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(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

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the teeth extended in<strong>to</strong> fangs. "Ooooooh! They change!" They shrunk <strong>do</strong>wn<br />

<strong>to</strong> normal, then <strong>to</strong> fangs again, then normal... "I think I'm going <strong>to</strong> like<br />

these."<br />

"I'm sorry, Morte. I didn't mean you any harm."<br />

"Oh, I'll still get you for this," Morte replied. He grinned, his teeth turning<br />

in<strong>to</strong> fangs again. "Just you wait."<br />

I didn't like the sound <strong>of</strong> that. "Uh... revenge never helped anyone, Morte...<br />

uh, let's go."<br />

For the next few days I <strong>to</strong>ok odd jobs here and there: delivering letters,<br />

escorting visi<strong>to</strong>rs, fending <strong>of</strong>f thugs and gangs and selling the goods<br />

collected. It wasn't a proud life by any means, but it was something <strong>to</strong> help<br />

scrape us by.<br />

The run-<strong>do</strong>wn flophouse we stayed in was poor shelter, and part <strong>of</strong> me was<br />

worried that the owner would try murdering us in our sleep for our paltry<br />

coin. Yet with Dak'kon at my side and the scars mounting on my flesh, those<br />

weaker-willed backed away. I soon reasoned out that despite the blanket <strong>of</strong><br />

numerous wounds on my flesh, thugs could tell that I was inexperienced in<br />

the ways <strong>of</strong> the city, perhaps even a little naive.<br />

"They know your inexperience by your poise," Dak'kon had said.<br />

At night I stayed awake most <strong>of</strong> the night as Morte snored away and<br />

Dak'kon <strong>do</strong>zed quietly, his blade propped against his shoulder as he leaned<br />

against the wall as if in meditation. I always dreaded that terrifying<br />

dreamless void when my eyes closed, that wound deep inside me with its<br />

ragged edges where something was missing. Something vital.<br />

When fatigue finally <strong>to</strong>ok me in<strong>to</strong> its cold embrace, it was all I could <strong>do</strong> <strong>to</strong><br />

keep from screaming until the feeble light <strong>of</strong> morning seeped through the<br />

cracked win<strong>do</strong>ws. I sat up groggily, shivering and trying <strong>to</strong> clear my head <strong>of</strong><br />

that terrible black fog. Today was the day that I would enter the <strong>to</strong>mb, and I<br />

needed some supplies. I decided <strong>to</strong> investigate a shop that we had passed<br />

earlier, but didn’t have time <strong>to</strong> go inside.<br />

The sign outside had said "Fell's Tat<strong>to</strong>o Parlor."<br />

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