BirdyBoiWonder

ชิ้นChîn: Chapter 13. Sacred Flesh

Added 2025-04-05 23:00:09 +0000 UTC

Kate drives their car with the radio on.

[This is Kat on the radio meow and it looks like it's going to be a clear and warm Friday today—but it's going to be a gusty one, so keep that coa—]

Kate parks by Charlie's apartment. They get out of the car and pull out their phone.

-Charlie-

30 mins ago

[Kate] Hey sleepyhead. You up?

[Kate] Speak now, or I'm invading your apartment.

Now

[Kate] You should never have given me your spare key :impsmile:

Kate walks up to Charlie's apartment and knocks, waits for a moment, then unlocks and enters. As they do, Charlie steps out of the bathroom, his hair damp from the shower. He looks up, startled upon seeing Kate.

Kate: "Hey, sorry for startling you. I texted you a few times."

Charlie, calmed: "No, you're fine. I guess I didn't see your messages."

Kate, masking a grin: "Are you busy today?"

Charlie: "Uh, not today."

Kate: "So… you're free to spend some time together?"

Charlie glances at the clock.

Charlie: "Yeah. Sure."

Kate: "Cool. Get dressed."

Kate heads for Charlie's kitchen table, and Charlie walks over to his dresser.

Kate and Charlie approach the car.

Charlie: "So where are we going?"

Kate: "First, to Ayden's house. I need to give him back his wallet he forgot—again."

They get in the car.

Kate: "And bring him some food because he eats like shit."

Charlie chuckles: "You really do have a type."

Kate glances at Charlie and smirks.

Kate: "Cute wise asses with emotional baggage and a taste for junk food? You got me there."

As Kate is pulling up to Ayden's house, their phone starts to ring. Kate parks and then looks down at the phone. They look up at Charlie as it continues to ring.

Kate: "You go ahead, I need to take this."

Charlie: "Oh, uh—"

Kate: "You don't need to knock, he knows we are coming."

Charlie hesitates: "Alright…"

Kate watches Charlie leave the car as they answer the phone.

Kate: "Yes, this is Kate." … "That's fine, just no singing."

Charlie steps inside nervously and shuts the door behind himself.

Charlie: "Hey, it's me, Charlie. Kate said—"

Charlie steps into the living room and sees Ayden in his Vorein form. He stands over a mess of displaced couch cushions, huffing in anger.

Charlie: "You—okay?"

Ayden grits his maw: "I can't find my meds."

Charlie: "Oh—I'll help you look."

Ayden: "Where's Kate?"

Charlie looks around: "In the car on the phone."

Ayden grumbles and tosses things around as he searches.

Charlie steps over to the TV stand, leans down, and spots the medicine bottle sitting under it.

Charlie: "Are these it?"

He holds up the bottle, Ayden's ears perk up, and Charlie tosses it to him. Ayden catches it, relieved. They both hear the front door open, and Ayden dashes for his bedroom.

As Kate enters the room, Ayden's door quickly shuts with a slam and locks.

Kate peers at Ayden's bedroom door with suspicion, then turns to Charlie.

Kate: "Good, you were here for that one. Explain."

Charlie: "What?"

Kate puts down the bag of food and the wallet on the coffee table.

Kate: "He keeps doing that! Sometimes I come in here, and he runs off to his room and locks himself in there for a while and refuses to explain. What gives?"

Charlie: "Oh, uh—he—wasn't dressed."

Charlie's brow arches, feigning confidence. Kate frowns and crosses their arms.

Kate: "You're cute when you're being funny, but this bullshitting thing, it's going to be a problem."

Charlie's smile drops: "Sorry… I just—don't know how to put it."

Kate: "Honestly?"

Charlie sighs and thinks for a moment.

Charlie: "He just couldn't find his medication and wasn't feeling well. He just doesn't want you to see him like that."

Kate's demeanor calms: "Seriously? He could have just told me that."

Kate picks up an envelope from a side table.

Kate: "Why do you boys have to make everything so complicated?"

Kate heads for the door.

Kate: "Let's go then. He won't be out for a while anyway."

Charlie: "Right—"

Both leave the house and get back into Kate's car. Charlie's phone pings.

[Ayden] Thanks for the save man

Kate drives for a while through town.

Charlie: "So—now where are we going?"

Kate grins: "You'll see."

Kate pulls up to a small car show. They glance at Charlie as his demeanor lights up.

Kate grins: "So—"

Charlie looks at Kate, seeing them up the envelope.

Charlie takes it and opens it. Inside is a small card; the front is an image of a plate of pancakes with the words 'Happy Birthday, Sweetheart!' He opens it 'The years just keep stacking up!' And under the printed words are two handwritten notes:

'HAVE FUN MAN! EAT CAKE! —AYDEN' and 'You deserve this ♡ —Kate'

Charlie, wide smile: "It's not my birthday."

Kate smirks: "You don't know that."

Kate: "If you don't want to do this, then you don't have to. But I thought you deserve a day just for you, no worries, no stress, just having fun and celebrating yourself."

Charlie looks down at the card and then back up at Kate.

Charlie: "There's Cake?"

Kate grins and opens their car door.

Kate: "That comes later."

The two of them walk around the show, the wind is mildly gusty.

Kate stands beside Charlie as he looks over one of the cars, the hood up and the engine in view.

Kate stands off to the side, on their phone, as Charlie enthusiastically talks with the owner.

Kate smiles as they hold up their phone and silently takes a picture of Charlie's face. Kate looks down at the image with a wide smile.

Kate and Charlie walk again, hand in hand.

Kate: "It's nice to see you actually smile."

Charlie: "I smile."

Kate gives a small, unassured smirk.

Charlie stops by a Lincoln Town Car and goes to talk with the owner.

Charlie: "1956 Continental Mark II?"

'Yup! You know your cars, kid."

They start to chat, and Kate checks their phone.

-Ayden-

[Ayden] He having fun?

[Kate] Like a kid, I've never seen him so energetic.

Charlie: "—Yeah! The Delra—"

A nearby car revs up loudly and startles Charlie. Kate looks up, seeing a group of people by one of the newer, more modified cars laughing and enthusiastically shouting.

The owner of the Mark II looks at them and mutters.

"Rude."

Charlie's breath calms, his demeanor still tense. He walks away from the car. Kate notices and follows him.

They walk by a car with a few people talking and looking through a thick car encyclopedia. The wind picks up and blows through the pages, catching Charlie's attention.

Kate looks up and sees his unnerved expression. They reach out to put a hand on his arm. Charlie jerks away at the touch.

Kate, concerned: "You alright?"

Charlie flat: "I'm fine."

Kate frowns but continues to walk with him.

Charlie keeps his head down and silently walks beside Kate, his enthusiasm gone.

Kate glances at Charlie, then looks and points to one of the cars.

Kate: "What's that one?"

He barely glances at it.

Charlie: "I'm not sure."

Kate watches Charlie with worry as he rubs his incomplete ring finger.

Kate: "Hey, let's go get something to drink. I'm thirsty."

Charlie silently follows them back to their car.

Kate parks outside a gas station and goes in. Charlie waits in the car. His phone pings.

[Snoody Spoody] Be ready at 11 p.m. sharp. We can't waste time.

Charlie's view of the phone blurs.

Charlie gets out of the car and walks into the store. He walks towards the freezers while Kate checks out.

Kate: "Twenty on three."

Kate stands by their car filling it with gas. Charlie walks back to the car and gets in. Kate glances at him, then turns their attention back to the pump.

Kate gets back into the car and sees Charlie finish off the small sample liquor bottle. They mask a frown with pursed lips while they start the car.

Kate, low: "Guess that's one way to celebrate."

Charlie, sharp: "I thought that was the point."

Kate sits in silence for a moment.

Kate: "Hungry?"

Charlie: "Sure."

They arrive at a family-style breakfast diner. Kate parks, and they go inside and find a table.

Kate: "I figured this place would be perfect for you."

Charlie gives a weak smile and looks down at the menu.

Kate: "We can order to go if you don't want to stay."

Charlie: "I'm good."

The waiter steps over.

Waiter: "Are you ready to order?"

Kate: "I'll have the Florentine Crepes."

Charlie: "Strawberry pancakes, please."

The waiter writes it down. Kate glances at the waiter and holds back a grin.

After the waiter walks away, Kate reaches into their mini backpack and pulls out a small gift bag. Charlie looks at it and hesitates before he takes it.

Kate: "I wanted to do more but—"

Charlie pulls out a die-cast model car.

Kate: "—I know nothing about cars. Though I had a feeling you would like this."

Charlie, content smile: "Thanks."

Kate: "What type is it?"

Charlie: "1967 Shelby GT-500."

Kate smiles: "Dork."

The waiter steps over and sets down a large plate in front of Charlie: A stack of pancakes covered in dripping blue icing, sprinkles, candles, and 'Happy birthday!' written on the top.

Charlie stares at it, surprised.

Kate: "I asked them not to sing for you."

Charlie awkwardly smiles: "Thanks."

Kate whispers: "Happy birthday."

They get up and move to sit beside Charlie.

Kate: "Let me snap a picture before you fall into a sugar coma."

They hold up their phone and snap a picture of them, Charlie, and the pancakes.

After Kate takes the photo, Charlie turns and takes their face in his hands and kisses them.

Both enter Charlie's apartment. Kate pulls off their shoes and sets their bag on the couch. Charlie looks at his bedside clock, sees 7:42 p.m. and grimaces. Kate glances over and watches him step over to his kitchenette. Charlie grabs a liquor bottle and a glass from his cupboard. As he goes to open the bottle, Kate steps over and puts their hand on his. They take the bottle, set it back down on the counter, then grab Charlie by the shirt and pull him in for a kiss.

Night

Kate and Charlie lie in bed facing each other, Charlie's eyes closed.

Kate: "Did you have fun today?"

Charlie: "Mhm."

Kate: "Not having a set birth date makes the surprise easy. I should throw you a surprise birthday once every year. No warning, random day." mischievous grin "You'll never see it coming."

Charlie gives a weak smile.

Kate: "Are you alright? You seem down, or is this your tired face?"

Charlie: "Tired. And dreading something I have to do in—"

He opens his eyes, looks at the clock, and sighs.

Charlie: "—a few hours."

Kate moves close: "Hey, don't think about it. Just focus on me and get some rest."

Charlie smiles again and gazes at Kate's eyes.

Charlie: "I love you."

Kate looks away, their lips tighten, and they shift uncomfortably.

Charlie's smile drops to embarrassment.

Charlie: "Sorry—"

Kate: "No."

They look back at him and let their bittersweet grin show.

Kate: "I love you too—that's the problem."

Charlie: "Why?"

Kate: "Because that means I'm attached to you."

Charlie smiles: "Isn't that the point?"

Kate gives a tight smile and leans in to kiss him.

They nuzzle up to Charlie's chest, and he wraps an arm around them.

Kate: "So what did you wish for?"

'I wish I was strong.'

Seen from inside the duct vent of a small police department, inside a detective's office.

The detective sits at their desk, mulling over paperwork. A police officer steps up to their side.

Officer: "It's the Villard family with their monthly call, asking for updates."

The detective drops his pen and sighs heavily, rubbing his temple.

Officer: "What should I tell them?"

Detective: "I don't know."

Conner watches closely from inside the duct. He's larger and more humanoid, but still small and lanky like a thin child.

Officer: "Should I just tell them the truth?"

The detective looks up to him, brows furrowed.

Detective: "Sure, you go tell them there's nothing new, the case is cold, and I'm—"

He leans back in his chair with a heavy sigh.

Detective: "—And even I'm not sure if I have any more hope of that changing."

Beep beep. Beep beep.

Conner is resting in his webs, his wristwatch alarm going off. He reaches over to silence it, then hops out of the webbing.

He stands in front of the desk for a moment and peers at it before he turns to leave.

Charlie is sleeping beside Kate. A knock at his door stirs him awake with a groan. He gets up, stumbles over to the door, and opens it.

Basit: "Time to go."

Charlie: "Fuck. Alright—hold on."

He closes the door back, steps away, and gets dressed. He stops by the bed, leans down, and kisses Kate on the head as they sleep.

Charlie and Basit get into Conner's car.

Conner: "You're late."

Charlie: "It's like trying to please an absent father with him."

Basit snorts amused, Conner sneers.

Conner: "Every moment that passes inches closer to the next victim on our killer's list. Spend those moments wisely."

Charlie's witty grin drops.

Basit grabs a cup of coffee and reaches back to give it to Charlie.

Basit: "Here, I assumed you would need it."

Charlie takes it: "You're literally a lifesaver."

They step out of Conner's car in front of a small house, another car in the driveway, and the front room light on.

Basit: "Looks like we're right on time."

Conner glances down at the dirt driveway as they walk: heels, sneakers, bike, heels, boots.

He steps up to the door and holds a hand up behind himself to Basit and Charlie. They wait as he takes the handle and slowly opens the unlocked door. He steps inside, and they follow.

Conner, low: "Fan out, stay in sight."

They slowly move through the house. Conner and Basit stop to peer into rooms as they go. Charlie follows, exhausted and not paying attention. Conner leads them through the house and into a hallway. Basit and Conner check the first two rooms. Charlie watches them, then steps up to the third room, opens it, and looks inside—

Shik

The blade comes down on the right arm, separating it from the body.

Charlie stares, paralyzed.

The murderer looks up, his face obscured by the plastic face shield.

The murderer's gaze stays locked onto Charlie as he slowly stands. The severed arm hangs from his left hand, the bloodied blade gripped in the other.

Charlie stumbles back and starts to hyperventilate. Basit notices and rushes up to him. She and the murderer spot each other, and he dashes for a door at the back of the room. She reaches out, her arm morphs, and stabs him in the shoulder. He cries out and stabs Basit with the blade. She screams and reels back. The knife jolts out of his grip. She drops to her knees, her arm bleeding, and a light mist hissing from the wound.

Conner rushes into the room, the murderer sprints away, and Conner runs after him. They weave through the house. The murderer gets to the back door, opens it, and pauses. Conner nearly catches up before the murderer slips out of the door and shuts it behind himself, causing Conner to ram against it. He grabs the handle and tries to open it. After a couple of tries, he realizes it's locked. He unlocks the handle, shoves it open, and dashes outside.

The murderer is gone. Conner, enraged, puffs up to shout.

He hears Basit crying and turns to run back inside.

He enters the room and sees Basit holding her still, morphed and bleeding arm. He drops to her side.

Basit, through tears: "What the fuck is this?!"

She wheezes. Conner looks over it for a second, then quickly grabs and yanks it out. He tosses it across the room. Her arm half reforms, still bleeding.

Conner: "Are you alright?"

Basit in agony: "I don't know…"

Conner takes off his tie and wraps it around the wound. He helps her stand and guides her out of the room. Charlie is on the floor across the room, curled up against the wall, shaking and muttering through whimpers and ragged breath.

Conner looks at him with his habitual sneer—it drops, and he averts his eyes. He looks at Basit, his hands still bracing her.

Conner: "Can you get to the car?"

Basit nods and separates from him and leaves, shaking while she holds her arm. Conner glances at Charlie, and guilt crosses his face. He turns back into the room and stops by the body. Staring down at it with a heavy, defeated sigh.

He steps over to the blade, lightly touches a finger to its hilt, then fully grasps it and holds up the solid piece of warm-toned silver.

He pulls a thick cloth from a display table beside him, wraps it up, and steps back out of the room.

Charlie continues to shake and whimper as Conner reaches down, puts an arm around him, pulls him up to his feet, and guides him out of the house.

Daytime, Conner stands by the back door of the house, tired and angry. He stares down at the eleventh note in one hand. The wrapped blade hangs from the other.

11#

And when all Divinity of God hath been consumed from the world, turn unto the Hallowed

shall the Vassal's hunger—First shall it consume the flock; then shall it hunt the solitary.

And when all the Hallowed Men and all the Hallowed Beasts haft been offered unto our Lord's hunger,

yet shall the Desire endure.

Across from Conner Dobermann, Hyphae exits the woods and walks up to him.

Hyphae: "Apologies, Conner, the trail keeps breaking and looping. I lost the path."

Conner's face twists in frustration.

Conner: "Putain!" {Fuck!}

He turns, and the two walk to the front of the house.

Conner looks down at Hyphae and slightly lifts the blade.

Conner: "Have you seen anything like this before?"