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After another successful leg of the Skeletour, the crew went to a local bar to celebrate.
Vanessa, Perpetua, and various other crew members were exchanging words at one quiet corner. The ghouls were busy having a “who can shove the most steaks in their mouth” competition in the middle of the building. The ghoulettes were making bets.
Aurora giggled at Rain as he shoved the 3rd one in and could barely take it, while Mountain had 6 in his mouth with no problem. Phantom was on his 2nd with watery eyes. Dew already gave up after the 1st. Storm was on his 5th.
“I should’ve bet on Mountain,” Tempest pouted.
She bet $10 on Rain. Simply because “he sucks dick.” Tempest’s logic and knowledge on that stuff isn’t that great.
“He’s being disgusting right now,” Cirrus chuckled, she bet that Mountain would win. “With that sauce dripping down his chin.”
“He must be cheating. Probably swallowing when no one is looking,” Tempest seemed very upset about losing $10.
“Cirrus is getting rich tonight,” Aurora nudged the oldest ghoulette’s shoulder with one of her long, acrylic nails. “Phantom is done.”
The three ghoulettes winced as Rain finally spit out all 3 steaks into 6 napkins tied together. Cirrus covered Tempest’s eyes.
While Tempest scolded Rain for losing, Aurora could feel a buzz in her phone. Usually she’d ignore it while spending time with her friends like this, but she was about to get up for the washroom anyway.
As she slid off the bar stool, she read the notification.
mrserikakirk sent a message request
Her eyes went wide and she almost dropped her phone with a gasp.
“You okay, ‘Rory?” Cirrus asked.
“Yeah, I’m alright,” Aurora replied, not looking up from her screen and started to head for the washroom.
She shut the stall and opened her phone. Just to be sure it wasn’t a prank, she viewed the account.
It wasn’t. It really was her. It’s her Eri.
Aurora accepted the message request, the photo lit up onscreen. It was a photo of a sniper.
mrserikakirk: Do you know how to use a gun?
Aurora, blinded by love, replied.
princessaurora: Yes, I’m a master at it
She never touched a gun in her life. But for her Eri to come back to her, she would shoot anyone.
Down in the dark pits of Hell, Erika and Aurora dated for quite some time. They met when Aurora was digging through a severed head for tapeworms as a meal. Erika led her to her place (which was a cave full of dead animals) where Aurora had a whole brunch. From there, the multi ghoulette did everything for her out of pure love. Although Erika never really showed affection, she still cuddled her when she was sick or cold. That was all Aurora needed from her Eri.
That all changed when Erika was summoned to Earth. Aurora got home from hunting one day and the cave was empty. She waited night after night in that cold, dark cave for her Eri to come back. She never did. And eventually, Aurora moved on. She was summoned by Copia and joined Ghost, but Aurora never forgot Erika.
mrserikakirk: I have a favour I need you to take care of.
princessaurora: What do you need? :3
mrserikakirk: Kill my husband. He’s doing an outdoor debate at Utah Valley University on September 10th. At exactly 12:25 I need you to shoot him. I don’t care where or who you do it with, just shoot him. Meet me at the hotel outside the airport to pick up the gun.
princessaurora: Thats a lot to ask
mrserikakirk: We can reconnect once he’s dead. He’s the only thing standing between us.
princessaurora: I’ll do it
mrserikakirk: Just text me when you land.
princessaurora: Of course
Aurora shut her phone off and took a deep breath. She could have her Erika back, all she needed to do was kill a man.
Erika said she didn’t care who she did it with, so of course Aurora had to ask her right hand ghoul who would gladly kill a Trump supporter. That ghoul is Phantom. Every other ghoul would help her, but Phantom’s bones don’t pop every time he sits down.
She exited the bathroom and joined the other two ghoulettes once again, acting as if she wasn’t about to kill Charlie Kirk in a month.
The competition was over by the time Aurora sat down, Mountain won unsurprisingly, Storm was second place, and Phantom was third. Tempest begrudgingly handed Cirrus $10. Aurora bet $15 on Phantom, $5 more than Tempest, yet didn’t give it away as angrily.
“You can have $10 back if you spent a night in my hotel room with me,” Cirrus implied with a smirk.
“Really?” Tempest leaned in. “I’d do it for free.”
That’s her cue to leave.
Aurora hopped off the stool and grabbed Phantom’s arm to drag him away from everyone.
“Huh? What?” Phantom almost tripped, but Aurora saved him. She’s strong when she wants to be.
Aurora dragged him inside the janitor’s closet where no one could hear.
“What’s this about?” Phantom asked, rubbing his sore wrist the ghoulette was previously clutching.
“We need to kill Charlie Kirk,” Aurora whispered.
“WHAT?” Phantom exclaimed.
Aurora pounced on Phantom and covered his mouth.
“Shh!” She shushed. “He’s a Trump supporter, I know how much you hate Trump.”
“Well yeah, but… do we have to kill him?” Phantom kept his voice steady. “No one deserves death.”
“He defends pedophiles! And he said 10 year olds should give birth!” Aurora whisper-shouted. “He’s a racist and a fascist.”
Phantom looked worried. “Yeah, that’s true, but…”
“But what?” Aurora hissed.
“I don’t like guns,” Phantom muttered.
“That’s silly, I can shoot. I just need help carrying it… and emotional support,” Aurora smiled down at him.
…
…
“Fine, I’ll help you,” Phantom said after a long moment.
“Yes! We’re gonna go to Utah Valley University on September 10th and shoot that bitch up,” Aurora grinned.
Phantom weakly smiled back.
A few hours later…
The quintessence ghoul sat alone in his and Tempest’s shared hotel room, since the ghoulette was busy getting her $10 back from Cirrus. He stared down at his shaky hands.
He didn’t want to kill Charlie, not because the podcaster was too young, not because Phantom is afraid of guns, not because no one deserves to be killed… But because Phantom loved him. He really loved him.
It’s a terrible act. Utterly terrible to love a married man and a man as horrible as him at that, but Phantom couldn’t resist.
That day Charlie went to the Re-Imperatour and got barrier right on Phantom’s side, the ghoul fell in love. He wouldn’t leave that side of the stage the entire concert, completely captivated by Charlie’s beautiful smile. And after the concert, he threw a guitar pick Charlie’s way. He made hand hearts at Phantom.
The guitarist thought that was the last he’d ever see of Charlie, but when he was following the rest of the band into the hotel, Charlie was standing there with a vinyl record. Phantom of course gave him an autograph and his number. From that night on, they’d exchange lovely words of love every chance they got. Phantom would update him on everything and Charlie would talk shit about Dean Withers. Phantom ignored all of Charlie’s views on politics and morals. It hurt to see.
This was all going to end in a month. Phantom made a huge decision between his forbidden love and his best friends. It wasn’t a pressure-free decision, since he was trapped under Aurora in a janitor’s closet, but he’d rather choose the people he lived with than a man across the country.
It’s the right thing to do…
…right?
———— . ————
Aurora shook Phantom awake.
“Phantom, come on, our flight is in an hour,” she eagerly poked his cheek repeatedly.
“Mmhh…” Phantom groaned, pushing her hand away.
“Phantom, come on,” Aurora nudged his shoulder.
“Huh?” Phantom mumbled like a dumbass.
“Our flight! It’s at 5,” Aurora crossed her arms.
Phantom sat up and rubbed his eyes. His jet-black hair was messy from a sleepless night. Reality dawned on him. Charlie is going to die today.
Aurora joyfully threw clothes at him while she picked up her single backpack.
The next 11 hours blurred from sneaking out of the ministry, to take off, to falling in and out of sleep on the plane, to hitting nightmarish turbulence, to finally landing and getting off the plane.
At this point, both ghouls were decently rested from sleeping on the plane. Erika bought them both first-class tickets because she’s a g like that.
(Author’s note: IDK ANYTHING ABOUT UTAH’S AIRPORT OR UTAH IN GENERAL..)
“She’s waiting at the hotel, it’s like across the street,” Aurora nonchalantly checked her phone.
“In a room or is she just gonna say ‘here’s a gun!’ Out in the open?” Phantom asked sarcastically.
“She’s gonna take us to her room,” Aurora calmly replied.
Phantom followed her through the busy airport. Even after a month of ignoring Charlie and trying to accept that he’s a bad person, he still couldn’t let go. This was his last chance to convince Aurora not to shoot him.
“What if we get caught? Frater’s gonna be furious if he sees us on the news for shooting someone,” Phantom pointed out.
“He’s always furious,” Aurora muttered, holding the airport’s exit door open for Phantom. “Princesses first.”
“Aurora, him being sour that Perpetua replaced him and him being angry that we killed someone are very different,” Phantom compared as the hot Utah air hit him.
“We’re not gonna get caught, Phantom, don’t worry. Erika said she’s got a guy who’s gonna pretend to be the shooter while we get away,” Aurora stopped to turn to him. “We go there, shoot, then run while some other guy willingly takes the blame. Easy.”
Phantom paused for a second, that was technically right…
“What makes you trust this Erika woman? You don’t know her!” Phantom exclaimed.
“You don’t know who I know!” Aurora shot back, trying to be louder than him.
“She buys us first class seats and suddenly you’ve known her your entire life?!” Phantom yelled.
“I know her! I trust her!” Aurora growled.
“From where?!”
“The pit!”
Phantom went quiet. Both of them did. They stared at each other for a minute.
“Get the fuck out of the way stupid bitches,” some little kid walked between them.
Neither of them gave him a glance, too focused on the “staring contest”. The tension between them never flickered.
Eventually, Aurora spoke, “We have an hour now, let’s go.”
Phantom followed her without a word.
On Aurora’s end, she was going to get her ex back and kill a fascist.
Her anger at Phantom was quickly overshadowed by excitement when she saw Erika in the lobby. Although her scent was different, she still had those piercing blue eyes and long blonde hair.
“Erika!” Aurora waved, grabbing Phantom’s wrist and dragging him. It’s a bad habit she has.
“Hurry, my room is over here,” Erika didn’t even say hi, just led them to the hallway of the first floor.
It’s fine. She’s probably just trying to stay out of public view.
The hallway seemed infinite during the walk there. Phantom wiggled out of Aurora’s grasp and was now following behind them. Aurora’s eyes were glued to Erika’s blonde, flowing hair that bounced with each step.
At the end of the hallway, Erika unlocked the door and let them in.
“Quick, take it and leave out of the window there. Get in the black SUV,” Erika shoved the gun into Phantom’s arms, yet making eye contact with Aurora.
“Um, okay…” Aurora politely smiled. “I missed you.”
“Missed you, too,” Erika fake-smiled.
Aurora’s expression saddened, but she jumped out of the window.
She looked around and quickly spotted a black SUV, exactly what Erika wanted them to get in. She waited for Phantom to catch up first, then they both got in the back.
Through the drive, Aurora wondered why Erika was acting the way she was, she seemed fine over text. In person Erika was jumpy, short with them, and seemed in a rush. Not at all like the cool, calm, and collected woman she used to be.
Aurora checked the time on her phone, it’s 12:00 now. Maybe that’s why Erika was acting like that. They only had about 15 minutes to get there and another 10 to sneak on top of the nearby building and aim. She said this to herself to ease her disappointment about the recent interaction.
She looked over at Phantom, who had the sniper resting on his lap.
“Sorry for yelling at you,” Aurora apologized.
He shifted, not looking up.
“No, I started it. I’m sorry,” he replied.
“It’s okay,” Aurora scooted closer to him. “You don’t have to watch when it happens.”
“It’s not that. It’s that…” Phantom’s hands shook. “I…”
Aurora sat patiently. He hesitated.
“Um… uh…” Phantom suddenly didn’t wanna tell her the truth. “…I’ve just been anxious and… irritable lately because when we get back to Sweden… Frater’s gonna spank me for sneaking out.”
Aurora stared at him in confusion, even the driver looked in the rear view mirror at him. Phantom cringed at himself.
“…oh?” Aurora’s voice cracked.
“Yeah. I’m just really anxious right now,” Phantom lied.
“Don’t think about it,” Aurora forced a smile.
Phantom looked out the window away from Aurora as he clenched his jaw with a pained expression. That was embarrassing as hell.
Before he knew it, the SUV was parking. He was snapped out of his embarrassment and opened his eyes.
“Phantom, it’s time!” Aurora squealed. “We have 20 minutes, hurry up!”
She jumped out the door and ran around to Phantom’s door. He got out and followed her to an alleyway.
“We’ll get on the roof of that building there but we gotta be quick about it, we can’t let anyone see us,” Aurora pointed the building next to them. “It’s right across from where he’s sitting, see?”
Phantom followed Aurora’s finger to Charlie. He felt a pang of guilt and anger in his chest. Aurora seemed so happy about it, though. He couldn’t be angry.
“You said you knew Erika in the pit. So she’s a ghoul like us?” Phantom wondered.
“Yeah. You can’t tell anyone I knew her, though,” Aurora answered while she got a grip on the brick wall.
Phantom slung the gun around his back, “What did she do for you to trust her so much?”
Aurora got higher and higher. She sighed, “she saved me from starving… and let me sleep in her home.”
“Ah,” Phantom began climbing. “Is that why you’re killing someone for her?”
“Pretty much,” Aurora sat down on an air conditioning thingy thing thing while she waited for Phantom to catch up.
Eventually, they made it up. Phantom was panting as if he just took Mountain balls deep 6 rounds while doing a handstand for 4 of them.
Phantom collapsed on his stomach while Aurora took the sniper out of the bag. She crawled on her elbows and knees to the edge of the roof. There he was, that tiny faced bastard. Aurora quickly set the gun up on it’s tripod.
“Come help me aim,” she whispered.
Phantom groaned and crawled towards the sniper. He looked through the scope and adjusted the gun.
He paused when he saw Charlie. He was debating some guy in a green sweater. That same handsome face Phantom fell in love with all those years ago. His breathing became heavier while all those memories flooded back.
From that first shy smile Charlie gave him during Kaisarion, to the second smile Charlie and him exchanged when Phantom gave him his number. To the first call where Phantom laughed about Swiss falling off his platform, to the first argument about Phantom getting too friendly with Rain onstage, to their first plans.
They would get a small house in the countryside with a dolphin as a pet when Phantom eventually retired from Ghost. The ghoul didn’t have the heart to tell him that when he was retired, he’d either get sent back to the pits or have to stay at the ministry.
Phantom and Charlie would never get that dolphin. They’d never make coffee in the mornings while reading the latest newspaper, they’d never talk shit about Dean Withers again.
And as Phantom aimed for Charlie’s neck, he saw a flicker of a smile on the man’s face. That’s the last time he’ll ever see that gummy smile.
The quintessence ghoul shook as he scooted away from the sniper.
“It’s aimed,” he confirmed.
“Which one?” Aurora joyfully showcased bullets wrapped in casings, there were messages engraved in all of them.
On the casings, there was one that said “*notices bulge* OwO, what’s this?”, another that said “Bella ciao”, “Hey fascist, catch!”, and “If you read this you’re gay LMAO”.
Phantom snorted at the sheer ridiculousness of it, “The bulge one.”
Aurora giggled and put it in the uh thing.
Phantom watched as Aurora crouched behind the gun to double check the aim.
He got a sense of dread as she moved her finger against the trigger. Phantom covered his ears and shut his eyes.
Aurora was bursting with excitement. She could finally have Erika back…
A single gunshot rang, it hit Charlie right in the neck.
Phantom’s face twisted in disgust while the blood gushed from Charlie’s neck. Suddenly he didn’t feel afraid anymore
Aurora quickly wiped their fingerprints off the gun and grabbed Phantom while on her way to jump off the building. They fell into a dumpster filled with soft yet smelly garbage bags.
“I’m so surprised we made that jump,” Aurora laughed as she stood up. “We could’ve died.”
Phantom shook the mystery trash juice off his hand, “the police are probably coming already, we have to go!”
“Right,” Aurora climbed out of the dumpster as Phantom followed.
20 minutes later…
Aurora was giddy as she and Phantom made their way back to Erika’s room. They weren’t in a rush anymore, so Erika would finally hug her.
She knocked on the dark oak door, basically hopping. When Erika opened the door, she leaped and attempted to hug her. Aurora was pushed away.
“Wh…” Aurora was confused. “But I killed him.”
Erika leaned down to look her in the eyes, “I said to kill him at 12:25pm. You killed him two minutes early.”
“It’s close enough!” Aurora whined.
“No, it’s not,” Erika flipped them both off and slammed the door.
…
“Damn,” Phantom muttered.
Aurora was heartbroken. She stared at the shut door, hoping that maybe… just maybe Erika would open the door and say it was a joke. Then hold her like she did on those cold nights in the pit.
The door never opened.
————.————
Both ghouls were devastated on the flight back to Sweden. They both lost their loves for good.
Oh well, lose-lose.
Aurora leaned on Phantom’s shoulder while she got drowsy. Phantom leaned on the top of her head.
“Frater doesn’t spank me, by the way,” Phantom cleared up.
“I thought so,” Aurora’s shoulders shook in a silent laugh.
Phantom could feel his eyelids getting heavier. The devastation went away for a moment.
“We’ll still get in trouble, I bet,” he mentioned.
“Ugh. We’ll have to mop the floors forever,” Aurora sighed.
“Nah, that’s a Sister Imperator punishment. Copia’ll probably be nicer,” Phantom disagreed. “Frater, I mean.”
“Like spanking?”
“Aurora…”
“Hm?” She smiled up at him.
“Don’t mention the spanking,” Phantom blushed from embarrassment.
“Fine,” she giggled.
Phantom unrolled his small blanket and pulled it on top of them. Aurora stole most of it, of course. They fell asleep leaning on each other.
Ummmmm the end lol