread."
"What are you saying?" Lincoln asked, because it was Giggles who was whispering.
"Ah... I... I said if you don't want to... help me someday... yes. I said that. Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha"
"Oh. Obviously. I like that."
The rest of the trip, Giggles, was very tense. Every now and then, she would see Lincoln out of the corner of her eye. The boy had been in her fantasies ever since she saw him again. And this was pretty wild.
"Oh, my God. He's so handsome," Giggles thinks. By then, they had reached her house. She didn't want this beautiful moment with Lincoln to end. "Thanks for the help, Lincoln. Hey. Do you have plans to do something today?"
"Hmm. No, I'm free today. Why?"
"Uh... I... I wanted to ask you if you wanted to..."
"Go out?" Lincoln finished the sentence.
"Oh... well... yes. If you like."
"Okay. If it was with you, it would sure be fun."
Giggles couldn't contain her joy. "The boy of her dreams agreed to go out with her."
"Wow. Would you like to go to the movies? There's a comedy I wanted to see."
"Sounds good. I'll pick you up at 6 pm."
"I will wait for you."
With that, they both said a temporary goodbye. Giggles ran home, left the boxes at the door, and quickly went up to her room. The girl jumped into her bed and hugged a pillow.
"I can't believe it. Lincoln and I are going on a date. What should I wear? Should I wear makeup? Maybe I should have let him choose the movie. This is too complicated. Maybe I should ask for advice. But who can I ask for advice?"
"Definitely not my mother. She beats around the bush and ends up telling me how she met my father. And that's a very long story."
"I know!" Giggles took her cell phone and called someone. She is the only person in the world who knows what to do in such situations."
"Hey Giggles," the person on the other side said.
"Hi, Luan. I'm sorry to interrupt your busy nap. But I have a question."
"Okay. Tell me."
"I have a date today with your brother, and I was wondering what I should wear. Or if Lincoln likes something specific, I should know."
For a while, Giggles received no response.
"Luan? Are you there? Luan?"
"Yes, yes. I'm sorry. You surprised me. You just have to know that Lincoln is a simple boy. He adapts easily and is not picky. As long as you two are having a good time, he doesn't care what you do or what you wear."
The answer was simple, but it took away a lot of stress for Giggles.
"Thank you, Luan; you are the best."
"When you want."
The call ended, and she was laughing as she prepared for her date.
It was already six in the afternoon. Lincoln came to pick up Giggles in his car. The boy was wearing his classic orange shirt with blue pants. And black shoes.
Risas was leaving her house. She was wearing a green dress and had her hair tied into a large ball, with a thin, wavy strand on her forehead.
"Well, hello, miss. Did you see a sexy, curvy clown here?"
Giggles laughed sheepishly at what Lincoln said. Then she got in the car, and they headed to the movie theater.
Teenagers entered the cinema. On their way, several of the girls turned to look at Lincoln, who was accompanied by Risas, proving that you don't need to have the body of a supermodel to have a good boy by your side.
-Two hours and thirty-five minutes later-
Lincoln and Risas left the room laughing.
"Ha-ha-ha. Oh, my stomach. That guy was crazy," said Lincoln, who couldn't stop laughing.
"Ha-ha-ha. Yes. It was a lot of fun and gave me a lot of ideas for routines."
"Well. Where do you want to go now?" Lincoln asked.
"Oh. That's good. I haven't really thought about anything else to do, except movies."
"In that case, I have an idea."
Lincoln went to the arcade, where they enjoyed playing games of skill. If you win, the machine gives you tickets that you can exchange for prizes.
After sweeping all the games, they went to the counter to exchange their tickets. Lincoln chose a three-foot-tall stuffed animal. It was a little big for a stuffed animal, but Risas loved it.
It was already 9:40. Lincoln was parked in front of Giggles' house.
"Thanks for everything, Lincoln. I had a lot of fun."
"Me too. I love hanging out with you. When can we do it again?"
The girl looked at him. Seriously, you've never met a cuter boy than Lincoln. He didn't look at physical appearance; he saw the good in a person just by their way of being and feelings. Risas couldn't take it anymore, and in an instant, she pressed her lips to Lincoln's.
The boy was shocked for a moment. He never imagined that Risas would be so reckless, but he couldn't deny that he liked it. Lincoln returned the kiss, caressing her cheek.
They both broke away from the kiss and looked into each other's eyes for a while. The silence was complete, and that was until Resas broke it.
"Cool. Look at the time." Giggles tried to turn on her cell phone, but it wouldn't work. She remembered that she turned it off when she entered the cinema. After turning it on, she saw that she had a missed call and a message. Both from her mother.
"Resas. Your father and I had to leave unexpectedly. Your aunt and her partner had a fight, and now he's been arrested. We'll spend the night with her at the hospital. We'll be back tomorrow."
"Don't sleep late."
Giggles and her family know that the relationship between her aunt and her partner was toxic. The good thing is that this man won't hit her aunt anymore.
Lincoln could see how sad she was to hear this news after such a lovely date. Then something happened to him. "Hey, do you want me to stay with you? Just so you don't spend the night alone."
Giggles blushed at Lincoln's suggestion.
"Don't get me wrong. I just don't want you to be alone," Lincoln replied, blushing.
She looked at him with a kind face. "I would love that. Thanks, Link."
-After ten minutes-
Lincoln and Resas were kissing passionately on the couch.
Lincoln was into Giggles. The boy was caressing her legs while she put her hands under his shirt, caressing his abdominal muscles.
After several minutes of kissing, they separated. After they caught their breath, they kissed again.
Lincoln kissed and bit her neck as he laughed, giving the girl great pleasure.
"How did we end up doing this?" Lincoln asked. The last thing he remembers is that they entered the house. They put Netflix on TV, and after a while, they started devouring each other with kisses.
"Does it matter? Don't stop." Giggles took Lincoln by the cheeks and pulled him closer to her to continue kissing him.
Giggles began to unbuckle Lincoln's belt, which the boy noticed. He soon separated from her, which upset her.
"What's going on? Is something wrong, Lincoln?"
"Sorry, Giggles. I can't. I, no."
"Let me guess. You don't want me to think that you only see me as an object or that you're a womanizer who only uses women and then leaves them. And I'm very special. And blah, blah, blah."
Lincoln was speechless. Giggles confirmed every word he was going to say. Later, it sounded like a broken record when one of the girls he intended to sleep with said it. "How?"
"Are you going to ask how I knew what you would say? Well, it's thanks to this." Giggles shows her cell phone and shows a special group called "Rabbit Lovers."
"What is this?"
Giggles showed him all the messages. Haiku, Tabby, and Polly were all talking about the sexual experiences they had with the albino boy.
To add the cherry on top of that cake, Lincoln noted that many of the messages were also from his older sisters, including Sam.
"But what the heck!?"
Lincoln snatched the cell phone from Giggles's hands and began looking through the messages. Among them were also pictures of girls taking selfies with Lincoln, who was sleeping peacefully. At the bottom of one picture, it said, "Who's next? The rabbit is still hungry."
"But what? How? Why?" Lincoln asked, referring to that chat group.
"Well, it initially started out as a prank by Luna, Sam, and Tabby. Then they got drunk and showed it to me, Haiku, and Polly. Even though Polly already knew because Lynn told her, Then your sisters told Leni about the group, and the rest is history."
"Damn it, Luna! Quit drinking if you can't keep your mouth shut! This really seems like a forced literary device to explain plot holes."
Lincoln took a moment to calm down a bit. They dropped a big bomb on him. Resas brought Lincoln a cup of water. After he relaxed, Giggles hugged him.
"Okay, now that you know, how about we have some fun, Bunny?"
"So you can also post your picture in the group?"
"That's why. And because I really want to..."
Before she finished speaking, Lincoln had her laughing in his arms as he kissed her. The girl was surprised that Lincoln, thanks to her dimensions, was able to carry her like it was nothing.
"I'm perfectly capable of walking, you know?"
"Trust me. For what I'm going to do to you, you're going to need all the strength in your legs."
Her laugh turned red, and steam came out of her ears and nose.
-In the Resas room-
"Ah, ah, ah, ah. Wow. Please, not too hard. I'm going crazy. Ah. No."
Giggles moaned in pleasure.
"Sorry clown. But we're just getting started." Lincoln pinned her against the wall while attacking her.
Lincoln threw her face down on the bed and continued penetrating the clown. She just bit the sheets while the boy's member made its way through her intimacy, generating great pleasure.
"Lincoln. Wait. Please... my head is spinning."
Lincoln hugged Resas while he cupped her breasts. The girl's body was soft and squishy, like a marshmallow.
Giggles was lost in joy. She felt Lincoln's hands touching her everywhere. His body was wet with sweat, rubbing against hers. He slid his dick into her vagina, and his lips and tongue marked her from her shoulders to her mouth with kisses and licks.
Resas imagined herself in the middle of the sky, surrounded by clouds that took the shape of Lincoln. They were petting her everywhere. She knew she didn't have a slim body like her other friends, but she made up for it with her charm and sense of humor. Lincoln was her first boy, and in addition to seeing those qualities in her, he also considered her sexy and desirable.
Once again, Lincoln changed her stance, letting them look eye-to-eye, allowing Lincoln to see Ahegao's face.
Resas began to wander in her thoughts.
'No more. I can't anymore. I've come four times, and he hasn't come even once. Is he never satisfied?'
'My body isn't responding. I feel like a rag doll. And it goes on and on.'
'I feel like I'm going to pass out. I'm going to pass out on pleasure.'
Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard three simple words from the boy.
"I love you, Giggles."
Then, the sound of the bell in Resas's mind preceded the loud scream of pleasure she let out after her fifth and final orgasm, which was accompanied by Lincoln's orgasm.
After it was over, Lincoln separated from Risas. The boy got out of bed and went to the trash can, where he threw the condom he was using.
For her part, Resas had a big smile on her face as she burst out laughing. Because her brain was reactivating.
Lincoln put on his underwear and laid down next to Resas. She hugged him and started kissing his face.
"I love you, Lincoln."
"Me too. My pretty clown."
-The next morning-
Lincoln woke up and checked the time on his cell phone. It was eight thirty in the morning, but the real problem was that it was a Monday, a school day.
"Giggles, wake up! It's a school day!"
Giggles hugged Lincoln and said, "Who cares? Come here and give me some love."
As Giggles brought her lips closer to Lincoln's, their romantic moment was interrupted by her mother's voice knocking on the door.
"Resas, my love, it's too late."
"It's my mother!!!"
Lincoln quickly grabbed his clothes and hurriedly dressed, wearing his shirt inside out, pants inside out, and sneakers in each hand. He jumped out of the window, forgetting that Giggles' room was upstairs. He landed in some bushes, covered in leaves, and then ran barefoot back to his house.
In the following days, Lincoln went from store to store, even traveling out of town to get good Valentine's Day gifts. After all, he now had eight girlfriends. Amidst his busy days, he forgot to ask the girls about what they were hiding.
On Thursday, Lincoln was leaving an esoteric, magical, and mysterious store that was two towns away.
"Alright, with this, I already have gifts for Haiku and Lucy. Gifts for Leni, Luna, Lynn, Polly, Tabby, and Resas are already at the house. I even bought one for Ronnie-Anne. I know we're not officially dating, but since..."
"I hope my bank account isn't completely dry."
As if on cue, Lincoln received a call from someone very familiar.
"Professor, it's been a while."
"Good morning, Lincoln. I'm calling to let you know that I have the date for your next battle."
"So soon? What about the investigation with the other companies?"
"Don't worry about it. We've already cleared the association of all those rats."
"I hope so. Taking a bullet was never pleasant, and it's something I never want to experience again."
"By the way, who will I be fighting against?"
"It will be in the official wrestling ring of the association. You'll be fighting against a representative of the Northwest Companies, a wealthy family from Origo. I'll give you more details on the day of the fight. So, I hope you've maintained your physical fitness this time."
"Don't worry, boss. I'm in better shape than before. We'll win."
"I hope so. The stakes are quite valuable."
The call ended, and Lincoln headed back home.
Meanwhile, in Royal Woods, a group of girls gathered at the Black Café. Among them were Polly, Tabby, and Resas, accompanying Haiku. They sat together in one of the booths, engaged in conversation.
"When we met years ago at Sadie Hawkins' dance, did you ever think we'd become friends?" Giggles asked as she enjoyed her cookies.
"Absolutely, we're a weird bunch: a rocker, a clown, an athlete, and a goth," Tabby replied.
By the way, Haiku, why did you call us here?" Polly asked.
"I have something important to talk to you about," the gothic woman replied.
"Why couldn't we meet at Spoon?"
"This is where the school gossip comes together. And what I want to talk to you about is Lincoln."
The girls had already imagined what the conversation would be like.
"You know, we've all had 'the moment' with Lincoln. But you also know his 'sisters' too. So we have to agree with them on how to split shifts with him without bothering him. But also so he can spend time with us."
Before she could finish, Tabby chimed in. "Icing on the cake?"
Haiku shot Tabby an annoyed look. "I wouldn't put it that way, but yes, essentially, that's it."
"Lincoln said he would find a way to split his time between all of us."
"Let's be honest, girls. If his sisters found out about this, everything he planned would fail."
"And speaking of that, should we tell Lincoln, you know, about 'that thing' his sisters told us about?"
"No, Polly. They should be the ones to tell him, not us."
"What's on your mind, Haiku?"
"Since the three of us are friends of the Lincoln sisters, I propose that we be responsible for ensuring they respect time and turns."
"Who will assign the shifts?"
"We'll let Lincoln handle that."
Meanwhile, in The Loud House, the girls gathered in Leni's room.
"Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. We have to give Linky a present."
"I already have my present here," Luna said, massaging her breasts.
"We're all giving him that, Luna. It has to be something more than that."
"Lynn's right. Aside from that, we have to give him something else so he doesn't think we only see him as an object of desire."
"It's still illegal for him to have a relationship with you, Lucy."
"Why? If he…"
"I mean, because of your age, Lucy."
"Luna, it's too late for that. They've already done it. What's done is done."
"Now we just have to focus on what to do with Lincoln's gifts."
"I have an idea. I know where we can find something Lincoln would like," Leni whispered to her younger sisters.
Lincoln arrived home, placed the gifts, wore his sports uniform, and went out to train. While running, he passed by the river, where he met that boy. The place was surrounded by patrol cars, including a morgue car.
One of the investigators, Agent Oscar Wilde, had just arrived and was talking to the coroner.
"What do we have today, Vince?"
Forensic investigator Vincent Pride looked toward the floor, where a white blanket covered the boy who had attacked Lincoln.
"Chad Carmichael."
"Nineteen years old."
"From Jersey City."
"Arrested several times for drug possession, armed robbery, attempted assault on a minor, and a long history of assault."
"He escaped from correctional facilities two years ago. His whereabouts were unknown until now."
"What happened?"
"What didn't happen to him?" Vincent revealed part of the body, showing its pathetic state.
"Craniofacial. Mandible, septum, and cheekbones."
"He lost half his teeth."
"Eight ribs were broken; one of them pierced a lung."
"He has bruises all over his body."
"Traces of dirt on the front of his body and under his fingernails indicate that he was crawling, explaining the broken legs."
"The sunken earth and blood indicate that they grabbed his head and beat him down, which also explains the dirt on his face."
"We also found fingerprints on his neck."
"So, they strangled him to death?"
"Not quite. This was the final blow."
The coroner removed the sheets, revealing a hole in his heart, from his chest to his back.
The officer looked away from the scene.
"Holy Fuck. Was it a shell?"
"It is unlikely. There are no traces of gunpowder or burns. No, the shape of the wound indicates that he was impaled."
"Poop then?"
"Misfit."
"Besides, judging by how the body looked, the wound seemed to have occurred in the same place where he fell. If he couldn't walk, they would have pinned him to the ground. But there are no holes under him, as one would expect in an impalement. The diameter of the wound is very wide."
"What does it mean?"
"In short, and based on the evidence, I would say that what happened is the following."
"They beat him. He tried to escape. They beat him so hard that his legs were broken, which led to his disability. He tried to crawl. They hit his face on the ground. Then they grabbed him by the neck, and the marks became visible. Finally, they pierced his chest with their bare hands."
The end of Vincent's explanation shocked the investigator.
"I saw terrible things in Vietnam. After that, I thought I saw the worst of humanity. That's why I took this job. I thought nothing could surprise me anymore, and so far I've been right."
"But this... surpasses everything I've seen."
"The irony in the matter is remarkable."
"What do you mean, sir?"
"This man was a piece of trash. It was sure to get worse over the years. I don't know if this is a crime or comfort."
"Like a tumor that was removed at the right time."
Forensic experts took the body away.
At that moment, the detective saw Lincoln.
"Hey kid, there's nothing to see here! Keep going!"
Lincoln continued running away from the crime scene.
"Fucking millennials," the detective said, lighting a cigarette.
Next day,
It was already February 14th. The school was decorated for the Valentine's Day dance that would be held in the gymnasium.
The high school students were preparing for the best night of their lives. Some couples may declare their love for each other; others "make the big move."
Everything seemed typical for Valentine's Day, except for the albino.
Lincoln was in his room, getting ready to go to the dance. Although he didn't have a steady partner because he forgot to invite someone,
Albert and Myrtle entered the room. When they saw their grandson, they were touched.
"Look at my son. There's no doubt you got all your style from my family side," Albert said as he adjusted the tie around Lincoln's neck.
"It makes me a little sad that you didn't invite a girl," Myrtle said, ruffling her grandson's hair.
"I've been very busy lately, Grandma."
Myrtle had finished combing Lincoln's hair. "Well, you look handsome, son."
"He reminds me of when I was his age. They called me the white tiger. The girl I saw, the girl who ate me."
After hearing what her husband said, Myrtle pulled Albert by the ear.
"Ok, ok, ok. But nothing compares to you, my dear."
"This is how it is."
-At the dance-
The teens arrived by car or on foot.
Lincoln found himself next to the snack table, observing couples dancing slowly, embracing each other. Even Clyde was there with his three girlfriends.
Feeling alone since Andy didn't attend, Lincoln muttered to himself, "I don't know why I came here. My best friend is busy. The other one didn't come, and I didn't invite anyone."
"I better get going. Unless Clyde needs me for something."
Observing Clyde passionately kissing his three girlfriends, Lincoln decided to leave the dance.
Walking around the school football field, Lincoln pondered, "It's ironic. There are at least six girls here who like me, and yet I didn't invite any of them. So they wouldn't get jealous or think I had a favorite."
"Although now I think about it. Would they really feel that way? If they agreed to share me, I don't think they would think I had a favorite person if I only invited one."
"Even though two of them are not in the group that agreed to this,"
"Now that I think about it, I wonder if Linka and Liberty would agree to participate in this."
"Maybe Linka doesn't. That's very true. Although, knowing Liberty, this would definitely interest her because of all the anime she's watching."
"Oh! Why do I keep exaggerating things so much?"
Among all the storms of thoughts that disturbed the boy, he saw someone in the stands of the stadium.
It was a girl wearing a long-sleeved purple dress. This partial paralysis looks at the stars with a sad look. Lincoln realized it was Cookie.
At that moment, he became a little curious and approached her.
"Cookie?"
The girl turned to see who was talking to her. A blush invaded her cheeks when she saw that it was Lincoln.
"Hi, Lincoln."
"What are you doing here alone?"
"I like how the sky looks from here. There aren't a lot of lights, and the stars are much clearer."
"I didn't know you were interested in astronomy."
"I'm not just a cookie girl, Lincoln."
Lincoln sat next to her so they could watch the sky together. He didn't see the stars for three years. 'I think since I got my sight back, I haven't done as much as I missed because of my blindness.'
Lincoln noticed something about Cookie. An aura of sadness.
"Cookie. Are you feeling bad?"
The question caught the girl's attention. "Why are you asking?"
"I just feel like something is bothering you. Or more. Something is making you uncomfortable."
Cookie looks down with a sad expression. "I loved dancing. I had a lot of fun."
"Before? Do you mean not anymore?"
"No, it's not that I don't love them anymore. It's just... I'm afraid."
"Afraid of what? Tell me."
"Boys"
"Boys?"
"Since what the coach did to me, I have a slight fear of men."
"I went to therapy, but they still scare me."
"I thought coming here would help me. You already know. To face my fear. But I didn't even dare to go to the gym. Especially since this is where everything happened."
Lincoln felt his blood boil. This pervert has ruined the life of one of the most innocent girls he has ever known.
"And me? Am I scaring you?"
"Well, it's different with you. You saved me; you're the only person I can get close to without feeling nervous."
Lincoln understood what Cookie felt. Her situation was very similar to Leni's.
At that moment, an idea occurred to him.
"Then, do you want us to dance here? Together?" He asked as he stood up and extended his hand in front of Cookie.
Cookie's heart beat faster when she saw Lincoln's cute smile. She slowly took the boy's hand, and they walked down to the field, where Lincoln played music on his phone so they could both dance.
They both danced closely. Cookie laid her head on Lincoln's chest. So, even though it was just them alone, it was the best Valentine's Day dance of their lives.
It was already ten o'clock at night. Lincoln accompanied Cookie home.
"Thanks for everything, Lincoln. I really had a lot of fun."
"Bah. It wasn't a big deal. Just something impromptu."
"For me, then. It makes me happy to know that I can count on you for everything."
"Whenever you need it, I will be there for you."
"Good. I think I should go in now. Take it easy, Lincoln."
"By--" Before he could finish, Lincoln received a farewell kiss on the cheek from Cookie.
"Bye-bye."
Cookie closed the door behind her, leaving Lincoln still in surprise.
"Great. This isn't what I expected. At least you kept your pants on this time."
Lincoln arrived home. When he looked at his cell phone, he noticed that he had a message that his grandfather had sent him two hours ago. He said the following:
"Son, your grandmother and I will be back late. So take care of the house."
"Well, I hope they enjoy it. Although at his age, he's sure to be pretty quiet."
Meanwhile, at the mountain viewpoint, Lincoln's grandfather's car moved and jumped.
"Oh, baby, oh yeah. Oh baby, oh yeah!"
"Oh, Albert!"
"Here's the tiger's jump!"
"Oh, albeeeert!!!"
-Back with Lincoln-
Lincoln opened his door, preparing for a restful night, when he remembered something important.
"I forgot to give the girls their presents!"
"How could I forget that? I even went to the post office today to send Ronnie-Anne a letter."
"Either way, I have to give it to them tomorrow."
Lincoln entered the house, but when he opened the doors, he saw his sisters and the girls he had a relationship with, along with Sam.
"Girls? What are you doing here?"
Leni had a small box in her hands. "We were waiting for you."
"We didn't know you were going to the prom," Tabby said.
"That explains why I didn't see you there. Oh, now that you're here, wait a moment for me."
Lincoln ran to his room, and after a few minutes, he came down with several bags and boxes, even two large stuffed animals of a bat and a spider.
"Happy Valentine's Day."
Lincoln distributed gifts to his girlfriends, consisting of Leni's jewelry and dresses, multi-colored gemstone bracelets, an embellished bag, and a chicken snake look similar to Luan's laugh bracelet, leather jackets, diamond-encrusted skull rings for Luna and Tabby, some newer model skates, and some tickets to Lynn and Polly's professional basketball game scheduled for tomorrow, some black dresses and some necklaces studded with black gemstones, long gloves of the same color with metal decorations such as claws, and the aforementioned stuffed animals.
The girls were happy with their gifts, and the next thing the boy saw was a stream of kisses on his face. It took a minute, which seemed to the boy like an hour.
"Wow. A word of thanks would have been enough. But I liked it so much more."
"Oh, and we have a present for you." Leni grabbed Lincoln's hands and pulled him into the kitchen. On the table, there was a box. "Lincoln opened it, and he was in it."
A long leather jacket, lined inside with faux fur.
"Amazing. It's incredible. I love it."
"I made it myself."
"I knew that. Thank you so much, Leni." Lincoln kissed Leni.
"And that's not the only thing."
Leni hands Lincoln the box she was carrying.
Lincoln took it and opened it. Inside was a bracelet. But not just anyone. This was a black metal with silver edges. And with an engraved inscription, it said, "Yours forever."
Lincoln admired the bracelet. "It's beautiful, girls."
"We all pitched in to buy it," Leni said.
Luna approaches Lincoln and hugs him by the neck. "Well. Now that we've exchanged gifts, let's go upstairs and celebrate why they call this day 'Love Day.'"
Lynn separates Luna from Lincoln. "Hey, who told you that you would be the first? I always go first. After all, I was his first time."
Leni separates Lynn from Lincoln and playfully remarks, "No, I'm the one who will have Linky's children."
The sisters pulled Lincoln by the collar and sleeves of his jacket while the other girls watched without knowing what to do. Suddenly, the Loud sisters realized that they only had their clothes in their hands, and Lincoln was in front of them.
"How did you do it?" Lynn asked.
Lincoln didn't answer. He quietly walked up the stairs and headed to his room.
A few minutes later, Lincoln came down, barefoot, wearing a black short-sleeved shirt and blue jeans, and holding paper and a pen in his hands.
Then he entered the kitchen and came out with a bowl.
The boy started writing on the paper, then broke it into pieces, rolled it up, put it in the bowl, and finally mixed it.
"Okay, listen. I wrote the numbers one through nine and put them in this bowl. Everyone takes a paper ball, and whoever gets one will be first. And so on until nine, which will be last."
"That's funny. It's like bingo." Giggles enthusiastically applauded the idea.
The girls took a piece of paper one by one and began to open it.
"Obviously, I'll be first," Lynn said confidently.
The transformations were as follows:
No. 1: Haiku.
No. 2: Leni.
Number 3: Lucy.
Number 4: Tabby.
No. 5: Luna.
Number 6: Sam.
Number 7: Giggles.
No. 8: Polly.
No. 9: Lynn.
"I want Replay!" Lynn said it angrily.
"It's not a match, Lynn. There's no replay here," Luna stated.
Haiku saw her turn. "So will I be first?"
"That's it, my little spider." Lincoln slung Haiku over his shoulder, grabbing her by the waist.
"Hey. Put me down. I can walk on my own."
"You'll need all the strength in your legs to face what lies ahead, little spider."
Lincoln playfully slapped Haiku's buttocks, making her blush.
"Oh, okay," Haiku had a surprised expression on her face as the boy walked up the stairs, carrying her.
-next morning-
Lincoln woke up feeling very sore and thirsty.
"Oh, what the hell happened? Did I get into a fight last night or something?" Lincoln noticed the girls sleeping next to him, all in a heap. "Oh yeah. What was I thinking when this happened?"
Lincoln tried to get up, but Leni and Haiku hugged him tightly.
The girls were covered in blankets on the floor, where they had combined Lincoln's and their grandparents' mattresses to make more space.
Lincoln attempted to get up again, managing to do so this time. He walked slowly past a chair with his pants hanging on it and a garbage can filled with open packages of condoms, thinking he should dispose of them before his grandparents saw them. He grabbed them with a towel and headed to the bathroom.
After finishing in the bathroom, Lincoln went down to the kitchen and started preparing breakfast for his girlfriends.
"I made pancakes. But since we don't have much left in terms of ingredients, I'll have to go buy more."
The girls came down one by one and sat at the table to eat breakfast.
As Lincoln was about to start eating, Leni called him.
"Linky, aren't you forgetting something?"
"What's that?"
"A good morning kiss," Leni said, approaching Lincoln with puckered lips.
After kissing Leni, Lincoln was bombarded with requests for kisses from the rest of the girls.
After breakfast and washing the dishes, Lincoln drove Haiku, Polly, Tabby, and Giggles home in his car.
Upon returning, he accompanied his sisters back to their house. Along the way, Leni tried to hold Lincoln's hand, but he gently pushed her away, not because he didn't want to, but because he didn't want anyone to suspect anything. Eventually, Leni relented but asked Lincoln to spend the night with just the two of them.
-In the Loud house-
The sisters shared with their parents about the fun they had while "sleepover" without delving into details.
Mr. and Mrs. Loud mentioned that Luan had arrived the day before to spend the long weekend at their house since Monday and Tuesday were local holidays.
While his sisters chatted with their parents, Lincoln headed upstairs to greet Luan.
-In Luan's room-
Luan was unpacking when Lincoln knocked on her door. She welcomed him nervously, twirling her hair around her finger.
"Hey, L-Lincoln," Luan greeted Lincoln shyly.
"Hi Luan. It's nice to see you again."
"Likewise. Ha-ha-ha-ha."
"Hey, how have you been? You know, after... that incident."
Luan understood what Lincoln was referring to. "I'm getting better. Thanks to our family and friends, I was able to move past Penny."
"That jerk didn't know what he had. But you're a great girl, Luan. I'm sure you'll find someone who truly appreciates you someday."
"W-Well... A-A-About that... T-The truth is, there's someone I'm interested in."
"Oh really? That's great. And who is he?"
"H-He's a guy I've known for a long time."
"I didn't know that. How is he?"
"G-Great. He's kind. He likes to help others. He's tall, strong, and very handsome," Luan said as she moved from side to side slowly with her hands behind her.
"He seems like a good guy. What's his name?"
Luan smiled nervously, with a noticeable blush on her cheeks. "He... he..."
"Are you feeling okay, Luan?" Lincoln asked when he saw his sister acting strangely.
"It's you!!!" Luan jumped on her brother, hugged him by the neck, and kissed his lips.
They both fell on the bed.
Lincoln didn't know what was happening until he finally reacted. He tried to push Luan away, but she clung to the hug and kiss until the contact between them ended due to a lack of air.
Luan hugged Lincoln, making circles with her finger on the boy's chest. "I love you. I love you so much, Lincoln."
"Luan. You?"
Lincoln couldn't finish his speech because Luan kissed him again. But at that moment, the door opened to reveal that it was Lynn."
"Oh Luan. You forgot."
Lynn was speechless when she saw Luan on top of Lincoln kissing him. "What the hell are you doing to my Lincoln!!!?"
Lynn separates Luan from Lincoln. "What the hell did you think you were doing to him?"
Luan stood up and pulled Lincoln towards her again, hugging him. "Don't play innocent, Lynn. I know damn well you and Luna are sleeping with him."
Hearing that, Lynn had a lot of emotions at once. But for now, only one. "You. You knew that, and you still jumped on him?"
The bustle attracted the attention of the older girls. The minors preferred not to get involved in their sisters' battles. Except one of them felt something.
Lori. Leni. Luna and Lucy discovered this in Luan's room, and there they saw how Luan and Lynn pulled Lincoln's arms, so Lori had to arrange things.
"What is happening here!?"
"Luan was kissing Lincoln."
"What?" Luna grabs Lincoln from them and hugs him. "Luan, how could you do that to my Lincoln?"
Leni separates Luna from Lincoln. She hugs him and puts his face between her breasts. "He's not just yours. He loves me, too. We'll have many children."
Lucy separated the two sisters, hugging Lincoln by the neck. "Our souls are connected. That can never be broken."
Lincoln continued to pace back and forth.
The noise the sisters made caught the attention of the Loud parents, who came up to stop the fight.
When they arrived in front of the door, they saw Lincoln being pulled by his arms, legs, and neck by his sisters.
The Louds did not understand what they saw. However, the phrase the sisters said together provided an answer, but it also raised more questions.
"LINCOLN IS MY BOYFRIEND!!!"