ROSES HAVE THORNS-Chapter 52 - 53 - Twist Of Fate

"How long are we going to have to fucking wait here, Gory!? I already missed my afternoon work time with the dorm mother and now it’s nearly curfew!"

Austin and Gary stood in the church’s playground that was near the orphanage. The sun had long since set and it was just about half an hour away from being 21:00pm.

"Damn. You almost got it right Austin. All you had to do was replace the o with an a..."

"Don’t try to change the fucking subject! Where is your contact?! You said they’d be here three hours ago!"

"And I’m glad you waited with me. You’re really a true friend." Gary smiled at him.

’This motherf–’

"You don’t have to worry about curfew, Austin. Worst comes to worst we could just stay over there." He pointed across the street.

"The orphanage? What makes you think they’ll let us stay there?"

"Because I’m from that orphanage. During my time there they actually gave me my own room instead of having to share with others. Said it was because I needed a place to focus when I was studying to get into Future Academy. When I left I told them to keep that room open for whenever I visit for the holidays."

"Hell no! I’m not staying with a bunch of annoying little kids! I’m going back before it’s too late!" Austin shoved his hands into pockets and sharply turned away.

"Oh, Austin look ou–"

Thud!

"Oof! Watch it, motherfuuahhh..."

"Be careful now young little lamb. Are you alright?"

When Austin got a proper look at who he bumped into, any foul thoughts that might’ve spewed out his mouth immediately got halted.

’T-Tobias?! The first boss of the game?!’

"Is there something on my face, little lamb? You’re staring at me like you’ve seen your worst nightmare come to life."

"I-I... erhm..."

"Father Tobias!" Gary greeted him. "I’m glad you could finally make it."

"Gary! What a wonderful surprise. How are you? Have your studies been going well?"

"Y-You two know each other?" Austin nervously asked Gary.

"Yes. Father Tobias and I go way back. Since my early childhood days in fact. He even trained me and made me as strong as I am today."

"Oh Gary, you flatter me. It’s all thanks to your hard work that you are who you are today."

"You’re... strong?" Austin looked at him with skepticism.

"Oh, he is very strong little lamb. Did you not know, he is part of the ten–"

"Shhh! Be quiet Father Tobias!" Gary covered his mouth shut and hissed at him. "I was waiting to surprise him at the tournament next week..."

"Is that right? Ha ha ha. I apologise then."

Austin, who stood to the side, could not believe the sight he was seeing.

’What the fuck am I looking at?! Why the hell is Gregory being so chummy with this low tier cult leader?! This shit wasn’t in any of the lore I read!’

"Gary, do you mind introducing me to your friend? I still don’t know his name." Tobias asked him politely.

"Of course! Sorry, where are my manners... Austin, this is Father Tobias. He is a bishop of the church as well as my magic teacher. Father Tobias, this is Austin. He is my roommate, my seatmate, and most importantly, he is my friend." Gary looked particularly pleased with himself when he said the word ’friend’.

"A friend of Gary’s? What a joyous piece of news this is! I was afraid that with his personality he would struggle to make any meaningful connections let alone any friends. It’s nice to meet you, Austin." He gestured to him with a handshake.

At that moment Austin felt like he was stuck between a rock and a hard place as he looked between Tobia’s hand and Gary’s happy face.

’Fucking hell! I don’t wanna shake the hand of this disgusting creep but... Grrrrr FUCK! I wish I could just kill this bastard right here! Argh! This bitch is lucky I’m not strong enough... yet. Just shake his hand and go home, Austin.’

"I-It’s nice to meet you too, bitc– Aah! B-Bishop Tobias, ha ha..." Austin reluctantly shook his hand and tried keeping a straight face.

"Mm. Would you like to come inside the church for a light meal? I believe we still have some leftover soup and bread. Young men like yourselves need to be plenty... ripe and... strong."

’Eeeewwww. Why’d he lick his lips like that!’

"Yes! We would love t–"

"N-NO WE DON’T! Thank you for the offer but we already ate earlier. Besides, it’s getting late so we really have to move. C’mon Gabby, let’s gotta hurry back."

"Now hold on Austin." Gary pulled him back. "Didnt you say that you were looking for someone? Well, this is my contact I was telling you about."

"T-The bishop was your contact?"

"Yes."

"... Ha... hahaha... Actually, you know what? On second thought maybe I don’t really need to find–"

"You’re looking for someone, Austin? Is it important?" Tobias asked him.

"No–"

"Yes, it is Father! You should’ve seen how stressed he’s been these last couple of days because of this person! So I offered to help him. It’s what any good friend would do..." Gary blushed slightly when he said the word ’friend’ again.

"That’s wonderful Gary! And Austin, you’ve come to the right person as I happen to know almost everyone around here. But let’s not talk out here, come inside."

"Yeah! Let’s go, Austin!" Gary hopped around him and pushed him by the shoulders.

’F-Fuck! Is this where my story ends?!’

Once they were inside, Tobias took them to the back room of the church where there was a mini lounge area. They both sat on a red couch that faced a little round table while Tobias walked into what looked like a kitchen.

"H-Hey Garin?" Austin whispered.

"Gary."

"G-Gary, right... of course. Gary, do you not know who that man actually is?"

"He’s a bishop of the church. Were you not listening to the introduction? That’s kinda rude, Austin."

"I was listening and I know he’s a bishop! Who doesn’t fucking know who he is!" He hissed as he tried his best to keep his voice down.

"Whoa Austin. Language. You’re in a church you know. Goddess Bula could be listening to you even if you’re whispering."

"Can you just answer my question already!"

"And what question would that be?" Tobias asked as he set two bowls of soup and bread on the table and took a seat on the red couch opposite them.

"Austin just asked me if–"

"It’s nothing, Bishop! Ha Ha! Really, it wasn’t anything important."

"Whatever you say..." Gary shrugged as he dipped the bread in the soup and ate it.

"Well, if it’s nothing then all’s well. Now Austin, you said you were looking for someone and that it was stressing you out. Could you be more specific as to who you’re talking about?"

’Fuck it. Maybe I can get out of this safely without touching on the subject of the cult.’

"Ahem! His name is Kurt."

"... Annnd?"

"T-That’s all I know..."

"Hahaha. Austin, that’s so vague and too little to work with."

’I’m so fucking stupid! I could’ve at least tried to gather clues from Diana and Emelie before coming here!’

"I knew something like this would happen. Don’t worry Father; based on my observations of various students and on the course of recent events in the city, I have a pretty good suspicion about who this Kurt is."

"You do?" Austin asked Gary in surprise.

"Yes. Here, look." Gary reached into his bag and pulled out a newspaper with Kurt being trapped in ice while covered in blood. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"This is..." The bishop, who was deep in thought, said to himself.

"That’s Kurt? Wasn’t that guy arrested on the suspicion of murder and running around the street while covered in blood like a crazy person?"

"I’m only hypothesising, but I’d say there’s a 90% chance this is the person you are looking for."

"Then why’d you bring me here and waste this bitc– I mean, gentleman’s time if you already knew!?"

"Because Austin. You’re not just looking for him in order to have a nice chat with him, are you?"

"Oh Austin~" Gary smiled as he turned the newspaper to him and pointed at Kurt. "You want to kill him, don’t you? I’ve seen how you’ve been acting lately and it’s always when the name ’Kurt’ is brought up by hmmm... let’s say specific women, that you always burst out in anger and are in a bad mood."

"G-Gary?"

"Thank you for saying my name right this time Austin hehe~." Gary held his hand on his chin and leaned on the table while looking at Austin.

"What are you trying to say?"

"What I’m trying to say is that you and our goal seem to align perfectly. Isn’t that right, Father Bishop?"

Across the table Tobias held his hand against his face and shook as he started laughing.

"Heh...Hehehehe! Perfect... This is perfect. It’s always been so difficult to assign you to missions, Gary. You’d always refuse with the excuse of saying that you’re too busy and that it’s a waste of time unless one of the higher ups specifically asks for you."

’Oh shit... oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit!’

"Well, I’ll only do this mission if Austin agrees to it."

"Is that so... Austin." Tobias suddenly spoke menacingly.

Austin sat up straight as nervous sweat began to drop from his forehead.

When Tobias opened his fox shaped eyes, they revealed a red demonic glow that sent shivers down his spine.

"Join us, Austin. Join us as we rid the world of impurities. Join us in creating a land that only the true children of Goddess Bula may walk upon. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. It was written on your face the moment we bumped into each other."

’I-I need to leave!’ Austin panicked inside. ’F-Fuck! I need to leave! I need to–’

When he turned to look at Gary, he saw that his eyes had also shifted into a demonic red glow.

"What do you say, my friend~?"

’I’m dead aren’t I? I’m dead if I don’t agree.’

"Where..." He whispered.

"Hmm? What was that, Austin?" Gary leaned in closer to him.

"... Where... Where do I sign up?"