JP - Not Raccoons

Jaxon had to blink a few times against the sudden light and lifted his good arm to shield his eyes. “Whoa, man…what the fuck?” He asked. There was still a bolt in his side and the bullet wound in his shoulder. Blood still leaked from both and he was soaked to the bone. “Gary?”

Caneclone did not know who Gary was. “Who are you?” He demanded.

Jaxon pushed back his hair and blinked a few more times. No, this couldn’t be the man he’d worked with. “Aren’t you Gary Canestone? We worked together, dude…” He said and finally dropped his arm. “How did you…survive?” His eyes glanced down for a second and shuddered at the memory of what Gelf had done. “It’s me, Jaxon…”

“I’m Caneclone, Nature or 001. I have never met you before in my life.” Caneclone said, thinking it weird that this man thought he was someone with a similar sounding name. “What happened to you?”

“A fight, obviously.” Jaxon said and finally grabbed the bolt, jerking it out and letting it drop to the floor. “Ya got a first-aid kit here?”

“What’s all the noise about?” Fang asked as he walked in and froze at the sight of Jaxon. “James?”

“No, kid,” The pyro snorted. “James is my idiot brother.”

“He called me Gary Canestone.” Caneclone said, watching Jaxon.

Fang went very silent and narrowed his eyes at Jaxon. “I’m gonna have to request that you leave, sir…” He reached behind himself, grabbing for a hidden gun there.

Jaxon frowned and growled. “Pull that gun out, kid, and I’ll set you on fire.” He snapped.

Caneclone struck Jaxon’s head with the lantern.

Jaxon grunted in pain as glass broke against his head from the lantern and he grabbed onto Caneclone's arm. "You little-!" He growled and his entire free arm and hand were suddenly ablaze as he swung at the clone's face.

Caneclone leaped back, making his skin fireproof. He tried to twist his arm free from Jaxon. “Leave!”

Fang took a shot at Jaxon, only for it to miss when the pyro released Caneclone’s arm. He quickly tried to shoot again, but a hand forced it up - a flaming hand.

Panicking, Fang released the gun to retreat from the fire, only to have a fireworks display go off in the room. “Fuck!” Jaxon yelled and put out his fire, leaving them all in darkness for the moment. It was quiet except for the rain pouring down outside and the thunder rumbling…

Caneclone ducked under the table and waited for his eyes to adjust to the dark. At least he was no longer bored.

There would be a loud thud just after a roar of thunder before Lola ran in with her own lantern. The light illuminated the kitchen area and showed the results of what had occurred. Fang was on his back, silent as life slowly faded from his eyes.

Jaxon looked toward Lola and growled in annoyance.

Caneclone burst from under the table and tackled Jaxon. He pummeled Jaxon’s face with his fists.

Jaxon caught Caneclone’s fist and gripped tightly. He was surprisingly and frighteningly strong, despite not looking like it. “I get it now…” He grunted, grinning. “You’re the clone they didn’t give memories to.” Pulling his leg up, he roughly kicked the clone away and got up. “Guess that just means you’re a liability…”

Suddenly, his entire body was alight in flames and there was something akin to a crazed grin on his face. Laughing, he made the fire spread quickly, starting to burn the entire place.

Lola had gone to Fang and was shaking him, silently screaming. Tears spilled down her pale face and she looked at Caneclone for help.

Caneclone looked around and could see the fire spreading. They had to get out of here. He grabbed Fang by the arms and began dragging him towards the door.

Lola, despite her tears, helped Caneclone get Fang out of the house. It was creepy seeing Jaxon stay inside - was he insane? She could only assume so…

Caneclone dragged Fang away from the house where he should be safe from the fire. He turned to Lola. “Is there someone you can call when you need help, like now?”

Lola was hunched over her phone and searching for the first number she could get. It was Frisk. When it began to ring, she held it out to Caneclone since she could not speak.

Caneclone accepted the phone, hoping it would be answered quickly.

After handing him the phone, she sat down in the wet grass and held Fang’s body close while crying. The entire house was now ablaze, too hot at the moment to be put out by the rain just yet. It would slowly die down, though. Where Jaxon disappeared to, though, was a mystery.

“Hello?” Frisk answered.

“Help- we’ve been attacked, Fang is hurt, I think he’s been shot- he’s not moving. And the house is burning down!” Caneclone shouted.

“Where are you?” Frisk asked.

“I don’t know!” Caneclone looked at Lola.

Lola looked around and pointed to the sign on the fence of the farm. It would read: The Greyson Farm.

“The Greyson Farm- we’re next to it.” Caneclone said.

Frisk knew where they were, Caneclone was still at the safe house Abe had taken him to. Naturally the medic was suspicious. “Can I talk to Abraham?”

“He’s not here, he left.” Caneclone said.

That was not assuring. “Who else is there?”

“Fang isn’t moving… I think he’s dead!” Caneclone said. “Lola’s here but she can’t talk.”

Fuck. “I’ll send help…” Frisk hoped they would not be sent into this clone’s trap. “Who attacked you? Are you still in danger?”

“A guy who can control fire. He said he was Jaxon, but Fang called him James.” Caneclone said. “He’s gone now. I- I think he’s gone… it’s raining hard, Lola and Fang are getting soaked.”

Hypothermia was a real threat in this weather. As was lightning. “Try to get in shelter- is the shed safe?”

“Shed?” Caneclone looked and saw a small shed far back in the yard. “Uh, I guess.”

“Try to get in there. Help is coming.” Frisk had already texted D and others for a rescue team.