[Universe: HermitVengers, main timeline]

[Set after the events of Endgame]

[TW: mentions of death, gruesome murder via demon .w.]

Hiking out of the forest they'd parked in was a bit of a challenge, especially since Cleo and Doc had to be ready to hide their faces and arms at any moment. It wasn't too cold, especially for the early morning, but Phasma was shivering like a chihuahua.

"Bee... do you need another jacket?" Crepitus chuckled, grabbing Bdubs' hand.

"N-No- I'm f-f-fine!" He tried to insist, but he found another jacket being wrapped around him anyway.

Doc rolled his eyes affectionately, fortunately only needing his hoodie to keep him both covered and warm. "You're shivering like crazy, just keep it on or I'm carrying you in my hoodie like a dog."

Snorting at the mental image, Cleo playfully nudged Bdubs. "Like you'd actually complain about that, though."

"SHUT UP-"

The walk to the nearest bus stop was a bit long, but they'd all handled worse. And Loki just so happened to be nearby... for some reason. But at least they wouldn't have to rely on prototype tech yet, and instead have a few illusions cast up so Doc and Cleo wouldn't have to be paranoid on that front. The ride itself was long too, and the group depended on the Voids to poke them out of their various dazes to get ready to get off to the next stop. Then they waited for the next bus and repeated the process... for about seven hours or more. As they got closer and closer to their destination, they relied on Crepitus to ask the locals about what they knew about Houska Castle. What they got... varied in quality.

A few said they hadn't heard of it, others said the rumors were all just for attention. But... as they were about four stops away, they got a story about someone who went there and didn't come out.

"Well..." A middle-aged woman sighed (mind you, this is translated by Crep from the language she spoke). "When a few friends and I were younger, about sixteen, we decided to check the castle out. After all, we thought it'd be funny, maybe we could scare a few people. But... one of my friends went deeper into the chambers and didn't come back. All we heard was screaming, and all that was left was her cellphone. We left as soon as we could, and the police never found her... well, not alive."

As the woman described something to Crepitus, the growing look of disgust and concern made Alex and X much more nervous.

"She... she says all that was left was bones... the DNA tests said it was her friend's, from what little bit that was left. There... were bite marks on them, and a few of the ribs were snapped."

Cleo cringed a bit. "Can... Can you tell her I'm sorry for her loss? That's gotta be terrifying."

Doc nodded and translated. The woman smiled at Cleo kindly and nodded, a silent thank you.

"We'll see what we can do..."

On the next bus ride, Xisuma and Doc both researched as much as they could find on disappearances around the castle, anxiety growing around the group.

"Guys! I found a livestream- someone's there right now!" Crepitus moved over to the majority of the group, a video pulled up on his phone.

"What are they doing!?" Phasma whispered, leaning over. "Oh gods, it's one of those stupid people who do dumb shit for views-"

A group of young men (maybe mid-twenties) were walking around the abandoned castle, talking about the stories they had heard... but the way they talked about it sounded very...

"This is the click-baity-ist shit ever." Cleo snorted. "Gods, they make the place sound ridiculous."

Bdubs snorted, then noticed something. "Uhm... there's something on the ceiling..."

A pair of glowing green eyes stared from above, and the streamer's chat noticed too.

"Uh... oh no..." Xisuma swallowed the lump in his throat, exchanging a look with Clint.

"Dudes... what's that?" A bit of genuine terror got through the performer front of one of them, and that clearly worried his friends.

"What's wha- OH SHIT-?!"

The Hermits and Clint jumped as a huge, bat-like thing swooped down from the ceiling, its flesh looking decayed from what they could see.

"IT'S A FUCKING BAT- IT'S-"

The cameraman dropped his camera, being snatched up by what was clearly a winged bat demon. Screaming in terror, the rest of the crew ran off in different directions... but the continued screams didn't quite suggest that they found any safety. And neither did the sudden silence moments afterward.

"Well... they're definitely dead." Clint muttered, eyes wide.

Crepitus narrowed his eye(s?) at the halls where the men had vanished. 'Demons... but not ones from where he's from. That can't be good, especially if their favorite food is people.'

Glancing at the window, Doc's heart stopped for a moment.

His reflection, with horns and slitted pupils, was frowning at him. It signed in ASL, "Good luck," before Crepitus blinked and his reflection was normal.

"Doc? You see something?" Phasma looked over, raising an eyebrow and trying to see what his boyfriend was looking at.

"No... nothing."

----

Hehe :>

Hope you're all enjoying this! I know we are :D

- CinnabonSys (scheduled so much of this ahead of time)