#ankford

Starting more Kingdom Hearts 3 in 18 minutes https://www.twitch.tv/ankford

Tremors rock through the cobblestoneand a loud thump echoes in the small chamber. She taps my shoulder and Ipeek through my fingers. Red, sticky blood stains her hat, her coat, her mask.Just about everything, really. She looks kind of like my dad when he comes homefrom the hunt. Behind her, the pink mound lies motionless. Blood gushes from itsside like water from a fountain. I press my lips together, a whine pushing itsway out of my throat. I clear it immediately, but she pulls down her mask tosmile at me.

 "Okay?" she asks. I nod. She reaches her hand out towards me. Itake it, and she lifts me onto her hip. I press my face into her shoulder whilewe pass the beast. It even stinks, too. We exit out into a gust of wind that whips my hair around my face and almost tears out my bow. Before us sits along, long ladder. I can barely even see the top.

 Luna hesitates for a moment, staring up at it as well. Then she puts medown, takes off her belt, and kneels down.

 "Hop up onto my back," she says and pulls her mask back up.

 "Okay," I mutter. I give it my best jump and land on her backhard. She gets up and wraps the belt around the both of us. My stomach squishesup against her coat and some of the blood rubs off on it. There's no space towipe it off. She fastens the belt as tightly as she can, then peeks back at me.

 "Hold on tight, okay? As tight as you can. And don't look down, nomatter what," she says. I squeeze her torso hard with my arms and my legs. With a huff, she steps uponto the ladder. I press my eyes shut. On the way up, I try to count the stepsfrom the clanging sounds. I lose track several times until I have to give up. Assoon as we reach the top, she slinks off to the side. I open my eyes and lookaround us. A gasp flies down my throat—to our right stands the ghastly citizensand one of those really big guys. Mom and dad would never tell us what happenedto them. Why they're so huge and deformed. They just are and they seem so wrong.

 Luna sneaks past them, up some steps, past some very hairy boys, and upsome more steps. On the way up, her pace slows. Clearing her throat, she takesoff her hat and dumps it on my head.

 "Hey!" I whine, but I can't help the giggle in my chest. I canfeel her start running again, but I can't see it—the hat slides down over myeyes, bouncing around on my head.

 "I can't see!" I say. She laughs.

 "Oh no, what a pity!" she says, her voice more shrill than usual. I'd put it back on her head,but I need my hands to cling to her. Her breath grows heavy as she darts upmore steps. I cringe as she pushes some gate open. Its hinges really need someoil. Then she plucks the hat off of my head and puts it back on hers. I twist aroundas much as I can to gaze behind us. All I can see is some tall monument sort ofstatue and moonbeams peeking down like little harpoons of pale light.

 Another ladder, a roomful of books, and a spiral staircase later, we entera church hall. I could smell the incense even before we entered through thedoors, and the fumes float through the air like fog. A small, crooked personwearing a blanket stares at us while Luna unbuckles her belt.

 "Oh! Good hunter! Another?" he asks.

 "Yes, and her parents are lost, so be nice," she says as shesets me down.

 "Oh, my. A child is it, then?" he asks. I stare at him andtilt my head. His eyes are completely grey. I don't think he can even see me.

 "Yes, but I'm a whole seven already," I say. He smiles—his teeth are huge and crooked.

 "Goodness. Almost a whole decade!" He laughs nervously. Awoman in dressed in flowing velvet rises from a chair across the floor.

 "Aw, you poor thing. Your folks are missing?" she asks as shesaunters towards us.

 "Yes, but... Miss Luna is looking for them," I say and look upat her. She nods and stares at the lady, who crouches down before me.

 "Well, don't you worry about that, my dear. We'll keep you saferight here until they come back," she says, pulling her rose-red lips intoa smile. I try to return it, but my lips won't do as I say. I stare back up atLuna.

 "Will things be okay now?" I ask her. She presses her browstogether and bends over a little to face me as well.

 "I think so," she says.

 "Will you look for my sister as well?" She nods.

 "Of course. I'll double back and keep an eye out." I nodseveral times. I pick at my fingers and shuffle my dirty white shoes.

 "Tell me when you find my parents, okay?" I ask. I can't makemy voice be anything more than a whisper. Her lower lip trembles. She flashes atight-lipped smile at me. I've seen my mom and dad do that exact same thing. Ican never figure out what the expression means, exactly.

He is also now a superfan of Hallmark Christmas movies and I need you all to send help because they are driving me insane.

Nikki does! They have a cat and she definitely sings a little hungry kitty song when she comes home and feeds the little menace.

Thea does it too, I think. People wouldn’t think so, but she loves that dog and loosens up around him a lot. You’d think Esther does it as well, but she’s more of a babytalk kind of person :p