NT: Spectator Entry 5

Nightmare Tournament Round 5 Spectator Entry: The Good, The Bad, and The Nairb.

Nairb blinked.

He and his minions were standing in a vast expanse of a field, finally on dry land, with a large brick tower looming in the distance. Nairb could also see another portal, with some sort of small encampment nearby.

“Wait here for a bit. I’m gonna go find out what’s goin on around here. Remember; we have to move together against Nightmare; please be patient and wait for me to come back. I want you all to try and stay hidden.”

They nodded, and he drifted off.

Nairb shifted himself, making himself barely visible as the floated towards. He hung around to the back before re-solidifying himself. He poked around the corner, then cursed silently. There were people! More people, of various sizes, statures, and apparels! Some had bandaged wounds, but most were simply milling about and trying to console each other.

This isn’t good. If they catch wind of this, they’re attack them instead of Nightmare; and if these people see my lil army, they start fighting…need to talk to whoever’s in charge here…

He shifted himself through the ground, with his head barely visible above the ground, and began to “swim” through the ground looking for someone alone he could speak to without alerting everyone else. Nairb started to float towards a young boy, but then stopped as soon as he saw the red spiky hair.

No; as much fun as it would be, I can’t talk to that Matt kid again, he’ll just freak out and alert everybody, he thought to himself. He kept on going, and stood back on the ground after feeling a bit tired from the exertion on his being.

Damn! I need someone who I can tru- At that moment, Nairb laid his eyes on a 8 foot tall beast-like creature who was rubbing his forehead wearily. This looks like a likely candidate. Horns, fur, tall, weird looking stomach; yup, he’s a friendly. But why is he working with the people?

The tall creature turned, and Nairb spied a small cross hanging on a chain around its neck.

Oh great, he’s either a slave or a ‘reformed’ beast. Oh well, that’s good enough for me.

Nairb waited until the creature sat down near the edge of a makeshift tent before making his move a few feet behind it.

“Hey, holy beastie! Psst! Hey! Who's in charge here?” Nairb asked, gently poking the creature in the leg. It turned around to face him, slightly confused.

“My name is Allen, sir, and I doubt that using those kind of manners will get you anywhere.” It said, then, “Wait a second...”

Allen looked Nairb up and down. Allen smirked, and sat down, making him more eye-level to Nairb.

“I suppose you’re the one that Nightmare was worried about,” he said, pointing at Nairb.

Shit. Nairb’s smirk dropped for a moment, then resumed its usual cocky smile. "Well, listen here buddy, I needs to have me a lil chat with whoever's in charge here. I need to tell them about a few...things...no doubt Nightmare has told a few lies about me, so," He held his hands up in innocence. “I assure you, I have no intention of harming anyone here right now...but I'm not so sure if my 'friends' would be so amicable..."

Allen began to write in the dirt with his finger as he chuckled.

“I doubt that Nightmare did lie, despite his track record. You see, I can usually tell when someone is lying to me. Call it a talent. And as I've said, no one is in charge here, but if you need to talk to someone so badly, then I guess it would have to be me…” He stood up and picked up a suitcase which Nairb had failed to notice earlier.

Oh great, a suitcase. What does he do, sell bibles?” Nairb thought to himself.

“It would be alone. No one else but the two of us. Got it?” Allen tightened his grip on his suitcase.

Nairb smiled, revealing his razor-sharp teeth, "Just as I wanted it. Now, let's hurry, I don't know how much time I have left. You got a nearby place in mind?"

Allen pointed over towards the gigantic tower Nairb had seen on his way in. “Over there, just in case it rains again.” He started walking off towards it at a somewhat brisk pace.

I wonder just how much he knows about this place… Nairb coughed. “Well, sure, just as long as no one sees us together..." He looked over his shoulder, checking for any unwary eyes, estimating in his head how long he'd been gone. Allen had already reached for the door. Nairb, deciding to size up Allen, floated through both him and the door with a small "'Cuse me!"

He had entered a large room, with two sets of stairs leading upwards, and two torches illuminating both pathways. Nairb shifted back to his half-state, and listened. He thought he had heard some sort of commotion from above, but he couldn't make out what it was. Allen then entered and shut the door behind himself, slightly perturbed with Nairb's little stunt, keeping himself near the door. Nairb claped his hands together.

"So! Ummm...” Nairb scratched his side. “Where to begin...well, I guess I should start with myself. You see, I threw this little...coup de' etat with one purpose in mind."

He took a deep breath while pacing slightly.

"I...I wanna retire."

Allen chuckled as he put the suitcase down and sat upon it, the suitcase keeping his apparent weight easily.

"Well, then, I could tell you of hundreds of places that I think you would enjoy. St. Augustine, Florida... Baghdad, Iraq... Haiti... Heck, you could even go to Detroit... heard its the new happening hot spot for nightmarish creatures. What exactly is this places... selling point? Beach front property to a sulfuric acid lake?"

Nairb chuckled at Allen. "Well now, the bible beater has a sense of humor. That's a first; better than trying to burn a cross on me or throwing holy water."

Nairb tilted his head. He thought he heard something, maybe he was just imagining things? Or did was he just that desperate for some action?

"Well, you DO have a point. As much as I would LOVE that beach front you mentioned, I'm not so sure I would just be GIVEN it; after all, who gets somethin for nothin? So, in order to PERSUADE Nightmare, I decided to come and shake up a little trouble with the threat of more if he didn't give me my 'retirement home'." Nairb switched to an old man's voice. "Oooah...I needs me my reTIREment home! Needs some...” He gave a few wheezes, making a few grabbing motions in the air with his hands. “Some nurses with short skirts runnin around! Ah, hee hee HEE!!!"

Allen smiled. "Well, I'd be more weary of the company I would keep if I were you. Especially for someone as infirm and helpless as yourself, no offense. Plus, I truly doubt that Nightmare is that frightened of you. The only thing I could think that could scare him is God himself. However, whoever wins this tournament would most likely be the best chance of getting rid of Nightmare."

Allen looked at the scar on his chest and closed his eyes.

Nairb scratched his head. "Yeah, well, you've got a point there. That's why we're having this little conversation, so you don't try to crush me, and I won't stab your heart...not that you’d be able to hurt me anyways. I just wanted to make sure we were both on the same page. And hey," Nairb walked towards Allen and held his hand out, claws retracted. "If you wanna take out Nightmare, I won't interfere in any way, I'll help how I can, and you give me my vacation spot. Deal?"
Allen looked at Narib's hand. Instead of shaking it, he leaned forward, staring at him with a stone cold stare that seemed to penetrate into Narib's eyes.

"If you try and go back on your word, I know a good number of psychic entities that will eat you up like fried chicken on Sunday. You or yours tries to lay a finger on any of the survivors with your permission, I'll hunt you all down myself and find a way to blow a hole in every single one of your heads. If one of yours tries something underhanded and does something without your knowing, I want you to hand him over to me for punishment. No exceptions. If you follow these rules, we won't have any problems. Now, not to seem like a jackass, but I have more important things to worry about."

With that, Allen picked up the suitcase and began to walk away from Narib, but stopped when he got half way there. He looked back at the stairs.

Nairb merely stood there with his hand held out, blinking.

Okay…that was weird, but could’ve gotten worse. He’s obviously smarter than the average beast. He slowly dropped his hand to his side, and again tilted his head.

"No problem. I was going to go first, by the way. That way, we get the first crack, and anyone else can come afterwards and help. I assume there's still a few survivors left still able to h-"

He stopped in mid-sentence and turned his head again. He had heard a scream, he was sure of it this time.

I’ll bet myself a hundred bucks that people are fighting here; where they’re fighting, they’s Nightmare. His eyes widened and he left to pass through the door again.

"Well ‘lil beastie, it appears we now know which way to go. One thing first...you got 5 seconds." Nairb phased through the door, and let out a loud deep reverberating yell. Allen rushed out of the tower as quickly as he could, opened up the suitcase, and brought out the strange looking pistol, and braced himself.

Nairb looked over. He’s got a gun. Damn. He’s DEFINATLY got some piece of human in him. He yelled at Allen, "Hey bible beater! You got 5 seconds to get the hell outta the way before my army bowls you over! Get out of the way, stupid! Let the first wave get through!"

Allen turned around in time to see the horde charging towards him in the distance. He rolled his eyes as he lowered his weapon and sidestepped the door.

"Next time, Carrot-top, get a horn! It'll save your wonderful singing voice for later!" Allen said. Nairb merely laughed. His small force soon arrived at the door.

“Hey, who’s he-“ one tried to ask.

“NEVER MIND HIM! LISTEN!” Nairb roared. “Listen. I’ve found Nightmare. He’s at the very top of the tower. We’re goin’ in. This ‘lil beastie is gonna cover our asses, right?” He winked over at Allen. Not giving him a chance to respond, Nairb kicked open the door.

“CHARGE!!!” His army rushed in, and Nairb rode on top of them. “WE’RE COMMIN’ FOR YA, NIGHTMARE!!!”