Chương 29: Chapter 28. Head of the Hoodlums

The thugs, or whoever they were, didn't bother with pursuing Oscar and the others. Of course, no one knew that until they'd already sprinted for what felt like an eternity. After setting fire to their lungs, they came to a stop in a secluded alley and started to discuss what was next.

"Okay, so that was a failure," Cry said.

"But… it was fun, no?" he asked with a wide grin.

"If you forget about that man having his bone pierce out of his leg, then yeah, sure it was fun," Gita responded dryly.

"We were really hoping for an actual payday, but whatever, it passed the time, I guess. Oscar and I should head back now." Gita made to leave the alley, but Cry hopped in front of her.

"Wait! Come back to our hideout and meet our boss first. This might've been a failure, but that's because… Well, that's because we suck at planning jobs. Our boss is the one that plans the big ones, and those always go off without a hitch." Despite himself, Oscar was curious to meet their boss.

"How far is your hideout from here?"

"Oh, we're practically already there," Bawl said.

"Cry didn't lead us aimlessly to a random alley. He's a good second-in-command, you know? He always recovers fast." Sob approached the far wall at the back of the alley and pushed in a loose brick that was behind a barrel. With a click, the wall glimmered and then faded away revealing a path downwards. Sob walked in and gestured for Oscar and Gita to follow.

"Illusionary walls?" Oscar asked in disbelief. He'd always loved that mechanic in games.

"That's pretty awesome. How common is something like this?"

"Our boss is the real deal, I'm telling you. We've only been together for eight months, but he's done so much for us already," Cry said and stepped inside.

"Hurry up, the illusion will return and harden in a moment." Oscar and Gita followed the trio inside and walked the pathway. It didn't go down too deep, eventually tapering off into a regular hallway which then fed into a cozy chamber. There was furniture, plants, food on the table, it was basically just one big living room. But most notably… there were people. Weep and Wail were splayed on a couch, laughing away at something Oscar didn't know. When they noticed the group walk in, they shut up and welcomed them.

Oscar noted that Wail's shirt was damp around the neck and then saw the mug of what he assumed to be alcohol.

"How did it go?" Weep asked.

"We led those idiots around for awhile, but eventually they had enough and returned. Wail tried to provoke them again, but… we weren't anticipating them to be armed. The bastard pulled out a pocket crossbow and said if we came close to the church again, then he'd shoot us."

"Thankfully the ones we ran into didn't brandish any weapons," Cry said as he sat down on the couch.

"Where's the boss?"

"In his chambers," Wail said.

"Said he'd be meditating or whatever… something has riled him up. He returned shortly after we got back." A door that Oscar had noticed opened and a tall man with messy black hair and a thin beard stepped out. He was wearing a dark green and black coat made up of some kind of fur that Oscar didn't recognize. He had a pendant around his neck of some creature's eye. The man's own eyes were green and looked like a serpentine. There was an air of danger that exuded from him that Oscar was easily able to identify.

This man was like Dorian and Feras. Except… perhaps it was accurate to say he was like Oscar. There wasn't a wildness from his corruption that Dorian and Feras had had about them. This man felt more controlled, more… natural with his corruption.

"I see you brought guests. Ozolo Vyke, but you can call me Oz," Oz said with a bow.

"Pardon my forwardness, but I'd like to speak with these new friends of yours. Alone."

"Boss! We have some information about the church restoration project to share!" Sob said. Oz dismissed her with a wave of his hand.

"Later, Sob. I have news of my own to share with you all, but first…" he flicked his gaze back to Oscar.

"I must speak with my… cousin." The word came out harsh and laced with venom, striking fear into Oscar. Somehow, the others hadn't noticed the particular choice in words.

"I think that Gita and I should be going actually," Oscar said hastily. Gita, who hadn't picked up on his corruption looked at him in confusion.

"Oscar, let's just hear him out. We're already here." Reluctantly, Oscar nodded and followed Oz into his room. His room was like a miniature jungle with how many plants there were. There was a section carved out for them all to sit, but it was still a peculiar room.

"You're like me, but also… different," Oz said as he sized Oscar up. Those reptilian-like eyes of his roamed all over his body, drinking him in.

"How interesting… I didn't think there were others like myself."

"You're also different," Oscar said.

"You don't feel as manic as the others."

"Hold on, what are you two talking about?" Gita asked. Oz gave Gita a harsh look at the interruption.

"Both of us are… tainted? I don't know what you'd call it, but a mass amount of impurity flows through us is the best way for me to define it."

"Just like how Dorian and Feras were similar to myself, Oz seems to have the same corruption on him as well," Oscar said, providing further clarity. If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it. Gita visibly jumped in shock once she'd finally realized what he was talking about.

"Shit! That's like… really bad, isn't it?" Oscar shook his head.

"Oz isn't like the others we've seen. He feels more in control over the presence. How did you become like this?"

"If I knew, I'd tell you. I have an inconsistent memory-blank spanning the past year or so. Nine months ago, I woke up and managed to escape… from somewhere. The memory is fuzzy and I've been unable to fully remember. Bits and pieces from before are present, but they're jumbled so badly that I can't make sense of them either," Oz said.

"I've only met a few others, but they were as you said; completely forsaken by whatever it is that plagues and enhances us," Oz said and took a seat.

"Are you also like me? A Shiftling?" Oscar recalled Emily briefly mentioning that name, but he hadn't ask for an explanation.

"Uh… Sorry, Gita and I aren't from a big city. What's a Shiftling?" Oz's eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Where are you from that you don't know of my ilk?" he snorted, but didn't press them further.

"My people are vilified for our ability to morph our appearance. We shift in and out of forms, which leads humans to distrust us. It's unfounded fear, but in turn, due to their treatment of us we are forced to adapt and do the same deceits they accuse us of. Shiftlings aren't inherently bad people just as humans aren't inherently bad either. Circumstances mold us far more effectively than our racial ability." Oscar and Gita stared at Oz in amazement.

Thus far, Oscar had only seen monsters, but people were just regular humans. He hadn't imagined there being another species as well. But then he thought on what Oz had said and felt himself feel disappointed at the existence of racism still being a thing. Which was admittedly naive of him to assume, but still… he'd hoped Torralgia was different than Earth in this as well.

"Ah, I see," Oscar said awkwardly.

"I'm sorry to hear you're treated like that, but rest assured that we don't hold those biases against you as well."

"Hmph," Oz snorted out.

"We'll see… Those five out there… they're like me as well. I hope that's it's not a problem that they didn't tell you."

"Uh, no, that's fine," Gita said.

"Given what you said about your peoples treatment, I think it makes sense for them to be hush about it." Oz studied both of their faces, likely looking for deceit. Once he detected there was none, he continued.

"As a Shiftling, this taint which stains my soul… It has warped my race, turning me into some strange half-breed. Has it done anything odd for you, Oscar?" Oscar paused at hearing his name, as he didn't believe he'd introduced himself yet.

"No, I just have these freaky-ass skills. I can pilfer someone's skills and steal one of them, assuming I've killed them myself. And I can use my shadow as a weapon, but nothing drastically different about myself." He didn't mention the black spot on his shoulder as he didn't feel like that was similar to whatever Oz was about to mention.

"As I said, Shiftlings can morph their appearance. Face, hair, height—if it's anything physical, we can change it. And that's no different for me… at the base level that is. Now, I can change… more about myself. Do you mind if I demonstrate? It'd be easier if you saw rather than listen to me babble." Oscar hesitated but gave his consent. The moment he did so, Oz splayed out his hand and one of his fingers stretched across the room and morphed into a viper's head.

It was a perfect recreation of a viper that Oscar genuinely believed it was real. Then it snaked around Oscar's neck and he felt it's fangs presence lightly press against his sensitive flesh.

"W-What the fuck! That's a real viper's head!" he shouted in fear and disbelief. Gita had tripped over something herself and hadn't recovered yet. She sat sprawled out on the ground, a potted plant now spilled all over her, here eyes transfixed on the snake appendage, full of the most fear he'd ever seen in the girl. Oz payed her no mind. Oz recalled his viper finger, which morphed back into a regular finger.

"It's not a real viper's head… but it's also not fake either. I cannot explain how it works, but I presume it's linked to my class. I'll share with you mine, if you'll agree to do the same." Oscar saw no reason to deny the information, so he agreed.

"[Abyssal Shifter] is what I became. My old class was stripped away and replaced with this."

"I'm an [Abyssal Acolyte]. Not as interesting a name as yours, but we are similar," Oscar said.

"And as interesting as a discovery that this is… What exactly do you want from me?" Oz paused and stood up to water one of his plants with a nearby watering can.

"When I was out earlier, I stumbled upon you interacting with my… with Cry and the others. When I detected you were the same as me, I retreated here to collect my thoughts. Then you just happened to come to my home," he stopped to refill his watering can.

"I'm not a particularly nice individual to outsiders, but… as we are similar, I'd like for us to establish a working relationship. I have my own mission I seek to accomplish in the city and believe you could help."

"What kind of mission?"

"Like I said before, that group of kids in the other room are Shiftlings. Most Shiftling kids are born from human parents. Usually around the age of five is when a Shiftling will do their first change. Prior to that… the parents have no way of knowing. Fear at seeing their child become someone else causes them to abandon the kid. Very rarely does a Shiftling's parent not dump them onto the street.

However, sometimes a Shiftling kid is given a chance at feeling loved," Oz stopped watering his plants and turned to look at Oscar, fire burning within those predator eyes.

"Sob was fortunate enough to have that experience. For a while. She had only one parent, her dad, but he loved her. I saw it every time I visited him. In his eyes, she was just his precious daughter." Oscar said nothing, and neither did Gita. They both just solemnly nodded their head, paying their respects as this story could only end in one way if Sob was currently living here.

"I knew Perry, he wasn't an addict. Someone found out about his secret and killed him for it. I just don't know who," Oz said.

"Logic says it's the Reissi family. They control the vast majority of Desire that gets peddled on these streets, but I also believe that it's too simple of an answer. Perry didn't just die of an overdose. Just like how you and I were able to detect our commonality, I was able to do the same with Perry." Oscar felt his brief comprehension of the subject vanish.

"Perry was like us? I don't… What?"

"That's the thing, Oscar, he wasn't like us. Perry was a normal human [Carpenter] that led a normal human life, loving his normal Shiftling daughter. It was only faint, but I'm positive that whatever runs through our blood was also present within him. So, now I'm left with the question of how," Oz sighed and ran his fingers through his messy black hair.

"But I think I'm getting closer to the truth. I've got a new lead that I'm going to pursue in the coming days. If you're willing to assist me and discover the truth… I'd appreciate it."

"Oz, I don't mean to sound like a dick, but…"

"What do you get in return?" Oz said, finishing his question for him.

"My gratitude? Assistance in whatever your goal is for being in this putrid city? I cannot promise a concrete reward aside from my personal promise to be a friend. But, let me promise you this… I am a valuable friend to have in your corner." Gita had finally recovered and spoke for the first time in awhile.

"The person we're with is already powerful enough. And our mission is also dangerous enough without putting ourselves into even more danger. I apologize—""Okay, I can't promise to help you with every task, but… call upon me when you most need it and I'll do what I can," Oscar said and offered his hand.

"I don't know how long we'll be in Dynarus, but part of our mission is to snuff out corruption. If we can find a strong link between this city and the ongoing spreading of corruption, then I should be able to convince Bruno to stay." Oz reached out and gripped Oscar's hand in his. It was faint, but he thought he could feel the slight edges of scales on Oz's skin. A genuine, but immensely creepy, smile stretched onto Oz's face.

Even though he had only seen the Shiftling do one thing, there was no doubt that Oz was dangerous.

"I'm pleased to hear it, Oscar," Oz said.

"Based off your clothes and that pin on your collar, you're affiliated with Plank's organization?" when Oscar was unable to suppress the alarm his face must've showed, he continued.

"I've been around this city for a very long time and done my fair share of business with the man. Should I have need of you, I'll leave a message in the bowl of that statue which guards the entrance to your residence."

"And how should I contact you should I require aid?" Oz's creepy smiled returned once more, but this time it was more predatory than friendly.

"Oh, I'll be around. I'm always watching these days; should you need me, I'll know." Oscar wasn't quite sure he liked that answer. Nonetheless, after shaking on the partnership once more and saying goodbye to Cry and the others, Oscar and Gita left Oz's hideaway. Gita was right to have her reservations about the Shiftling, but in Oscar's mind, he'd be a fool to turn away someone that was like him.

Even if Oz was intimidating, there was no doubt in his mind that the snake-like Shiftling would prove to be a valuable ace to keep in his back pocket. Oscar anxiously massaged where the black spot was at on his shoulder. He only prayed he'd never have to use Oz against Bruno.