Present Day

Slit

I heard an explosion behind us and saw a shadow jump off a large, sinking boat. It pulled away its hood to reveal a head of messy black hair and red eyes.

"Look who it is. Long time no see, runt."

"Locke," I hissed. "I'm not your weakling brother. Your words don't add up to crap."

"That sharp tongue... I wonder how I can shut you up, little brother."

"I'll shut YOU up!" I pulled out my staff, the top rolling on the joint to form a longer stick. But it was knocked out of my hand by a whitish blur that became a web as it pinned by hand to the wall.

"I can't let you do that. Not until I've settled the score!"

"At least give me a fair fight, coward!"

"You didn't last time we fought," Locke snarled. He saw Autumn's raised eyebrow and baffled frown. "You don't know? Do you remember, you piece of Slit?"

"... Are you serious? And I do remember. That you're running out of burns. But of course, also the ritual."

"Yes. But at least one of us should live to tell the cat girl." He grinned as four black, sticklike appendages emerged from his back. They cracked and dug into the ground, spikes emerging from the upper joints as they lifted him up. "That'll be me." I saw Autumn freeze up, her ears pinned to the top of her head and her skin whitening.

"I see your taunt-acles got an upgrade, but you should tell Autumn before she runs."

"Y-y-yeah. You better. I'm terrified of s-spi-spiders."

"Alright. I'll tell you." My older brother lowered himself, and his spider legs returned into his back. "But I won't free you, Virgil." That got a glare from me.

"Just for a while? Please?" the Neko begged.

"Yeah. I'm getting stiff here."

"Dude." He stared blankly. "Just cut it." I managed to move the blood spike from before to my hands and cut myself loose before liquefying it.

"Alright. Fill her in." I rotated my wrists as the story began.

And this chapter of our story began with the birth of my little sister.