The Body Snatcher

		A cool winter wind blew through Steelwater, chilling anyone that was walking on the streets without any sort of protection to the bone. The winter air was fresh, the faint smell of freshly fallen snow mixing with the sour taste of burned oil and gas. The faint glows of the stars were bathing the city in a cool light. The snow glowed like a nightlight, reflecting the bright half-moons light. Lone cars rode down the streets, on their way to work or back home, splashing slush and melted snow onto the sidewalks. Concrete buildings hung overhead, blocking off the dime night sky.
	Max sat where he usually sat in Bob's Diner: right next to the window. His rugged eyes watched the nightlife with boredom. A small mug of coffee sat next to his hand, radiating a warm heat. He held the small mug from the handle and took a sip. The bitter black liquid went down his throat, warming up his insides. It's been three months since the Moonlight Murder case; three long months. He scratched the side of his face. Even though Claire was locked up in an asylum and bell in prison , he still hasn't gotten any sleep. It didn't help that the asylum was allowing Claire to send out mail to whoever she pleased. He didn't feel bad for the Harpy mail girl, it was her fault not realizing she was delivering a crazy persons mail to someone who's many times said to stop.
	Sometime he thought the warden was messing with him.
	He took another sip of his coffee. It was December, a happy month at that; a season for giving. Christmas lights blinked and shone in from the outside on the city streets. He didn't understand why the mayor allowed the lights to be on in a way to brighten up the city. Steelwater wasn't really a nice city. But she still tries, in tribute to her husband that to this day is nowhere to be found.
	Mayor Briggs. Where had he gone?
	Max didn't pay any mind to the woman that sat across from him, her amber eyes watching the man with intensity. Woman wasn't the word, more of a Dhampir, the only monster Max was fine with because they were more human than monster. The Dhampir brushed away a strand of her hair out of her face. Max would be lying if he said that Forbes wasn't beautiful. A faint blush appeared on her cheeks as she ate, as if she could hear Max' thoughts. She took a sip of her tea. Green, like she always had. If anyone was watching the scene from a distance, they’d think the duo were on a date.
	"You've got something on your face." Forbes blinked. She pointed to the right side of her mouth, getting a nod from Max who wasn't even looking at her. With a blush, she scraped it off with a napkin.
	"You know, I almost forgot how good Bob's food was." Forbes sliced a piece of the steak on her plate and took a bite. The way her face changed to bliss was as if she hasn't had meat since she was a child. "I wish we had something like this in East."
	"Why are you here?" Max looked at the woman straight in the eyes, something of which he wouldn't do to any monster. Forbes frowned.
	"You haven't changed a bit." She took a sip of her tea. "We need help over in East."
	"So I've heard." Max didn't want to go to East, but the way the Dhampir made it sound, he would have to head over there just like how chief and Dave did months ago. "What am I looking at?"
	"Body snatcher." Forbes tossed Max a folder. "There's been a sudden rise of accidental murders in East Steelwater."
	"Accidental?"
	"Monster-girls who don't know their own strength in the bedroom." It was one of those cases. "A monster goes in to the bedroom with their husband or stolen man on the streets. They do the nasty; guy gets a snapped neck or something worse, especially if it's a Lamia or a Wurm."
	"And I'm guessing these mostly take place on full moons."
	"Most of the time." Forbes took another bite of her steak. "Mostly it's any day, but that's what happens when your district is the monster home world of the city."
	"So it's another Moonlight Murder case." Max grumbled to himself. If it wasn't a drug bust or a gang bust, it's a murder.
	"Not exactly;" Max looked at the woman. "We get a call from the woman saying that they killed their husband in a fluke accident. We tell them to calm down and we're on our way. Once we reach there, the poor girl's crying in the lobby." Forbes took another sip of her tea. "We head up, the body's gone."
	"Gone?"
	"Like a ghost. The woman swears she didn't hide it or anything, and she comes in for questioning."
	"So they hide the bodies to avoid getting arrested for murder." Monsters. The Dhampir shook her head.
	"That's what we thought at first. Next thing we know, bodies are just disappearing. The weird part; it’s not just men." Max raised an eyebrow. "Men, woman, monster-woman, anything that's dead; gone." She looked into Max' eyes. "Body snatcher."
	"And that's why you're bringing me to East as an extra hand." Forbes nodded. "Why me?" He really didn't want to go. It was one thing east had the most monsters in the city, but he didn't want to be near the prison.
	Though, he could stop by and visit Claire. And tell her to stop sending him mail.
	"Max, not even Chief could think of anything."
	"He's old." Max took a sip of his coffee. "It comes with age."
	"As if you're not old."
	"As if you're not." Max was lucky he and Forbes were friends. The Dhampir mumbled something with a blush.
	"We tried asking south for help but they're busy with the return of that damn Pharaoh chick. And West is...” She trailed off. Max almost forgot about west, most people do. Most of West was Paladin territory, the ones that still preach the old order of eradicating monsters on sight. It was called the holy land by most, but was forgotten by all. "Besides," the Dhampir broke his thoughts. "Who else could we call for help?"
	"Cathy." The Dhampir gave the man a look. "She's an expert on the dead, in more ways than one." Max wouldn't be surprised if the Ushi Oni was into necrophilia, she spent more time in the morgue than anywhere else.
	"The Chief recommended that it was your territory." Of course he did. Max sighed to himself. He grabbed a cigarette from his pocket and placed in in his mouth. Forbes watched the man get up, placing a twenty on the table to pay for her meal. "You still smoke?" Max nodded, getting the lighter out of his jacket pocket. Forbes pulled on her thick winter sweater and got up. "You know it's bad for you."
	"I'm aware." Max paid no mind to the obviously jealous Cheshire that watched them walk to the exit. The man held the door open for the Dhampir to exit, his tired eyes watching her shiver to the cold. He closed the door behind him and lit the cigarette, covering the light from the wind with his hand. "So when are we leaving?"
	"Depends," Forbes looked at the man with a smirk. "When are you ready?" Max looked at the woman trying to act cool. He glanced at his watch and walked off in the opposite direction of the dhampir.
	"Ten o'clock" He said, waving off the woman. Forbes pouted.
	"You're no fun anymore, Max." Max blew a puff of smoke in the air and he walked.
	"Never was." he said to himself.

	The ride to East was long, longer than it usually was. The long bridge that connected the second island to the main island felt like it would've gone forever. Max gazed out the side window. The cool river in which the large stone bridge stood over reflected the starry sky above. He gazed back forward and the almost bare bridge. East wasn't connected to the mainland like North and south was, but instead connected by a large bridge said to have been build centuries ago. Max yawned to himself. Even though he's been drinking coffee, he still needed sleep.
	A thump from behind reminded him that he wasn't alone in Forbes' car. Two Oni's sat in the back, cramped more like it. The pickup police truck seemed well associated with the combination of the tall Oni's and their armour that was in the pickup. The chief suggested that it'd be easier for them to take off their armour so they could sit inside and get to know Max. Sometimes the man didn't like the Chief.
	"So you're one they're sending in this time?" One of the Oni's sneered, her silver hair reflecting the lights of outside. A black highlight was on the left side of her hair. "You wouldn't even survive a day."
	"Sis, don't be mean to him." The other one spoke up. She seemed to be the shy one, as evidence to how she seemed to fiddle with her long jacket sleeves and how her hair covered her right eye. "I'm sure he'll be a good help." The brash Oni snorted.
	"Alright fine; He won't last two days." A grin crept onto her face. "Happy?" The Oni burst into laughter, her sharp teeth reflecting the faint lights of outside. Max already hated this decision. Forbes sheepishly smiled.
	"Don't mind her; she's always been like that." Max didn't say anything. "They're one Oni twins. Beth and Ridley. You can figure out which one is which." Max didn't care. He would've rather been asleep than go to East. If only he could.
	"I take it I'm going to meet more like her." Max said, meaning Ridley. Forbes avoided eye contact. "Peachy."
	Billy Holiday kicked in on the radio, filling the truck with Easy Loving. Max watched at the horizon to East was beginning to grow. He took out his revolver and checked the clip. Although he wore Dave's 'guaranteed safety measure to avoid monster girl looks', he wasn't afraid to shoot anyone or anything. He wishes he could, he hasn't been able to use the thing in a long time.
	East was almost a carbon copy of most of northern Steelwater; large grey buildings scraping the sky, snow covered streets, and monsters on the streets. Max shifted in his seat. The atmosphere felt off. He was happy the winter messed with most monsters, as evidence to no scales on the streets. Then again, most of the streets were empty at this hour of the night. The truck suddenly stopped at a red light. A young man, maybe in his twenties ran by, chased by a group of werewolves. Judging by the scratches on his body, he looked like he got raped.
	Max was about to exit the vehicle when Forbes grabbed him by the arm. The man looked at the Dhampir just to receive a stern shake of her head. The laws in East were slightly different that the rest of Steelwater. Rape was OK as long as the one getting raped wasn't dead by the end. It was the reason why no one went to east at night; there was a higher chance of getting raped than in the day.
	Eastern Steelwater in the day was different. It was much more peaceful, since most monstergirls out and about are married to their husband at home. Men being a 'slut' as they called it were arrested for trying to provoke getting raped by a monster, an old thing from the paladin days to provoke the monsters to attack the man as a reason for the Paladins to purge the monster city. Max still remembered learning the old past of Steelwater and how it was formed by a five hundred year war with the monsters and the Paladins. The truck lurched forward as it continued its ride to its destination. Max yawned again, getting the attention of Forbes and Beth.
	"Do you not get much sleep?" The shy Oni asked from behind. Max said nothing. If anyone couldn't tell from the dark circles under his eyes that he wasn't getting any sleep, then he was surrounded by idiots.
	"You should get some sleep after I drop off the twins at the station." Forbes took a right, the truck almost sliding on the slippery stone streets. Max scoffed.
	"I'll rent a hotel."
	"You could stay at my hou-"
	"No." Max didn't know what to do. Staying in a hotel while he was in eastern or sleeping at Forbes' house. He hasn't been to her house since he got married. The man mumbled to himself and gazed out the window. He didn't want to remember the past. He didn't realize it when they finally reached their destination or when the twins came off. Darkness was what men the man as sleep crept onto him in silence.
	For the first time in a while Max got sleep.


		Darkness was the only thing Max could see, something in which he hasn't seen in a while. No dreams came to the man, not even a flash of light. They only lead to nightmares. His senses began to wake up to the smell of something, warm and sweet, like home cooked food. His old eyes slowly began to open. He was in a new place, somewhere he's been to before. The man slowly sat upright, rubbing his tired eyes. He had to admit, even though it wasn't the most comfortable sleep, as evidence to the fact that he was on a plush red couch, it was the best sleep he's gotten in a while.
	The room Max was in was dimly lit, the warm fireplace awake with life, burning a fresh stack of wood. Dark red curtains covered the massive windows that were on the walls, blocking out the bright sun that show from outside. He scratched the side of his face, gazing around the large living room. The floor was a pale marble, reflecting the light of the large fireplace. Max had been here before. He didn't like it. He didn't like it at all. He checked the inside of his jacket pocket for his gun, which was exactly where he left it last.
	"I see that you finally woke up."
	Max remembered the lusty voice like it was yesterday. Irritation began to form on his face as it looked over to the other couch across from him. A young looking woman sat across the large sofa, leaning onto her side with a cigarette holder in her hand. A large puffy white fur coat covered her figure, begging the question of if she was wearing any clothes underneath. She held a large glass of what most would think was red wine, if you didn't know any better. Her dark red eyes almost seemed to glow in the auburn light as she took a sip of the liquid, her lust-filled eyes never leaving contact of Max' gaze. Her dark red lipstick left a pale stain on the glass. The woman blew a strand of her blonde hair out of her face.
	Max knew this woman.
	"Catherine." Max said. It wasn't as much of a greeting as it was a growl. An old man approached the woman from behind. The butler filled the Vampire's glass up and went back to its stoic stance.
	"My my, it's been a long time since I've seen you, Max." The lusty vampire said, looking at the man. "You haven't changed a bit."
	"You have more wrinkles." Catherine's eyebrow twitched. She closed her eyes and smiled
	"Stubborn as ever." She blew a puff of smoke in the air, gesturing to her drink. "Are you thirsty?"
	"No."
	"But you just woke up. Surely you want something to dr-"
	"No." Max never trusted Catherine. She made Madame Valentine look like a hooker on the streets. Even when she's married she would still flirty with men. "Where's Forbes?"
	"Upstairs. Asleep. You know her with mornings." Catherine sipped some of her red liquid. "How are you, Max? Why, it's been so long since I've seen you."
	"Let's keep it that way." Max slowly got onto his feet, brushing off any residue of Catherine he might've gotten while he was asleep. He knew she wouldn't do anything to him while he's asleep, she had that decency, but her presence made him want to leave. "Tell her she's late for work."
	"You're not going to give her a wake up kiss?" Catherine pouted. "Some romance."
	"Get her father to do it." Max never met Forbes father, if he was still alive. He took out a cigarette and placed it in his mouth, walking off. He knew the exit to the large penthouse.
	"Why don't you stay and wait?" Max paused to the warm feeling of arms wrapping around him from behind. Catherine's large C cups pushed against his back, rubbing onto his back. Her warm breath breathed onto his neck, the smell of blood mixed with alcohol. Her voice was but a whisper. "You could give me some company while we wait for my daughter to wake up? And I know ever since your wife died, you haven't seen any action~"
	Her body went rigid to the feeling of something cold against her stomach. She looked down to see the barrel of a revolver pointed at her. Slowly she let got as Max turned to raise the gun at her head. She smiled as he pulled back the hammer. He wanted to shoot her, he really did.
	"Max, you know only a stake in the heart kills a vampire." It didn't, not necessarily. A bullet to the head could do the same amount of damage. He lowered the gun, placing it back in its holster.
	"A shattered heart has the same effect." He turned around and walked off, leaving the sex hungry vampire to leave empty handed. "Tell your husband I said hello."
	"He's dead." Catherine didn't sound as sad as much as she was upset. "He died of two years ago."
	"I guess he couldn't stand how much of a slut you are." The door closed with a slam; leaving the lusty vampire to stand in silence, save for the sound of the fire behind her. She smirked, taking a sip of her blood wine mix. She seductively licked her lips.
	"You haven't changed a bit, Max."

	Max hated east. He didn't pay any mind to the Kikimora maid that worked in the hotel lobby as he exited, ignoring her wave of goodbye. He hissed to himself as the bright snow covered sidewalks assaulted his eyes. He hated east. The man lit his cigarette and began to walk, ignoring the many fox-tailed monstergirls walking with their husbands in arm. He remembered when the streets were just filled with people; woman shopping with their husbands looking at jewellery they oh-so-obviously wanted for Christmas. Children playing on the sidewalks, tossing rolled up snowballs at each other. He remembered those times.
	Now, Steelwater was filled with monsters and demons communing with men. Max wasn't racist, he tried not to be, but being raised in West had that effect. Max kept his head down as he smoked, ignoring the looks of Neko's clad in winter gear and other monsters. The golden wedding band hugged his finger, an indication that he was married, kept off most monsters.  He didn't like the feeling of the ring on his finger; it brought back bad memories of the past. Memories of which he wanted to forget. Or at least tried to.
	He could really go for some coffee.
	The man aimlessly walked around a fallen Yeti that looked as if she was kicked out of the bar that was in front of her. Although Max didn't even glance, he was surprised to see that the Yeti was actually wearing pants and a shirt. The tanned Yeti glanced over at Max just for a large trench coat to be thrown over her. An Oni stood over the fallen yeti, dressing in a bartender outfit. She flipped the Yeti the middle finger and walked back inside. Max didn't care for the disputes of others, especially monsters. As long as there wasn't blood, Max didn't care.
	"A little help here?" Max ignored the Yeti's cries. "Hey, stranger, I'm talking to you." The man paused, looking behind him. The young copper brown Yeti sheepishly sat upwards, her jacket covering her head. "Can you help me up?"
	"No." Max continued to walk, ignoring the sound of an obviously frustrated woman. He ignored the sounds of paws on snow running towards him as he crossed the road. Of course the woman followed him.
	"Hey hey, what's the big idea?" The Yeti was beside him. She only went up to his shoulder, her puffy white hair not helping her in her height. She fixed her blue scarf to cover her mouth. "You see a woman down and out of her luck and you don't help her out?"
	"No." Max began to pick up his pace. He tossed the burnt out cigarette to the floor and pushed his hands into his jacket pocket. He growled to the sound of the young woman catching up.
	"You know smoking's bad for you, right?"
	"I'm aware." Max just wanted to walk in silence. He knew once he reached the Eastern Police HQ that he was never going to be relaxed as much as he was now. He still wanted coffee. For the first time in his life he was actually missing Bob's.
	"You seem like a new face," The Yeti began. "Are you new here?" Max didn't answer. "I mean, you seem lost, sir."
	Max was lost. He never came to east in a long time, to the point that he didn't remember the layout of the city. He should've waited at Forbes. He should've knocked out Catherine and her butler and waited. He should've killed Catherine and waited. Max wondered if killing something that was dead counted as a murder.
	"Are you looking for a place in particular?" The man almost forgot about the pursuing monstergirl. He wasn't sure if the blush on her face was because of him or because of the cold. Max didn't want another Claire. He still needed to visit the prison to tell her to stop. At least Bell didn't go off the deep end as she did.
	"Police station." Max said flatly. "Eastern HQ." Max could feel the happiness coming off the Yeti next to him.
	"Well you're in luck stranger, because that's where I'm going!" Of course it was. "Private Abigale of Eastern HQ, or Abby for short."
	"Great." Max didn't like that this was one of the many he was going to be working with. That made two Oni's and a yeti, with Forbes as the chief. Who was late. He flinched to the sudden contact of the Yeti wrapping her arm around his. He looked down at the Yeti. He didn't like contact.
	"It's so then you don't get lost." She was lying through her teeth. He quickly got out of her grip, putting his hands back in his pocket. With a shrug, the Yeti began to walk, followed closely by the man. If it wasn't for the fact that she was his only way of finding the HQ without asking around, he would've ditched her.
	The Yeti has a spring in her step, obviously from the fact that she was a rookie and was young. Max didn't like that he was having a rookie take him to the HQ, let alone someone he didn't know or cared for. He hoped he didn't get paired with her, or anyone for that matter other from Forbes. It wasn't the fact that Forbes was the only one he trusted in East, though it had its two cents, but the fact that he'd be with a monstergirl during the case. Claire was enough.
	"So why are you heading to the Easter HQ, mister.."
	"I have business there." Max didn't want to tell her his name. Silence restored the walk, with only the sound of passing cars and the crunch of boots hitting snow.
	"You're not much of a talker, are you?"
	"No."
	Silence.
	"I bet you're wondering why I got kicked out of a bar in the morning."
	"I don't care." He really didn't. Abigale stopped in her tracks. She turned to face the man, pointing an accusing finger at his face.
	"You're not really nice, you know that?" The yeti's emerald eyes looked right into Max'. "I mean, you don't help a girl when she's down, you don't tell her your name, hell, you don't even listen to her stories!"
	"The more you read those romance novels the more you'll realize that fiction is different from nonfiction." The Yeti lowered her finger, blushing uncontrollably. He knew she read romance novels, all woman did. He also knew she was trying to make a set-up like one.
	"I-I'm sorry." She said with a blush. "It's just that you read so much books and you see how they always get so much happy endings while meanwhile in the real world all you get is nothing but dirt." She sniffled. "And everytime you read a story you realize everyone's getting boyfriends while you can't even get one! And then your friends call you and say they're getting married and you put on a face and say you're happy for them, when in truth, you with you were getting married to someone and-"
	"Read other genres." Max never liked crying woman, no matter what they were. The weary eyed Yeti looked up at the man, snot running down her nose. "Here." the man took out some tissues from the inside of his jacket. The Yeti sheepishly took the warm fabric and brushed away her tears.
	"T-T-Thank you." The Yeti blew out her nose, a sound in which almost made max puke. He forgot he hasn't eaten anything yet. Abby looked at the man with a blush. "D-Do you want your tissues bac-"
	"No." He gave her another tissue. With a blush she took it.
	"You know," The Yeti tossed the frozen damp tissues in the garbage next to her. "You’re actually pretty nice."
	"So I've heard." His stomach growled like a Jinko not wanting to be petted. Abby chuckled.
	"Are you hungry?"

	The walk to the HQ was quiet, save for the sounds of Max and Abby drinking. The coffee wasn't as good as he wanted, considering he asked for black and got something in between, but it would do. Abby sipped her hot chocolate with a blush. The diner they went to wasn't as good as Bob's, something in which Max thought would've been an easy feat. Someone should tell that Wurm chef not to keep the pancakes too long on one side or you'll burn it. The rest of the food was fine at least.
	Max didn't ask for the Yeti to tell him her life stories, but she did anyways. Max didn’t like how insecure the young Yeti was. One thing he did learn was that she was from Canada, something in which Max thought was weird. Every police force had one Canadian. North had Dave, south had Blake, and east had Abby. Max wondered if it was some sort of conspiracy, like the Canadians wanted to take over Steelwater. He wouldn't mind, their maple syrup was good.
	He wondered why they liked hot chocolate so much though.
	The duo soon reached their destination at the three story building; the Eastern Police Headquarters. The building looked exactly like North's, except it didn't have a freshly replaced window. Abby looked at the building in awe and fear. He forgot the Yeti was new. With a sigh, the man brushed passed the shy woman and walked up the few steps to the door. Abby quickly followed from behind as he opened the door and entered the station.
	The very hot station.
	The blast of heat from the building almost made Max question if he just entered the deepest region of hell. The warmth of the inside was a nice change from the cool winter of outside, but it was strange nonetheless. The heater must be on its maximum setting or near death. Max took a sip of his coffee and closed the door behind him. He was tempted to hang his coat at the hangers next to the door in some way to combat the heat, but he continued on. If the building had the same set-up as North did, which it seemed like it, he should know where everything was. A radio was blasting jazz into the room. Nino Nardini - Joe Cool. He quickly checked his watch. It was 11. Forbes still wasn't here.
	"And who the hell are you two?"
	Max narrowed his eyes at the tall Salamander that approached the duo. The obviously brash woman wore a dark leather jacket and pants. Her fire tail was held low, trying not to burn the front desk she was leaning onto. She held a mug of coffee in one of her claws. Dark sunglasses covered her eyes. Her dark burned pink hair wasn't in the normal ponytail Max has seen, but instead cut short. A wooden toothpick stuck out of her mouth. Her whole attire reminded Max of a bully.
	"Hey, I'm talking to you." Max felt Abby shyly hiding behind him. He hated how she tugged on his jacket. "Aww, is that your girlfriend? She looks like she's a wuss. Is she a wuss? A chicken?"
	"I take it you work here." Max knew the answer. The Salamander took a sip from her mug.
	"That's right, I work here." Max couldn't tell who she was looking at through her shades. "What's it to you?" Max was about to say something when Abby spoke up.
	"W-We're the new recruits!" She was the only new one. A sly grin crept on the Salamanders face.
	"New blood, huh?" The woman looked at the duo. "I can understand the Yeti, but you sir, you don't seem that new."
	"I'm from North. I was sent here regarding the Body Snatcher case." The Salamander's grin increased. Anymore and she'd be a Cheshire.
	"My my, that's what they got over at North? And I thought that Canadian and that fat old guy was all they had." The Salamander looked behind her, holding a hand near her mouth. "OI! NEW RECRUITS: SOME NEW BITCH AND SOME STUD FROM NORTH!" The Salamander looked back at the duo. "Hope you're good at first impressions, because I give you both a solid 1/10."
	The sounds of groaning were heard from a distance. Two Oni's came from the right, the direction in which the gym would be, proof of which was given by the fact that they were both wearing shorts and their chests were wrapped with bandages. Max remembered the duo from the ride to East; the Oni twins, Beth and Ridley. Ridley grinned at seeing the man again. Beth didn't say a word. Neither did Max.
	"Well I'll be damned, he actually made it." Ridley wiped away some sweat off of her neck. Her whole form was covered in sweat, dampening her bandages around her large bust. Like they'd help. "Hey Clare, this is the guy I was talking about yesterday."
	"Really?" The salamander looked at the man again. Max took a sip of his coffee. It was more bitter than usual, probably having to do with the fact that he had another Clare. "He's much taller than you described."
	"Well we were in a car." Beth looked at the Yeti behind the man. "And your name?"
	"A-Abby." The Yeti said shyly. Beth smiled a warm motherly smile.
	"Well hello Abby, my name is Beth, and this is Ridley."
	"Yo."
	"And the Salamander is Clare." The Salamander did a small wave. "Unfortunately the rest of the force it out and about, except for, well, us, Luth downstairs in the morgue,"
	"Don't go down there." Clare coughed.
	"And Dell, who I hope you never get to meet." Max took a sip of his coffee. He hated East more now. The whole team consisted of monsters, some of which looked like all they did was slack off and do nothing. Max wanted to go down to the basement just to see if Luth was as crazy as Cathy was before he ended up leaving the city regardless and having Forbes fix her own problems. He was about to leave when Abby spoke up.
	"Uhm, who's Dell?"
	"That would be me." The monotone voice made Max pause. He's heard that voice before. His memory was soon confirmed as a dark figure entered the room. The short woman wore a long dark trench coat, matching her brown skin and her black hair and ears. Her dark tail was hidden behind her figure. This wasn't who they thought it was. Without warning, Max pulled out his revolver and pointed it at the Anubis. Clare quickly ducked under the desk and grabbed a tommygun from the desk, pointing it at Max. Ridley reached behind one of the cloth draped hanging against the wall and pointed a Winchester shotgun at Max; Model 12. Max reached into his jacket and took out a sawed off and pointed it at the Oni, the same one Blake gave him.
	Max' eyes darted from the Oni back to the Anubis.
	Cathy never took her eyes off of Max.
	Ridley aimed the gun at Max with a grin.
	Dell held her arms up, her stotic face never changing.
	Abigale was hiding behind the closet door.
	Beth was looking at the scene with fear. Silence was the only thing heard.
	The door to the station quickly opened, blowing a gust of cool air into the tense building. A woman clad in a thick winter jacket entered the room with a sigh. She closed the door behind her and pulled down her hood. Forbes was about to say something when she paused. Max didn't even glance back.
	"Forbes." Max glanced at Ridley. The Oni's fingers were getting itchy.
	"It's about time you showed up." Dell said flatly.
	"I slept in." Forbes didn't budge. "What's going on?"
	"You're name's not Dell," Max said, looking at the Anubis. "your names Alexis Lee, one of the last remaining members of C.O.B.R.A, killer of fifteen men and woman at Bob's diner five years ago."
	"Max-"
	"That was my sister." Dell said.
	"'Course it was." Max pulled back the hammer back.
	"Max, she's telling the truth." Forbes finally intervened. "Alexis is dead, I know that for a fact since I killed her." Max looked at the Dhampir behind him. "This is her twin, Dell Li." Cathy and Ridley snickered. "She joined the force to pay for her sisters sins, here words not mine."
	"And it's hard to do when our chief is late." Dell folded her arms in annoyance. Max slowly lowered his guns, followed by Ridley and Clare. The trio all holstered their weapons, bringing a sigh of relief from Beth. Abby sheepishly ran over to Max, giving him back his coffee. Forbes looked at the Yeti with a raised eyebrow.
	"And you are?"
	"Abby. She's new." Max took a sip of his coffee. It was warmer than usual. Forbes smirked.
	"Well, I see you've all been acquainted."
	"He hasn't met Luth yet." Ridley grinned. Forbes quickly looked at Max.
	"Don't go down there." She quickly said. Max didn't say anything. He wasn't sure if they were warning him because they were scared of bodies, or something else.
	His thoughts were interrupted to the sound of a phone ringing. Clare answered the phone with a sigh. she listened for a while, the voice sounding obviously distressed. She did a motion of someone endlessly talking, her obviously eye rolling covered by her shades. She quickly hung up, sighing in relief.
	"Broken body at 4th and main. Woman in the background sounded like she broke an egg."
	"Alright, Max and I will check it out. Dell, you're coming too and so are you, rookie." Forbes looked at the Salamander. "Is Shiroe there?"
	"She's the one that called." Shiroe sounded foreign. Max mumbled to himself.
	"Perfect. The rest of you stay in case there's any more calls." she didn't sound confident in the trio. Max didn't blame her. Soon, the group was off, right back into the cool winter air. Max didn't know what to expect other from a missing body, but he knew one thing.
	He wanted to go back home.



	Max gazed out the cool window of the vehicle, watching the scenery pass by in a blur. He didn't like east. He didn't like the police force, even though they said that it wasn't most of it. Forbes said that there weren’t any humans in it; mayor’s orders in not wanting the monster girls to feel like they were being ordered around by humans. Max didn't understand. Most of the creatures could kill a man without even trying, a Wurm being a good example. He didn't understand a lot of things about Steelwater, but the place was always strange.
	Forbes told him that the rest of the force was out and about around the city district, tending to other matters. She said that some even got a call from south to deal with whatever's going on down there. Max wished he was over in south, it would've been better that solving crimes about how some poor man was broken in two by an Ushi Oni. The good news was it wasn't on a full moon. The bad news was the disappearance.
	Disappearance. Max didn't understand. A man and a monster head into the bedroom to make kids, obviously. The man gets broken in many places, killing him, and the woman calls the cops and the ambulance. Obviously the plan of action was to arrest the woman, if memory served well, as it was an obvious murder, no matter what she said about how it was an accident. Accidents happen, Max knew, since monsters could overpower men without breaking a sweat. But a murder was a murder.
	The thing that Max didn't understand was how the body seemed to disappear before the police and the ambulance reach. She hid the body? Why? It would make sense if she didn't want to go to jail, but then why would she call for the police and the ambulance? Max closed his eyes in frustration. It was another 'this doesn't make any sense' cases. He was just finished with one of those cases, and now he was already jumping into another. Sometimes he wondered if the world was smiting him in some way. Or if something else was.
	Max glanced at the rear view mirror on his side. Abby and Dell were talking about something, something in which Abby seemed to enjoy. Max wasn't sure if the Anubis was enjoying herself due to her face, but he didn't care. Forbes should've told him he was going to see a familiar face, even if it's just a twin. Alexis Li was a deadly assassin, part of that Pharaoh cult that massacred a group of people at Bob's Diner a long time ago. She was wanted for a long time even after the whole issue was solved after a few arrests. Forbes claimed that she killed him, and he didn't doubt the dhampir's skills. But it still didn't sound right. She was good, but not that good.
	Forbes. Max took a sip of his coffee, not glancing once at the pale blonde haired woman. Max remembered when the two used to go to school together, a long time ago back in west, with Cole. The trio were insuperable; they went everywhere and saw everything together. But they never knew that the woman was lying to them for so long, so very long.
	"We're here."
	Max woke up from his short trip down a road he never wanted to go down again. The flashing lights of ambulances reflected off the clear windows on each building. Max and Forbes exited the police car, followed by Abby and Dell. The man walked in a brisk pace; it was cold outside. He was about to go under the yellow tape when a large woman stood in his path. Her golden hair blew in the gentle winter wind, not hiding her steel piercing golden eyes. The large paw was a golden brown, striped with black. She wore a fur coat, strange for a person with fur herself. The Jinko glared at the man with a grown
	"Authorized personnel only." She had a thick Asian accent. This must be Shiroe. Max brushed the paw off of his shoulder, showing the woman his badge. The Jinko looked at the badge with a squint. "You're from north?"
	"He's with me." Forbes nodded to the woman, who held up the yellow tape for the Dhampir and the Anubis. She paused at Abby, who seemed like she's seen a ghost. "She's new."
	"Welcome." The Jinko sounded monotone, exactly like Dell. Max was getting tired of people with no pitch. He brushed passed the Jinko without saying another word, avoiding her gaze. Abby quickly followed behind, seeming smaller.
	"Where's the murderer?" Max said flatly. Max opened the door for the group as they entered the hotel.
	"Max, she didn't murder him." Forbes nodded at the man as she entered. "It was an accident."
	"A murder's a murder." The seven foot Jinko had to duck to enter. Although most MG's took over East, the city wasn't made for monsters.
	"She's somewhere in the lobby." Shiroe said, finally answering the question. "Dell could question her."
	"Species?" Max finished the rest of his coffee and tossed it into the trash.
	"Wurm." The group saw the scared woman holding a mug of hot chocolate in her hands, a warm blanket draped over her. Dell nodded and walked over to the scared dragon.
	"And the body?"
	"Upstairs. Second floor." Max was beginning to like the Jinko.
	"Anyone watching it?" The Jinko paused, as if she made a mistake. In which she did. Max pushed passed the group, running up the stairs. The Jinko was quick on his tail, followed by Forbes and Abby. The group ran down the long hall to the open door leading to the hotel room. Max quickly pulled out his revolver as he entered.
	A crash made Max aim the weapon in the direction of the kitchen. A woman in a thick jacket and pants was raiding the fridge, holding multiple drinks in her hands. A shattered bottle of wine was on the floor, staining the white tiles. A long cow tail wagged in the air. The Minotaur was about to hiss when she saw the group, one of which was pointing a gun right at her head. Max pulled back the hammer, causing the large brown woman to almost flinch.
	"This isn't what it looks like?" The Minotaur said with a faint smile.
	"Max, she's with us." Forbes said, placing a hand on his. The warm touch made Max flinch. He couldn't remember the last time a woman touched him. He quickly brushed off the Dhampir's hand, holstering back his weapon. "Yuki, what are you doing?"
	"Well, no one else is going to drink the booze, so I had to take the initiative and dive in." The smug smile of the Minotaur quickly faded. "Hey, where's the new guy going?"
	Max groaned to himself as he looked into the bedroom. The place was trashed, evidence that the sex was ough, even for a Wurm. Walls were caved in; furniture was shattered, covering the floor in splinters. The mattress was intact; something in which Max would've thought was the first thing to go.	But the only thing that was actually important wasn't there.
	The body was gone.
	"Yeah, the place got trashed. It was a Wurm and a human couple you know." The woman’s voice called from the kitchen. "The body was in a mangled way. It's why I'm drinking, thing was morbid."
	"The body's gone."
	"What?" Max heard the group walk over to his side. The collective gasps and groans echoed the trashed room. "But it was right there!"
	"You were supposed to watch the room, Yuki." Forbes said with a sigh. Max entered the room.
	"Hey, I'm not sitting in the same room as a dead body." Yuki hissed.
	"Can you smell anything?" Max said, addressing the Jinko. Shiroe sniffed the room and sighed.
	"Death." Max crouched down, looking at the floor.
	"And there are no tracks either." The Jinko sniffed the air again.
	"Only death."
	"You think they flew in?" Forbes was next to the man, trying to find evidence. "The window's open."
	"That's probably what's messing with my smell." shiroe said.
	"If they flew in, there would've been a lot of blowing wind, causing things to be blown around." The man stood up straight, looking around the scene. "Everything seems to be untouched."
	"Pretty much." Yuki finally spoke up. "Other from the obvious missing body, the place is the exact same as when Shiroe and I came here."
	"Any identity on the body?" The cool wind of outside blew in, blowing the white curtain. The Jinko tossed the man a bag. Inside was a wallet.
	"Robert Lesslie. Age 24."
	"You think they're connected?" Forbes said, looking at the man. Max thought for a moment.
	"You said that they were random." Max looked at the bag. "If the woman were planning to murder men, why?"
	"Every time we question them, it comes back as an accident."
	"But is it really?" The Minotaur scoffed.
	"You humans wouldn't understand. Some monsters don't know their strength and accidentally kill their mate. It happens. It’s nothing new."
	"So maybe it was an accident." Max wasn't sure. "Where does the body go?" The man looked at the window. He didn't think the robbers came in through the front door, the six foot bull would've heard something. "You didn't hear any sounds, did you?"
	"The window was open." Yuki brushed some hair out of her face. "Even though I wanted to close it since it’s cold."
	"Should've put Shiroe on guard duty." Max said to himself.
	"What was that?"
	"Other from the sounds coming from outside, nothing at all?" The Minotaur looked at the man with annoyance.
	"Hey, you might think you're tough shit because you're new, but we're all veterans here, old timer."
	"Max' from north." Forbes said, trying to diffuse the tension. "He's part of the detective unit, like Dave and Chief." Even Forbes called him the chief. "He's here to help." The Minotaur scoffed.
	"He's just another old man." The young Minotaur was beginning to get on the man’s nerves. Forbes could see it, so could the Jinko. Max was about to say something when the black haired Anubis entered the scene.
	"Body's gone?"
	"Yeah." Abby said, more of a meek whisper.
	"What did the Wurm say?" Dell sighed. She reached into her back picket, grabbing her small notepad.
	"What didn't she say?" She opened the booklet, flipping to the right page. "She said he met him one day when they were building her house, and they fell in love. A long history of her family and men. Then she said it was all an accident." Dell looked at the man. "She wouldn't stop saying it was an accident."
	"How long has this been going on?" Max knew the answer.
	"Four months, during the Moonlight Murder case." Forbes said.
	"Murders?"
	"Accidents." Yuki corrected.
	"Twenty, counting the current." The group paused in thought. It wasn't making any sense.
	"This doesn't make any sense." Max could go for a coffee now. "The ages are all random, the victims are random, and there's no body."
	"Confusing, huh?" Yuki said with a smug smile. "You think you're all high and mighty because you're used to murder cases, but now you can't solve shit because there's no body to check and no murders." The Minotaur put her hands on her hips, holding onto two wine bottles. She leaned forward with a smug grin, her large breasts hanging. "Really out of your element, huh?"
	He was. Max never liked cases that didn't involve a murder. They were long, boring, and didn't involve any thought. Plus, Max liked trying to understand how the murderer moved and what they did. Although, he never liked the Moonlight Murder case. Max wasn't dealing with a murder mystery; he was dealing with a robbery.

	The ride was silent. Forbes dropped Dell and Abby at their homes, calling it a day and leaving the two alone. Max didn't want to be alone with a monster; he had bad memories of it. The duo said nothing, letting the hum of the engine speak for them. The radio was on low, playing Billie Holiday in the background. Max watched the headlights of cars pass by in a haze, not paying attention to the Dhampir. He liked the silence. It reminded him of when his life wasn't as stressful as it was now. Max missed those days.
	"So," Forbes finally broke the silence. "What do you think of the force? Though, it's not the full force."
	"It's flawed." Max didn't glance once in her direction. "It’s consisted of lazy good for nothing young kids who want to do nothing but lounge around and drink or have sex with the nearest man."
	"It's not that ba-"
	"Clare is a slacker that does nothing but try to act cool when in truth she isn't. The Oni twins are an odd bag; one wants to work out and seems to like bloodshed, while the other wants nothing to do but be a mother, as evidence to how she seems to act motherly to everyone.
	Dell is an emotionless, Yuki is a slacker that just wants to drink all day and do nothing but show off how not superior she is to everyone. Shiroe is probably the only one that does her job, excluding you, and Abby is new."
	"Max-"
	"And I don't even know who or what Luth is, but I'm guessing she's a second Cathy. Or he."
	"Max they're all new!" Silence was restored in the car, something in which Max would've liked if it wasn't for the revelation that was brought to the conversation. Forbes continued. "They're all new to the HQ, except Dell, Shiroe, and Luth. They were the only replacements since most of the force was down in south helping out the gang war going on down there." She sighed to himself. Max knew there was something up.
	"Did they go through training?"
	"They're volunteers." Forbes seemed to have shrunk in her seat. "I think Abby is the only one that went through the academy. Shiroe, Dell, and Luth were told to stay to teach the rookies how to do everything."
	"So the only police force in the whole district is consisted of rookies who may or may have not seen bloodshed once in their life."
	"Ridley and Clare are debatable." Forbes said with a chuckle. "But that's the jest of it. Welcome to east." Max said nothing. "If it makes you feel any better, At least you're not the commander."
	"I'm not staying at your house." The car slowed to a stop at a red light. Max knew where she was taking him. He remembered the streets.
	"Max-"
	"No."
	"Where else are you going to stay?"
	"A hotel." Max knew it was suicide.
	"Max, that's suicide." Forbes looked at the man. "You'd rather sleep in a hotel, alone, with monsters on each side, than to sleep at my house?"
	"With your mother."
	"You could sleep in my room." Max looked at the woman. A faint tint of pink was forming on her cheeks. "S-She won't come after you if you're in my room! That's why! Nothing else!"
	"No." Max gazed back outside. He would've been ok with it, he really would. But ever since he got married, his crush for the Dhampir was gone. Forbes knew. She was about to say something, but covered her mouth. The car lurched forward as she aimlessly drove, her eyes saddened.
	The radio couldn't even block out the deafening silence as they drove to a hotel. Forbes said nothing. Max said nothing. There was nothing to be said.
	Nothing at all.


	"This isn't making any sense."
	Max stood within a destroyed bedroom, his annoyed eyes scanning the broken rubble and fractured wood that spanned the area. The bedroom was unrecognisable; anyone who would've saw it without knowing it was a bedroom would've thought it was the home to someone with a hoarding problem. The bed was broken in two, lying flat against the wooden floor. The headboard was gone; god knows where it might be. Clothes were ripped and torn in many places like a Neko or a Mothman was here. The lamp was shattered in front of the man, nowhere near the side of the bed.
	It was the crime scene of an Ushi Oni alright.
	The call was from Forbes in the morning. Shiroe called the Dhampir on the situation, saying that there was another man shattered. Ushi Oni, she said. Max never liked the arachnids. They were aggressive, resilient, brash, and capable of turning a man's pelvis into dust without even putting their back into it. Although the man died to either shock or was turned into a paste, Max didn't feel bad for the man. He knew what he was walking into. And now he was dead. But even though he was dead, where was the damn body?
	A soft poke to his side made him flinch. The young Yeti was standing next to him, her soft snow white paws holding a cup of coffee. The black liquid continued to create steam, even though the man has been standing and looking at the scene for what felt like hours. Yeti engineering; no matter what, they always kept warm. He took the mug without a glance and took a sip. Hot and fresh; as if it was just made.
	Max was beginning to like the Yeti. She kept her distance and helped when she knew when to. She was also good with protocol and how to handle situations, like Shiroe. Though, Shiroe wasn't new. If only the two could hold a weapon, let alone fire one. Their massive paws couldn't wrap around a pistol let alone pull the trigger. Max glanced at the Jinko. Judging by how large her claws were, she wouldn't need a weapon.
	"Smell anything?" Shiroe paused, sniffing the air.
	"Death." It always came back with death. It didn't make sense, none of it did. Why would someone steal bodies? Why would they even want an empty shattered husk of a man? Even though Cathy loved to mess with dead bodies, she never liked shattered bodies. Something to do with how it reminded her of what she's capable of. Who would've thought the Ushi Oni was afraid of her own strength, which was hard to believe by how sadistic she was.
	"Want to just call it a day?" Forbes began to take off her rubber gloves. She was probing the whole room since they've came, looking for something.
	"Anything?" Forbes sighed.
	"The place's clean. Not even any sign of the man ever being here but his clothes. Not even hair."
	"The Ushi Oni didn't leave anything behind?" The creatures were covered in dark fur, there had to have been something. Forbes shook her head.
	"Nothing."
	"This doesn't make any sense." Max was beginning to hate this case. The man took a sip of his coffee. The room was empty save for a dead body, and now it wasn't here. Shiroe reported on no noise or anything, neither did the Minotaur. And the only thing that came back was death. Something wasn't right. Something wasn't adding up. A body doesn't just disappear into thin air. The robber would've had to have entered through the front or the window, and even then they'd have to get past the massive seven foot tall Jinko that looked like she'd rip you in two if you entered the crime scene.
	"They didn't enter through the window which means they went through the front." Max thought for a moment. The windows were closed when they came. Shiroe was at the door, guarding it like a dog. Any sound would've made her attack.
	"Find anything?" The anubis entered the scene in a whisper. Forbes and Abby shook their head in sorrow.
	"What did the murderer say?"
	"She sounded upset more than sad." Dell took out her notepad like she always did. "She was upset the man lied saying he could handle her strength and said he could go toe-to-toe with a Wurm."
	"So she raped him in rage." Forbes shook her head. "Poor guy."
	"It was a test of strength, and he failed." The Jinko snorted. "If he didn't boast he would've been alive today."
	"Idiot." Max said to himself. Max never liked insulting the dead, but it was true. He was young and thought he was the greatest, but like all fools he died the way he lived; an idiot. Max remembered the tales his father told him about how his great great great great grandfather had to deal with fools who thought they could challenge an Ushi Oni. They died the same way, except more violently.
	The buzz of his phone made the man flinch. He quickly answered the old phone with a groan.
	"Max." His eyes began to narrow. He almost forgot. A quick hangup and everything was back to as it was. “We’re done here.” The group soon began to exit the large room and back into the hotel hallways. There was nothing left to do in the room anyhow.
	"Chief?"
	"Dave." Max sipped his coffee. "I asked him to watch the house while I was gone."
	"Is he calling to say that he fixed the hole in your wall for you?" Forbes smirked.
	"No." Max said flatly. "He's calling to say that my mailbox has been flooded." Forbes raised an eyebrow.
	"By who?"
	"Her."

	Max never liked prisons. The barred windows and doors, the tall fences with barbed wire at the top of them the foreboding feeling of depression, death, anger and rage. He never liked the feeling. And even as the car rolled down the snow covered dirt road, he still didn't like it. But it wasn't a prison he was going to, Max was thankful for that, but an Asylum; An old asylum at that. One in which Max never thought he'd be going to without anyone or anything.
	St. Loen Asylum, the only correctional facility in all of Steelwater. Max didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. Max didn't understand the purpose of the asylum. He knew what asylums were for, but Steelwater's was mostly used as an extended prison to Steelmill. The building was very old, saying to have been one of the oldest buildings in Steelwater. He remembered the story on how it began as a library and has changed from a church to an asylum over the years. He also learned that it was haunted.
	He never believed in ghosts.
	The many bushes and trees the car passed added onto the fact that Max wanted this to be quick and sweet. The large twin black gates that lead to the massive courtyard in front of the three story tall building slowly began to open, revealing the buildings old gothic structure. The large fountain in the middle was frozen in place. Max thought they would've turned off the water before things began to get cold. The small car lurched around the circle courtyard, slowing into a stop right at the large double wooden doors. The ominous dark winter clouds never helped with the feeling of dread. Forbes looked at the building and sighed.
	"Do you really want to do this?" Max said nothing and opened the door. He didn't want to do it; he was actually having second thoughts. But it wouldn't stop, even when she would eventually get out. Whenever that was. The man sighed and ascended up the stone steps. Each step felt like lead, as if his sanity was slowly beginning to drain as he walked. The cracks of trees being blown in the wind drove him on edge. He didn't know what to expect; he's never been in an asylum. A gentle hand on his shoulder caused him to tense up. Forbes looked at the man. "You don't have to do this."
	"She won't stop until I do." Max brushed off the warm feeling of the woman's hand. He stormed up the steps, opening the door to the building with a growl. The gentle howl of the wind behind him caused him to hold the door for the young Dhampir.
	The lobby in the asylum was quiet, almost deafly so. The soft carpet felt nice under the man's shoes, the warm heat hugging him like a blanket. The duo began to walk to the center desk that stood in the large room. A balcony from each floor could be seen, snake haired woman slithering their way around in tight white nurse outfits. Max wondered why the staff seemed to have been consisted of Medusa's.
	A tall dark skinned woman sat at the front desk. Her massive purple wings hugged her back, occasionally stretching. The woman didn't pay any mind at the two visitors that entered, instead licking the small lollipop she held in-between her two massive dark purple claws. A set of horns split up her long pink hair that was draped over the upper part of her dark grey suit. She finally looked up, her orange eyes looking from Max to Forbes, then quickly back to Max. He didn't like the gaze the Jabberwock gave him. He didn't like that a creature fabled from 'Wonderland' worked in an insane asylum.
	"Can I help you?" She said, more to Max than to the dhampir. Max quickly flipped out his badge to the dragon, without giving her a glance.
	"We called earlier. I'm here to see Claire Bormont." The Jabberwock placed her cheek on her claws, looking at the man with lust.
	"Friend of yours?" She said, talking about Forbes. The Dhampir shot daggers at the seductive dragon, who just smirked. "Or maybe something more? ~"
	"We're married." Max didn't have time for the dragon’s games. Her expression changed to surprise and back to a sly grin. Forbes looked at the man with a deep blush. He should've said they were just friends, but the way the dragon was looking at him, it didn't faze her a bit.
	"Married? Well congratulations!" The Jabberwock said, clasping her claws together. "Though, I find it hard to believe you two are married if one of you is still a-"
	"Can we just see her now!?" Forbes voice echoed in the large lobby. Max flinched, the Jabberwock smiled, getting up slowly. Forbes looked down with a blush, hiding her face with her hair.
	"Right this way~." The dragon said coyly. She walked with a sway in her step, one that began to annoy the man. Forbes said nothing, instead keeping her distance. They quietly passed a Medusa nurse who was writing something on a clipboard. Her snake hair looked up to see the man pass by, giving him a soft hiss. Max didn't know if that was a greeting or an insult. He didn't know if the snakes on a Medusa even had minds of their own.
	They group soon paused at a window that looked into a small room. A young Manticore sat at a small wooden table, her tail wagging in an eager fashion. Her dark furred paws were in a set of handcuffs, keeping them together. The Manticore ears flickered, causing her to look at the window. Even though the window was two sided, the Manticore blushed, looking back down at her paws. Her dark hair was a mess, causing her to begin to fix it as much as she could. It's been months since Max saw the Manticore. He wishes he kept it that way.
	"Before we send you two in, we have to ask you to remove your weapons." The Jabberwock pointed at the small table next to her. "The patients tend to get, rowdy, especially this patient." Claire's tail was wagging more, a slick wetness coming from the end. Forbes was about to disarm herself when Max held up a hand.
	"Just me." the Dhampir looked at the man in disbelief as he placed his weapons on the table.
	"Max, you can't go in there alone."
	"You’re both on the other side, and the Jabberwock has security on standby in case anything happens."
	"But this is Claire!"
	"Forbes." Max finally placed his revolver on the desk and looked at the woman. "I set this up. I want to see her, she wants to see me. No one else." He nodded to the Jabberwock and the twin Medusa's. The nurse slowly opened the large wooden door, closing them behind him after he entered.
	There was music playing in the background. Max didn't even notice.
	Beyond the Sea- Boddy Darin.
	Max sat in the chair on the other side of the wooden table across from the young Manticore. He never said anything. Neither did her. The two sat in silence, listening to the song play out. Claire's ears wouldn't stop flickering; probably something to do with the fact that she was hiding her rose coloured face. He knew she could feel his gaze on her, he wanted her to. He wanted her to feel the eyes of everyone watching her in case she did anything. But Max knew she wouldn't do anything. She was crazy, but not that crazy.
	Debatable.
	"Claire." The Manticore flinched to her name being called.
	"H-H-Hi."
	The Ink Spots was playing now. Appropriate. Max swore it was the Jabberwock's doing.
	"Claire I-"
	"W-Who is she?" Her voice was hoarse. "Who is that you came with?"
	"Forbes."
	"Then who are they!?" Claire was looking at the man now. Tears were running down her cheeks. "Since you came in here, you've smelled like nothing but woman! Different types of woman!"
	"The building's run by Medusa's and a slut."
	"N-NO!" She was on her feet now. "Y-you smell like other woman! L-Like a Jinko, a-and a yeti, a-and an anubis! Why? Why would you cheat on me! You're mine! You’re my Max!" She brushed away some of her tears. "We were supposed to get married once I got out. Together, forever! My Max and me! Together! Because you're mine and no one else’s. Not that slutty dhampir outside, NO ONE! You're mine! You're my Max! MY MAX!"
	Crazy He Calls Me - Billie Holiday. It was definitely the Jabberwock.
	"B-But you cheated on me. You arrested me even though I devoted my heart to you. Why? Is Max afraid of me? Y-You were backing away from me like you were scared." Claire tilted her head at the man. Her eyes had no focus. "Why? Why was Maxie scared of me? I wouldn't hurt you, Max. You're mine! I wouldn't hurt something that's mine. B-But you broke my heart and now those dick sucking sluts you've been hanging out with is tainting my Max. I-I'll un-taint you with my love! And I'll kill those witches. Yeah! I'll rip them apart! For you, Max! Only for you! Because I love you, Max! I love you I love you IloveyouIloveyouIloveyouI-"
	"CLAIRE!" Max stood onto his feet. He was seething. "I want you to understand something. I want you to understand that I am not yours. I am not your property; I am not your stuffed animal you can just love. I am not yours. And you know why?" Claire seemed afraid of the man. "Because I don't love you."
	The music stopped.
	"W-Wha-"
	"You're crazy. You’re selfish, your messed up fantasy has rendered your mind useless to the point that you're sending me letters nonstop written in blood." Max didn't know where the blood came from. Cathy didn’t want to run tests. "I don't love you Claire and I never will. Get that through your thick skull." Claire said nothing. Max fixed his jacket and began to walk towards the door. He paused. “So stop sending me your letters."
	"D-Do you even read the-"
	"I burn them." Max glared at the Manticore. "And I hope you do here." The sobs of the young manticore made him pause. He never liked to hear a woman cry. She deserved it, she really did. If only his conscious wasn't raised the way it was.
	The man walked over to the damaged Manticore. His mind protested, but he continued on. He reached into his pocket and gave the Manticore a tissue. Claire stared at his hand and up at the man. He said nothing. He had nothing to say. With a blush, the Manticore sheepishly took the tissue in her paws. Max slowly walked off, not glancing at the Manticore once. The sound of snot being blown into a tissue was enough to make him want to leave.
	But he paused. Something wasn't right. She was crying, and yet she took the tissue with one hand while the other was in her lap. Which wouldn’t make sense since she was cuffed.
	"You were always too nice for your own good~"
	Max didn't even know it until he was already pinned to the wall. Claire's large paws gripped his arms to the wall like nails. Her wings were still tied up, that was a plus, but her strength was a surprise. Max glared at the blushing woman, her eyes filled with lust. Her tail began to wrap around his left leg, leaving a slick mark on his pants. She bit her lips as she stared into his eyes. He held his right hand in a stop wave to tell the woman on the other side not to mobilize. The gentle purr of the Manticore began to piss him off.
	"They would've already been on me by now." Claire's blush deepened. "Y-you want us to actually do it right here and now?" Her chest began to push against his. She was wearing nothing under her shirt. "W-we're going to make babies~! I-I'm going to have Max' k-kids!" The man was about to say something when her lips here upon his. The warm feeling of her breath mixing with his, her wet tongue entering his mouth with force, trying to play with his like a kid at a park was trying to fit in. His eyes were wide, watching her blush deepen as she continued on. Saliva was mixed with saliva. Her mouth tasted of hospital food. The Manticore’s tail began to tighten around his leg, soaking his pants. Max' eyes began to get heavy. He hasn't kissed a woman in a long time.
	The kiss was soon broken. A thin string of saliva still connected the two mouths. Claire looked at the man with bedroom eyes, her blush as deep as a blush could get. She gazed into the man's eyes, breathing heavily. A tint of red was on his cheeks. He wanted more. He could feel his mind begin to go blank. He needed control. Claire could see the lust in his eyes, going in another kiss. His mind was protesting; it was protesting as much as it could. But his tongue began to with hers, electing a moan to vibrate from Claire's to his. She soon broke the kiss with a blush, almost bashful that the man wanted to do more with her.
	"You were always too shy for your own good."
	Max kneed the Manticore in the gut, causing her loosen her grip on his arms. He followed up with a hard head-butt into her forehead. The Manticore finally let go with a wince, clutching her head in pain. Max grabbed the woman's arms, freezing her in place. She looked into his eyes with love as he lowered her arms from her head.
	The loud sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed the room like a bomb going off. The back of Max' hand hit the Manticore's face as hard as it could, causing her to fall to the ground in pain. She clutched her cheek, the burning red spot swelling up like a tomato. Max wiped away the saliva on his lips, his glare burning into the Manticore's eyes.
	"Don't touch me." Max turned to face the door. He paused. "And don't ever message me again." He exited the room without a word, ignoring the Manticore’s ramblings. He ignored the eyes from the Dhampir and the Jabberwock. The man quickly took his weapons and walked off without a word.
	He never liked hitting woman.


	How long had it been? How long had it been since Max went to the asylum? The grizzled detective couldn't remember as he sipped the dark and bitter liquid of coffee from his mug. It was another robbery, just like the others, except this time the room was actually intact. The man stood in the quiet room, his old eyes scanning the crime scene. It was like something straight out of a romance novel. Clothes were tossed onto the floor, leading from the door to the white bed in the middle of the room. Candles were lit, continuously burning. Max could smell the faint sent of incense in the air. Lavender. Woman always loved lavender. The only thing different was the fact that there was no body.
	And the outline of a body in a pool of blood on the mattress.
	The blood was something new. Most of the time the "accidents" were pretty clean, save for the fact that furniture was turned into paste. But there was never any blood. The red stain had an outline of a body. The body must've been shredded before they came. Shiroe said that it was riddled with cuts and bite marks. Understandable, considering the woman was a Vampire. Max never thought of the creatures of the night to be into blood play, but she did say it was an accident. Dell said the man accidentally cut himself and then all hell broke loose, according to the vampire woman. Lovemaking never was pretty.
	The tainted smell of blood made the Jinko, Dell, and the man the only three allowed in the room. The Minotaur was afraid of the body, Abby was afraid of blood, something in which would've never made her go past the academy unless rules changed, and Forbes wasn't allowed due to the fact that she was half vampire. Max knew the woman could control herself due to her blood, but it was a precaution. That and the two haven't talked since the asylum until today. The man took a sip of his coffee and sighed. He didn't know if the case or Claire made his head hurt.
	He was vulnerable, the man assured himself. The Manticore would've raped him right then and there if he didn't do what he did. He didn't do it for the pleasure or the fact that he hasn't held a woman in his arms since she passed, it was to daze her. It was all according to plan.
	But why did he have to do that? He could've kneed her after the first kiss and yet he began to almost go for a third if he didn't seize control. The whole matter could've been resolved if he kneed her before she kissed him-so why? Why did he allow it to happen? He didn't like Claire in any way; that was for sure. He didn't like any monster for that matter. And yet he felt his primal instincts begin to be taken over by lust. Was it because she stung him with a spike? But she didn't have any; they removed those so they don't use them as weapons. Was it because she was practically asking for it? He had to buy a new pair of pants since she got them wet with whatever juices was coming out of her tail.
	And then Forbes did what she did, “attacking” him when he was weak, when he was vulnerable. He didn't know if the woman was inviting him to her house out of worry or if she was actually going to take advantage of him, but he didn't care. He didn't want any of it. The fact that he didn't get any sleep didn't help him once. The abuse of mouthwash was much, but he didn't want to take any chances. He wished he could've deleted the thought of her sweet taste out of his mind. He wished he could've forgotten a lot of things.
	"Are you ok?" Shiroe's voice almost scared the man. She looked at him with her typical blank expression, and yet her voice had a hint of worry. Was she trying to flirt with him now?
	He was over thinking it.
	"Smell anything?" He said flatly, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
	"Death." Of course. The man looked at the young Anubis who was sniffing around.
	"Anything?"
	"Other from blood, only death." Dell paused. "And lavender."
	So nothing. The man groaned to himself. The case was nonsense. Everything leads to nothing. Even with the fact that the group was consisted of monstergirls with keen senses of smell, it all lead to nothing. This has been going to weeks now, and it was starting to piss the man off. Three times a week they'd have to go to a hotel or someone’s house because some idiot monstergirl decided it was a great time to have sex with a man since it was the time of giving, and what better gift than children. But they end up killing their husband, being filled with grief and sadness instead of joy. Depressing; if it wasn't for the fact that it was getting repetitive.
	It was the week of Christmas, Christmas Eve. Woman breaks a guy, calls the police. Police come, the body's gone. Every. Single. Time. Shiroe says the body was there. Every. Single. Time. Forbes, dell, Abby, and the man come, the body's gone like it wasn't even there in the first place.
	Every.
	Single.
	Time.
	Every time like a record that permanently looped on one lyric in a song. What made it worse is there wasn't even evidence of someone coming into the room or leaving it. It was a literal disappearance. And it made no sense. The whole case made no sense. Everything about it made no sense. Max didn't even care about the woman or the man or the furniture, he just wanted to know where the hell the body went. But of course like any case it made no sense. And every time Shiroe or Dell sniffed the place, it always came up as-
	"Death." Max said to himself. "Shiroe," The Jinko's ears flickered. "Smell the room. What does it smell like?" The Jinko folded her arms as she sniffed.
	"Death."
	"What kind of death?"
	"What do you mean?" The Jinko was now intrigued. So was Dell.
	"I don't have a keen sense of smell like you do," The man was actually applauding them for their work. "But I smell something sour like something past death. Like-"
	"Decomposition." Dell said, finishing the man’s sentence. "I smell it too." The Jinko nodded in agreement.
	"And that doesn't make sense."
	"This whole case doesn't make sense." Dell monotone had a hint of annoyance.
	"But Max brings up a point." The Jinko thought for a second. "Decomposition doesn't happen untill..."
	"A day or two after death." Max thought for a moment. "Judging by how fast we got here, the body would've been at pallor mortis stage, nowhere near the decomposition stage."
	"Pallor Mortis?" Shiroe looked at the man with a raised expression.
	"The stage in which the body begins to go pale or paler if the user was already death. Like a Vampire."
	"And the man wasn't an immortal being." Dell intervened.
	"Exactly. The only smell in this room should just be the smell of blood. Not decomposition."
	"And yet we both have smelt it at each accident." The Jinko paused. "You worked in the morgue?"
	"I've seen a lot of dead bodies." Max sipped his coffee in thought. Dell finally spoke up.
	"You think the murderers are hiding the bodies."
	"No, that wouldn't make any sense." Max growled to himself. "But neither does this."
	"It's the only lead we have." The Jinko said. "We should tell Forbes."
	"I'll tell her," Dell said, walking over to the door. "You two have a look around." Max didn't want to be left alone with the Jinko, but he didn't want to talk to Forbes either. The two stood in silence, both in deep thought. Max didn't hate the Jinko, she was probably the most tolerable of the group, but he didn't want to be alone with a monster either. Not after the asylum.
	"You've been near rotting bodies?" Shiroe broke the silence.
	"When you're a murder detective and someone who works in the morgue, you see a lot of things."
	"Ah."
	Silence.
	"The smell is familiar, and there's a mix of something else in it." Max said nothing. He knew she'd continue. "It smells like a cemetery." The man knew the smell all too well. But that was of multiple dead. Unless...
	"They work in the Cemetery." Max jogged out the door. The heavy steps of the Jinko behind him didn't faze him. He finally figured it all out. The duo passed by the rest of the group without a word. Forbes was the first to call out.
	"What's going on?"
	"Max figured it out." Shiroe called back, jogging behind the man.
	"Dell, watch the room." Max called, pausing at the door. "Shiroe, Abby, and Forbes, you're with me."
	"Wait wait wait," Forbes jogged next to the man as the group jogged down the stairs. "What’s going on?"
	"I'll explain in the car." The group jogged down the lobby and out of the hotel. "Make sure you're loaded."

	"The Cemetery!?" The car drove down the streets of Eastern Steelwater like a car on a mission. The slippery snow covered cobblestone streets didn't stop the car as it turned down roads and onto the large bridge that connected east to the mainland. Max was at the wheel, not taking his eyes off the road for a second. Abby and Shiroe sat in the back, the poor yeti cramped in with the tall Jinko. He didn't know who got the worse fate. Forbes looked at the man with disbelief, brushing her blonde hair out of her face.
	"Why the cemetery?" Abby said from the back.
	"It was in front of us the whole time.”Max began. "Every time we went in there it smelled of death. But not just any death, but decomposition, a stage in death that doesn't happen until a day or two after death."
	"The room had a distinct smell, like old cobblestone and rotting trees. Like the smell of rotting bodies all around."
	"Like a cemetery." Max said, finishing the Jinko's sentence. Forbes could see the two were getting along.
	"So you think that the men who work at the cemetery are the ones stealing the bodies?" Steelwater had the fortunate and unfortunate way of having only one cemetery in the whole city. West had a cemetery but was only for the 'holy', as they called it. So Steelwater created a massive cemetery in North, at the edge of the city. The cemetery was massive, said to have been much larger in the past, but the swamp that was there was consuming most of the area, making it seem much smaller than it actually was. Many were buried there, including Max' wife.
	"But why would they steal the bodies?" Abby said. "Don't they eventually get them anyway so they can bury the dead?"
	"Necrophilia?" Forbes questioned.
	"The staff of the cemetery is consisted of men." Max said flatly. "Unless they're Alps, it's doubtful."
	"Hey, if Cathy's into it, maybe they are." Max said nothing. Not even Forbes' jab could make him budge.
	"We're here."
	Steelwater Cemetery looked as it always did; old. The old metal arch that hung over the entrance to the massive building was covered in ice and snow. Christmas lights hung on the sign, as if a way to brighten up the place and give it life. Ironic, since everything was dead. An old and eerie fog always hung in the air in the cemetery, especially at late hours. Most think it’s from the swamp/bog at the end of the cemetery. Some thought the place was haunted. Max never thought about it. Ghosts don't exist.
	Max checked his weapons ammunition. He didn't know if he'd need them, but having them on standby was handy in case they had a runner or worse; a firefight. Forbes checked her Springfield rifle, a M1903. He never understood why she liked the weapon, but it was said to have belonged to her grandfather on her father’s side. He wondered if she even knew he was dead. Shiroe sharpened her claws; as if they weren't sharp enough. If they weren't afraid of seeing two armed cops, they were going to be afraid of her.
	"Can I stay in the car?" Max looked at the rear view mirror over the dashboard. Abby seemed afraid.
	"If you want." Max opened his door, followed by Shiroe and Forbes. "If you hear anything, radio for backup." The Yeti nodded, determination painted on her face like the Mona Lisa. The trio all closed their doors and entered the cemetery. Max knew where they were going.
	"You think we'll need backup?"
	"No." Max said. "They won’t fight back."
	"You've been here before?" Shiroe asked.
	"Every year." The trio walked in silence, the crunching of boots and paws hitting the snow covered path the only thing heard. The cemetery always had a weird issue -one of the many- when it came to the area; it was deathly quiet. The old cemetery might've been at the edge of town, but Steelwater wasn't exactly a quiet city. But once you entered the cemetery, all sound seemed muted, as if the outside world didn't exist and the cemetery was as if in the middle of nowhere. The creepy fog that went up to your heels didn't help either. It was getting late, roughly 8 o'clock. Time could be judged by just the fog alone; invisible in the day and increases over the night. Some think its spirits awakening from the dead to roam about. But it was all a hoax
	Ghosts don't exist.
	The group finally reached their destination; The Gravedigger shack. Max knew the place all too well. The old wooden structure was one of the oldest buildings in the city, said to have been built during the cowboy days. Max believed it. From the old wooden sign with burnt iron letters into it to the fact that the whole thing was consisted of wood, the shack looked like a relic in a city-Northern Steelwater as always known as the oldest part of the city. No wonder he liked it more; it reminded him of west.
	The sound of footsteps took the man out of his thoughts. An old lanky man came around the corner of the building. His mud covered boots and the shovel in hand was an indication of where the grizzled old man came from. He shivered to himself, pulling the collar of his thick cloth coat to cover his neck. The old man Looked at the group, his tired eyes scanning from Forbes to Shiroe and finally to man. The man beamed with a smile.
	"Maximilian!" Max couldn’t remember the last time he was called by his first name. The old man chuckled, a hearty chuckle for his frame. "What brings a young'un like you 'round these here parts?" The man squinted. "And with some fine ladies as well."
	"Where's Boss?"
	"Max, you know a cemetery isn't the greatest dating destination in Steelwater." The old man seemed oblivious. "Why, I'd say the lake in south would've been a better place to take fine woman." He looked at the man. "But be careful now. Takin' two women in a date might not end well for a young'un like you."
	"Larry." Max was about to say something when the old man waved him off.
	"Ah heard you, no reason to get all defensive." He pointed behind him. "He's down there, cleaning off some tombstones." The old man stuck the shovel into the ground with a groan. "You three want to come 'n' get some coffee while you wait?"
	"Maybe next time, Larry. Thank you." The Man was soon off, followed by his entourage. Larry watched the group walk off and sighed. A gentle wind blew, causing the old man to shiver.

	Max saw the large old man from a distance. The boss crouched down at a tombstone, brushing off the snow from the stone. His snow white beard almost blended in with the background if it wasn't for his red cheeks and nose. The man paused to the sounds of footsteps. He slowly began to get up, causing the group to pause. The gravedigger turned to face the group. An eye patch was over his right eye. A thick grey and brown jacket hung over his built form, something in which Max was still surprised about today. 83 years old and he was still tall and build like a truck.
	"Greg."
	"Max." The old man looked at the Dhampire. "Forbes."
	The group stood in silence. Max remembered Gregory Felix. He was a thief, a grave-robber at that. Max and Forbes remembered arresting him a long time ago. He's been on watch for a long time since he came out of jail. But the man went back to his old job of being a gravedigger, even becoming the boss like he once was. Which was strange. And yet he never stole from a body, which was also strange.
	"Smoke?" The man stuck a cigarette in his mouth, offering Max one. He shook his head.
	"Shiroe doesn't like the smell of smoke." Max said. The Jinko growled.
	"Ah." Greg took out the cigarette and placed it back in his pocket. He also became much nicer.
	"Do you know why we're here?" Max didn't have time for games.
	"No." The old man shivered. "Can we talk insi-"
	"No." Greg chuckled.
	"Stubborn as ever." He scratched his cheek with his thumb. "Well, if it's any indication by your entourage," He looked at Forbes. "This has something to do with east. The body disappearances?"
	"So it is you." Max held his pistol up and gunpoint, aiming it at the old man's head. Greg shook his head.
	"Oh no, I just know some people." He held up his hands in defence. "Scouts honour. Besides, why would I steal bodies?"
	"You stole from bodies in the past." said Forbes. The man sighed.
	"Yes, I used to do that in the past." Greg places a hand on his chest. "But I'm a changed man."
	"Doubtful." Shiroe took a step forward.
	"Wait wait wait," Greg took a step back, almost bumping into the tombstone. "OK, there's been a lot of activity in the cemetery recently at late times, but it isn't me."
	"Activity?" Max held up a hand to stop the Jinko. "What do you mean?"
	"The others have seen it too, but at late hours, there's a lot of activity. We're talking like a moving crew here."
	"Grave robbers?" Forbes asked. Greg shook his head.
	"Nah, they don't touch the graves at all; no dug up graves or anything- nothing." He held up a finger. "But that isn't even the weird part." He looked at the group as if to wait for them to ask him to continue. They never did. He sighed. "At night, there's always a group of shadows that can be seen in the dark, dragging some kind of box or something. Like a coffin. There's always this creepy bluish green light that comes from the bog and they take the coffin over there. We would've checked it out ages ago if it wasn't for the fact that the place was impossible to get through let alone get around.
	And then, eventually, the glowing just stops. And then one lone figure exits the place in a sprint and disappears. Like a ghost or something." He lowered his voice to a whisper. "I don't know about you guys, but there's some weird stuff going on over here. Like ghosts and, and I know this might sound crazy, magic.
	Max never believed in magic. The same way he didn't believe in ghosts. Magic has been mentioned in the old history books of the Paladin days, holy magic being the main one. They even say that monstergirls have a magic in which could change a man into a demon. The man wouldn't have believed Greg, considering he sounded like an asylum patient, but things like Alps was chalked up into the magic category. He didn't know if what the old man was saying was truth or false. Greg has always found ways to lie his way out of things; it's how he dodged getting arrested in the past. It was a tough decision. But it was the only lead they had.
	"If you're lying you're getting arrested." Max lowered his revolver, holstering he cold metal. "Shiroe, call Abby and tell her the situation."
	"You’ve got an idea?” Forbes looked at the man with a questionable look. Max looked at the woman.
	"We’re staying the night. Going off of what Greg said, we should see what he's seen." He looked at the former grave robber. "And if he's lying, he's going into custody."



	The cool night air blew into the large wooden shack from under the door, dropping the temperature of the large room. The fireplace burned with a fury, desperately trying to combat the cool winter air coming from outside. It was still Christmas Eve, a few more hours until the day of giving was set in full motion. Children would be asleep at this hour, or at least trying to suppress their excitement that was overflowing from them as they squirmed in their beds. Parents would be putting their presents under the Christmas trees. They still kept up the lie about an old man in red and white coming down the chimney and delivering presents to all the good boys and girls. Max wondered when was the appropriate time to tell your kids that old Saint Nick was a fragment of their imagination.
	Unfortunately, Max wasn't sneaking into the living room and putting presents under the Christmas tree to surprise his kids the next morning. Fortunately, this would mean he could've got some sleep, if it wasn't for the fact that he was in the middle of watching the cemetery in the warm confounds of the wooden shake. He doubts he would've got sleep anyway. He wondered how long it's been since he actually got a good amount of sleep.
	The cemetery was now shrouded in a thick fog, giving the eerie area an even eerie feeling. Max watched the large area from one of the windows, ignoring the rest of his entourage. His very large group of armed monster girls.
	Abby must've not understood what Shiroe meant, because now most of the 'rookie' cops were here. Unwise since that left the whole station to Luth, who Max still has yet to meet. Clare sat near the fire, almost hugging it. It must've been hard for the scaled monster girl to leave the warm compounds of the police station and into the -20 winter streets. He didn't even know why she even left in the first place. Even though she had a fiery tail, the salamander was still cold blooded like most scaled monsters. Max remembered most of the beasts had somewhat the same biology as animals.
	The Oni twins, Beth and Ridley, were doing their own thing. Beth was drinking tea with Larry, talking to the old man. Forbes was there too, acting more of a third wheel than actually participating in the conversation. She probably joined for the tea. Beth still had her friendly motherly nature even though she ignored her probably drunk sister flirt with Greg. Max didn't feel bad for the one eyed man, no matter how many times he shot pleading looks in his direction. Rules were different in east. That and he didn't care what happened to Greg. The man took a sip of his coffee and glanced at the fire.
	Clare was now hugging the poor yeti for warmth.
	Shiroe was standing near the door, listening to the gentle howl of the winter wind coming from outside. The orange glow of the fire almost seemed to reflect off of her golden fur. Dell was next to her, guarding/watching the weapons. The group came prepared, even though it was sort of unnecessary. Clare brought her Tommyguns. Tommyguns. Plural. Ridley brought a double barrel shotgun. Forbes kept her Springfield rifle and Max kept his revolver and sawed off. The man was the only one to keep his weapons on him. The rest of the group didn't have the fingers to handle the weapons considering their paws were huge. Though, judging by Shiroe's massive claws and Dell's short black claws, they have their own weapons.  The man finished his coffee and checked his watch. It was ten.
	"I hear something." The room went quiet once the monotone voice of the Jinko spoke out. It was faint, but Max could hear it too.
	Footsteps.
	"Arm up." the man whispered. He gazed out the window, his old eyes trying to scan through the thick fog. The soft crunch of boots hitting snow was hard to hear, but it was there nonetheless. But then he saw it. A group of dark figures in the fog, dragging a large box, almost like a coffin. They disappeared as quickly as they appeared, causing the man to swear under his breath.
	"See?" Greg's voice almost startled the man. "Told you they weren't fake." Max quickly got up, looking at the group.
	"We have to act quickly before we lose them." he nodded to Shiroe. "Shiroe, Forbes, Ridley, and Dell, we'll track the group. Beth, Cathy, and Abby, you watch the gravediggers."
	"Oh come on, you just saw them! You still don't trust me?" Max glared at the man. "Alright fine." He walked over to the door a pulled it open, letting in a wave of cold. The man shivered. He hated the winter. No one ever liked it.

	The group moved in a brisk pace. The winter air blew more violently, blowing fog and snow into the air. Shiroe's steps were almost silent, even though her tall form could be seen in a group of people on the first look. Forbes kept near the man, watching his back. Dell said nothing as they walked. Ridley tightened the scarf around her neck and zipped up her jacket as high as it could. He didn't blame the Oni; it was cold outside. Even Shiroe and Dell were in thick jackets when they had fur. No one liked the winter.
	The Jinko paused, sniffing the air. They've been going in the direction he and the tiger woman saw the shadows go, but they were going blind due to the fog. Shiroe paused, and pointed to a random direction. Max knew where she was going, and so did Forbes. Straight into the direction of the swamps.
	"And how do you know they went that way?" Ridley asked.
	"Footprints." The Jinko pointed down. It was hard to see, but there was bootprints. The group continued on in silence. Max wished it stayed that way.
	"So what exactly are we walking into?" Forbes asked.
	"No clue." Max was being honest.
	"Hopefully a shootout. I want to shoot something already!"
	"Let’s try and keep it civil." Dell sighed. Ridley chuckled.
	"Right. We could be walking into a trap with a bunch of murderous psychopaths or cannibals. But oh no, let’s try and keep it civil and talk to the murderous cannibalistic psychopaths!"
	"Keep your voice down." Max growled. The Oni spat out her tongue. The silence was finally restored. Max checked his revolver. Fully loaded as usual.
	The group soon came to a stop at their destination. Large trees stood in front of them, covered in snow. The dark swamp almost looked like it went on forever. Dark shadows made the swamp hard to see, greenery the only colour detectable. Max looked down at the swamp floor. Even though it was -20 degrees outside, the swamp still had unfrozen muck. Chalk it up with the fact that the swamp blew out warm air and the nature claimed part of the graveyard, it hit every single level of creepy. Max looked back at the group then at the swamp. No one wanted to go inside.
	"Alright, since Shiroe and Dell have paws, you two can take the high road." He pointed as a set of high branches. Not even the moonlight could shine through the shrubbery. "Everyone else, we'll take the low road." Max looked at the Jinko. "Contact us if you see anything." The group nodded and took their first steps into the swamp. Shiroe and Dell hopped to the top of the trees and went on ahead. Max sighed and took a step into the swampy ground.
	And almost sank.
	The floor was covered in thick moss and dirty water. Max was lucky he wore boots or he'd have shoes filled with swamp water. He took another step in and continued on. Max didn't wait for the two other monster girls. He could feel the end of his jacket begin to drag along the thick muddy water. The wet sound of a foot made Max turn around. Forbes was close behind, visibly annoyed at how thick the swampy floor was. Ridley seemed to not mind at all. He didn't say anything and continued on.
	The Swamp was huge. Large old and rotting trees hung overhead, creating a large canopy over the muddy swamp floor. Fallen trees were covered in the thick moss that grew all around. Mushrooms and fungi grew in between cracks in trees, as if like a parasite eating the insides of a body. Tombstones could be seen sticking out of the ground covered in vines and claimed by nature. Trees have even grew over some stones, giving them an almost unrecognisable look. The smell was sour, like a mixture of dead and rotting bodies with dead and rotting nature. Max didn't understand how anything could've grown, but using the dead bodies of others was good compost.
	The warmth of the bog was unsettling for its atmosphere. A feeling of death, rotting, and decomposition, mixed with the warm feeling of being near a fire. It was almost too humid. Max opened up his jacket. It was weird. Outside the large and almost endless bog of death was freezing cold and snow, but inside was like being in a sauna. Forbes and Ridley could feel it too. They were beginning to sweat under their thick winter jackets and clothing. Max didn't like it. He didn't like it at all.
	The cracking of wood was unnerving. Every few seconds there would be a new sound. May it be from the gentle drip of water or the sound of a rotting tree finally giving way and falling to the swampy ground- it kept everyone on edge. Max swatted at his face. A bug; something that was supposed to not be in this type of weather. The whole area was unnatural. It was warm, it was alive, and it was unaffected by the winter. And it was claiming the cemetery in a rapid state.
	The man almost tripped over a fallen tree branch. Not a branch. An arm. The human arm was in the middle of the decomposition stage. It was missing a few fingers as it jutted out of the ground and stood upwards. It must've been one of the bodies that were buried here when it was once part of the graveyard. Forbes cringed at the sight, backing away in fear. Ridley looked like she was about to puke. Max ignored it and continued on. He wasn't fazed by it- he's seen many bodies- but it still make him feel uneasy.
	The whole place made him feel uneasy.
	Shiroe jumped to one of the branches that were low near the ground. She held a claw to her lips and pointed ahead. A faint light could be seen in the distance. A bluish green light. Max nodded to the Jinko and continued into the direction of the light. Shiroe went back up to the top of the trees and ran ahead.It was the same light Greg described, but where was it coming from?
	The light seemed to have gotten brighter as they continued on. Which was good in a way since it meant they were getting closer, but bad in a way since it revealed the many hidden details of the swamp. 'Faces' could be seen in trees, varying of different expressions. If the place didn't already give the man a creepy feeling. The atmosphere seemed to have gotten thicker. The air was beginning to feel harder to breathe. The feeling of death was beginning to be felt more than it was before. Dread and misery was setting in as they continued on, the bright bluish green hue of light beginning to get brighter and brighter.
	If Max and the group haven’t already felt the feeling of regret and death, they would've turned back already. The Man has been in near death situations as much as Forbes was. They were police and they knew the risks. Ridley was part of east's SWAT team. She knew what it felt like to feel fear, and had already suppressed it. Max didn't know about Shiroe or Dell, but he saw them going towards the light without a hitch. Fear was nothing to them. The man held an arm over his face blocking the light as they continued on. They soon broke through and found what they were looking for.
	And quickly hid behind some trees.
	The sight was strange. It was a large clearing, but with strange folk. Grey fleshed humans were walking around in jackets, body parts visibly stitched together. The bluish light was coming from a large circle in the ground. A short woman was standing at a floating body, her back at the group. A dark cloak covered her form. The floating body was covered in cuts and bruises, exactly like how the vampire woman described it. Except they were being stitched together by the young woman. A large floating book was next to the woman, its pages being flipped by an odd wind of some sort. Or something else.
	"Zombies?" Forbes whispered. Max looked at the woman. "A type of undead. Like Ghouls, Wights-"
	"I thought they were myth." Max whispered back. Ridley gave the man a look.
	"You're talking to a Dhampir, grouped with a Jinko, an Anubis, and an Oni, and you thing UNDEAD is a myth?"
	"And I'm guessing the woman in the middle-"
	"Is using Necromancy, a form of magic." Forbes paused. "But I thought those were myth."
	"What is?"
	"A Lich." Dell's voice almost startled the man. "A type of undead. They're a super high level of undead, having the ability of Necromancy; the ability to reanimate the dead. Shiroe and I saw some running around, but they mostly seem to reside here."
	"Probably because she's their queen." Max took out his sawed off and glanced around the corner of the tree at the scene. They still haven't noticed the group. "So how do we deal with undead?"
	"You don't." Dell sighed. "Undead are undead, meaning they they're already dead. You can't kill something that's dead."
	"You can if you shoot them enough." Ridley grinned.
	"And then what?" Dell shot a look at the Oni. "We kill all the zombies and then what? We attack the high ranking undead magic user?"
	"One that has the ability to reanimate the dead." Max whispered.
	"And considering that we're in a part of the cemetery-"
	"She has infinite resources." Max said, finishing the Dhampir's sentence. He looked at the Anubis. "You think we can settle this civil?" Dell thought for a moment.
	"Undead are usually unstable, but Lich's, like Pharaohs, are usually civil- to an extent."
	"It's the only option we have." The man holstered his weapons.
	"And if all else fails?" Forbes holstered her rifle, followed by the Oni. Max said nothing. He didn’t know.
	The man walked out from behind the trees and into the clearing. The muddy floor seemed to have gotten deeper in the area.  But he didn't mind. The rest of the group got out into the clearing, except for Shiroe and Dell who watched from the trees in the shadows. Smart. Max didn't want to show all his cards to the Lich who didn't even pay them any mind. She was too busy trying to do surgery on the body, if Max could tell. He could tell she was young, but he couldn't tell at the same time. She was short, but undead could live for longer than they appear. The air was beginning to get cool, death settling in.
	One of the Zombies growled, causing the man to hover a hand over his gun. He never liked negotiations, especially with an enemy who could obviously overpower them without trying. But it was the only thing they could do. The flapping of pages quickly stopped, causing the group to freeze. The Lich was now standing idly, the large magic book closing with a loud slam. Max pointed his revolver at the Lich. A zombie woman was about to rush at him when he pointed his sawed off at her, freezing her in place. Although they were dead, they seemed afraid of weapons. Forbes and Ridley quickly pointed their weapons at the other zombies, having their backs together with Max' forming a triangle.
	The Lich didn't move.
	Max didn't move.
	No one moved.
	Cool sweat ran down Max' back, a result of the heat from the swamp. His eyes never left the Lich's back. Forbes and Ridley kept their weapons pointed at the stationary zombies that watched them. He could feel Dell and Shiroe watching, waiting for the right time to strike. The female zombie Max had his shotgun pointed at looked at the man with a blush. Or what Max thought was a blush considering the dead can't blush. The long, obviously oversized sweater barely hung on her slim form, revealing the many stitches in her body. Judging by the small stitched holes on her chest, she's been shot before. She was ready to pounce. He was ready to shoot.
	"Don't shoot." The Lich's voice was soft, yet rang like she just yelled. The Lich held up her hands and turned around, revealing the rest of her grey form. The cloak covered her obviously exposed b cups and the book hovered over her exposed private parts. Her purple eyes looked at the man as she spoke with a monotone voice. "I mean you no harm. J-Just please don't shoot."
	Max lowered his weapon as slowly as he could. He couldn't believe his eyes. His hand almost trembled as he fought the urge to drop his revolver. He lowered his aim at the zombie next to him as he stared at the Lich in shock and surprise. Forbes looked at the man at the corner of her eyes, wondering what he was doing. Max couldn't believe it. He’d remember what she looked like no matter how much she's grown. Even when her eyes were purple and her hair was silver, she still had that look. The look of her mother. It was her.
	It was his daughter.
	It was her.
	Max didn't even know it when he had his arms over the teenaged looking Lich. He hugged the undead woman in his arms, tears beginning to form in his eyes. It was her. It was his daughter. His long lost daughter. After so long, he finally found her. He tightened his arms as he sniffled, trying not to cry. He didn't even care about the looks he felt from Ridley and Forbes. It was Rayleigh. It was his daughter. He rubbed the back of her head with his hand as he whispered her name. He didn't care if he was crying anymore. He didn't care how cold her skin felt. He didn't care about how everyone watched. He had her back. He had his Rayleigh back. His own flesh and blood.
	"H-How do you know my name?"
	Max' eyes shot open in shock. He broke the hug, holding onto the Lich's shoulders. He looked into her eyes, whipping away his tears. Of course she wouldn't remember, she was so young.
	"You’re my daughter." Max said, almost a whisper as he choked up. "I'm your father." The Lich looked as the smiling man with confusion.
	"Father? Mother never talked about you."
	"Mother? Altaria?"
	"Who?" Max looked at the Lich with confusion. "I meant my mom; Madame Valentine."
	"W-What?" No. This couldn't be happening.
	"Madame Valentine. My mom, and your wife apparently." The Lich looked at the man. "My name is Rayleigh Valentine."
	"No." Max' voice sounded broken. "No no no, you're name is Rayleigh Anonymous. Your mother is Altaria anonymous. You’re my daughter!"
	"My last name isn't Anonymo-"
	"YES IT IS!" Max' voice echoed. "I would NEVER forget what my own daughter looks like. Valentine is not your last name. She is not your mother-"
	"Max-"
	"You are my daughter, my long lost daughter that was stolen from me." Max cuffed the Lich's face with a hand. "Y-You don't remember me..."
	"I was raised and named by my mom, Misses Valentine. A-And I've been waiting for her here." Rayleigh looked at the broken man. "I-I know she had many men, but maybe you mistook me for someone else." Max held his head low. She was too far gone. Madame Valentine took her at such a young age that she was pretty much brain washed. His own daughter, who stood right in front of him, flesh and bone, couldn't even remember him. His grip on the young Lich's shoulder tightened as tears freely began to run down, hitting the swampy ground. He slowly got up to his feet and began to walk off.
	But the man paused. There was one thing he remembered. One thing he knew she had to remember. There was still his Rayleigh somewhere in that corrupted state she was in. It was the one thing, the only thing, that he thought could bring her back. Her favourite song; her lullaby.
	Happy times- Bobby Crosby
	"Wish on the moon, and look for the gold in a rainbow. And you'll find happy thoughts." The Man turned to face the Lich. "You'll hear a tune that lives in the heart of a bluebird. And you'll find happy times."
	"Though things may look very dark." The Lich whispered. "You're dream is not in vain."
	"For when you find the rainbow?"
	"Only after rain."
	"So, wish on a moon, and someday it may be tomorrow. You will suddenly hear chimes."
	"And you'll have," they were singing together now. "Your happy, happy times."
	The lich looked at the man in disbelief, and visibly tired. "H-how do you know that song?"
	"Because your mother and I always sang that tune to put you to sleep."
	"B-But, mother never sang that to me once."
	"You're real mother." Max smiled. "Altaria."
	"M-My real mother..." The Lich looked at the man, tears beginning to form in her eyes. "D-Daddy?" Max nodded, ignoring the tears that were flowing down his cheeks. He quickly dropped to his knees as he embraced the crying Lich that ran into his arms. She hiccupped and cried, soaking his shoulder. But he didn't care. He did what any other father would do.
	He hugged his daughter.
	The two stayed in the embrace as long as they could. Rayleigh couldn't stop saying father as she cried. Max said nothing. His heart was beating as fast as it could. He was feeling emotion. Even though the Lich's body was cold, it was warm to him. For it was his daughter’s embrace. He ignored the sounds of weapons being lowed. He just hugged his daughter as tight as he could, something in which he hasn't done in a long time.
	"You've grown so much." Max said through tears. Rayleigh smiled. "You were four when I last held you."
	"I remember." The Lich sniffled. "I remember..." Forbes was about to say something, but Shiroe placed a paw on her shoulder. The Jinko shook her head.
	"Let them have some time." The Asian Jinko whispered. "They have a lot of catching up to do. And he knows he won't have much time with her for long." Max heard the Jinko. He knew. Even though it was his daughter, she still stole from crime scenes and technically from graves. She was a criminal. His face darkened as he heard the group leave to give him time. The two were soon left in silence.
	"Dad" Max looked at the Lich. "I-I know I did some bad things. And I turn myself in for my crimes.” The Lich pushed away from the man and held out her arms.
	"I'm not arresting you."
	"You have to."
	"I'm not arresting my own daughter!"
	"IT'S YOUR JOB!" The man reeled back. "I-I know what I did. And even though I did it for good, it was still wrong."
	"Why?"
	"I heard that December is the time for giving, so I tried to give back all the men those monster women broke." The Lich looked into the man's eyes. "I revived them from the dead, and sent them back to their wives as a way of giving, like the holiday suggests." Rayleigh looked down. "But I had to commit a crime to do so. And I'm aware of my crime." She looked back up at the man. "So arrest me."
	"Rayle-"
	"Dad." Rayleigh gave the man a stern look. "Arrest me."




	The gentle howl of the cool winter wind could be heard from within the cozy diner. The kids who wished for more snow to fall on Christmas Day finally had their wishes come true. A joy, if it wasn't for the fact that there seemed to be non-stop snow for the past week. Sidewalks and roads were always covered in a fresh coat of snow; no matter how many times people and workers shovelled it to clear the path. The cool white puffs of snow fell from grace in a majestic fashion, like an angel falling from heaven. Kids were too busy trying to eat the stuff to even notice how beautiful the scenery was, even though it was very bright. Kids were too busy playing with their presents to even care.
	Max took a sip of his coffee and placed it back on the wooden table. His hands hugged the side of the mug as if he was a homeless man huddling next to a fire. Although, he's been in the diner for a very long time. He watched the snowfall from within the diner, almost as if he was in a trance.
	He's been like that for a while.
	It's been a whole week since he found her, since he found his daughter. He remembered it all too well to even forget. Her cool embrace mixed with his. The feeling of being hugged by his own flesh and blood that he hasn't seen in fifteen years. He didn't question why her skin was grey or even why she was doing- he didn't care. It was her. It was his daughter, the same one that was stolen by him all those years ago and considered dead by most. Which wasn't far from the truth in hindsight. But it was her.
	And yet, the reunion was bitter-sweet. He didn't want to do it, everyone knew that, but she was a criminal nonetheless. Arresting your own daughter, your own flesh and blood, one in which you haven't even seen in such a long time. He completely forgot the charges; he didn't even want to remember. And yet he remembered it all like it was yesterday. Cold metal handcuffs gripping her wrists together. Pushing her inside the back of Forbes' car. The Dhampire never glanced at the man once when he closed the door to the car. Max didn't even know he was crying when the car drove off until he felt his tears begin to freeze. And like that, she was gone.
	The man gripped the ceramic mug. He pleaded for Forbes to free his daughter, to do something, anything, to lessen her sentence. The Dhampire tried, he knows she did, but it was all in vain. Even when she told the court of her story, of her good motions and good intentions to what she did, she was still sentenced to jail for tampering with evidence and theft. Fifteen years imprisonment. Another fifteen years without his daughter. Another fifteen years. A tap made the man look down at his table. There was a tear. He didn't even know he was crying.
	"Here." the Man almost jumped to the voice. The Cheshire waitress handed the man a tissue, concern in her eyes.
	"I'm fine." Max brushed away his tears and gazed back out the window. The Cheshire was still there.
	"Max I... I heard about what happened." Max said nothing. The man said nothing. "I'm not here to bother you or tease you like I usually do. I just... I don't like seeing you this way." She stood for what felt like hours, begging to just hear the man speak. But he didn't say a word. She sighed to herself, her perky ears deflating.
	"Have you ever dealt with loss before, Maxie?" The Cheshire's ears perked up. "My daughter... My own flesh and blood, was taken from me fifteen years ago by the same succubus you used to work for. Fifteen long and agonizing years of thinking my daughter was dead or turned into some sort of demon spawn or monster. But there she was. After so long, I finally found her again." The man looked down at his mug. "But then she was ripped away from me again. She was in my arms, crying on my shoulder like a lost child finally finding their family. An embrace I haven't felt in such a long time, taken away from me. And now she's in prison, for another fifteen years. Fifteen long and agonizing years."
	"Not everyone can be happy like you," Max said, looking at the Cheshire. "You're young, and brash, and live their life for fun. But until you become a parent, a product of bringing life into this world, you'll never know how I feel." The man got up to his feet. it was about closing time for the diner. He left his pay on the table and began to walk over to the door. Or he would've, if he wasn't stopped by a Cheshire gripping him from behind.
	"Let go." The Cheshire tightened her hug.
	"Max, I know how it feels to lose someone you hold dear." Max began to pull her arms off. The Cheshire quickly teleported in front of him. Before he could do anything, she gave the man a tight hug. "And what you're doing is wrong. Don't push people away, Max. Don't push away your friends that just want to help you, to know if you're OK. Because they're all you have left." The man froze. "It's going to be OK, Max. She's going to be OK. Now let me let go before you start tossing me out the window for hugging yo-" The Cheshire froze in mid-sentence. The returned embrace was something she didn't even expect, let alone anyone would've. A soft tinge of pink began to form on her cheeks as she stood frozen in the man's embrace.
	"Maxie." His voice shot the Cheshire out of his trance.
	"Y-Yeah?"
	"Thank you." Her blush began to increase. But she smiled nonetheless. The Cheshire closed her eyes and returned the hug.
	"You're welcome."

	Three years had passed before Max got the news from Forbes. The dhampire called the man in the middle of the night, sounding surprised to hear his voice on the other side of the line considering he's been ignoring his phone for the longest time. He was still working for the force, but wasn't as talkative as he originally was. No one would've noticed if they knew him and didn't know about the arrest. Three long years of nothing but sorrow and violence. Violence regarding a certain Lich that was arrested.
	Riots sprung up when the monsters heard about what Max' daughter did and was responsible for. Most wouldn't have cared if it wasn't for the fact that Rayleigh's story was 100% true. Every woman who accidentally killed their husband during December got their husband back all in one piece as if nothing happened. A miracle, as most monsters called it. So when they heard that the miracle worker Lich was arrested for her crimes and was sentenced to fifteen years in imprisonment, many were upset that she was being arrested for the good she did for the city.
	The riots were nothing pretty. Max and most of North along with South had to help East with the riots in the streets that were demanding her freedom. A lot of the police got injured. Max didn't want to partake in the calming of the riots, considering it was about his daughter, but he was forced to help anyhow. But at least he wasn't part of the riot squad. Blake and Dave walked with limps now while Max only had scarring on his chest and back due to an attack by an Ushi Oni. How he was alive was beyond him. Eventually West had to intervene, under the strict watch of literally every police force, and the riots soon began to tone down to mere protests.
	During those three years Maxie was living with the man. Apparently ever since Madame Valentine was brutally murdered all those years ago, she's been homeless for the longest time. Max didn't want her living with him at all, already having experience with cat girls and nekos, but the more he kicked her out, the more she kept finding her way back in. Eventually the man gave up and allowed her to stay as long as she paid half of each bill. Considering she still had her job at Bob's, this was no issue for her.
	Why she didn't just live with bob Max never knew.
	When Forbes called about the news, Max thought he was dreaming. Apparently the protests and riot worked. The judge and the mayor agreed to a shorter sentence to five years in imprisonment. The monsters would've rather had her been declared not guilty. Max would've rather had her under house arrest. But the news made the man almost cry in joy. Sure, Max still had to wait, but not for as long as before. And even though he visited her almost every day, he still continued to do it.
	The last remaining two years almost went past in a blur. The man didn't even realize two years passed before the chief sent him to the prison in east to 'pick up something'. Through the whole drive to the prison, Max wondered what the chief meant, until he finally got there. Rayleigh sat in the waiting room, her head downcast. Her silver hair was cut short, the traditional prison cut so the monster girls don't think of any way to escape. She was in the clothes she last wore when she was sent to jail. Her purple eyes gazed up when the man opened the door to the waiting room. Max stood in shock, frozen in place like a statue. The Lich looked at the man with a surprised expression. Tears began to roll down her cheeks as she sniffled. Max ignored his tears as he fell to his knees, embracing his daughter that ran at him. The man's phone began to right, causing him to answer it in mid hug.
	"I expect to see you in a week, Max" The chief's old grizzled voice said on the line. Max smiled a genuine smile as he looked at his daughter. "And no, this won't use your holidays."
	"Thank you, chief."
	"Don’t thank me, thank that Cheshire of yours. We found out it was her who made those protests and leaked the information about your daughter, what with the help of Forbes' 'n' all." A sigh was heard on the other side. "Though, me giving you the week off is all my idea. But either way, you're welcome."
	"Chief I-"
	"The hells are you doing still talking to me? Go spend some time with your daughter damn it." Max chuckled. "And tell her I said hi." The man grunted as the tired Lich jumped onto his back and held on. He hung up the phone and sighed.
	"How old are you anyhow?" Max said as he carried the young girl around.
	"Dad, you can't just ask a girl how old they are."
	"Well I was thinking that aren't you a little old for piggyback rides?" Rayleigh blushed.
	"I-I just like these, OK?" Max chuckled.
	"I know you do."

	END.