Lander sighed. Thruoughly drunk from the sweetness of it all he looked down at his watch. Six-fifty p.m. He stood up and stretched for a second. Everyone else in the place was gone, and he had spent the last Thirty minutes talking to his salt shaker. He gathered his things, paid his $197 tab, and left the restaurant. By this time the sun had gone down and the only source of lights were torches he saw to his left and the now rising full moon through some clouds.

Looks like we might get some rain soon.

He half consciously stumbled to the center of town where the torches were, and began to look at some of the exhibits up. He came to a booth were a rabbit was jabbering about something amazing. Behind him was a large aquarium that was covered by a red drape.
"What I have here folks is a the most extraordinary, incredible, amazing creature of the deep you will ever see!" The guy manning this booth was grinning widely, and dressed lavishly in red flare and a tuxedo. "Caught her about three miles off the coast of Carota. Yeah...I had gone two days without food and water, but I was determined. I fought with her for seven hours, but I, being the pinnacle of strength and endurance, won out in the end. And now my proof is this!" He pulled the drape off of the tank, his smile almost covering the rest of his face. The audience recoiled in shock.

Lander stared with wonder and amazement at the thing beneath the drape. From head to fin, the...the...monstrosity was at least twelve feet long. The creature's skin was lime green with white lines lacing through it making a pattern like a chain link fence on it. Along it's neck it had large green spines. Unlike most other serpents, this one had two large front legs...or arms...or something. Along it's face there were multiple scars crossing its jaws. Both of its eyes were closed, and when it exhaled bubbles came shooting out of its nostrils. Two of its teeth were showing out from under his upper jaw. They were both 4 inches long and ended in a tip sharper than a sword. Whatever it was, this wasn't any mermaid.

The audience clapped and cheered for the fisher’s amazing work, and several rabbits and other people came up and began inspecting it through the glass almost immediately. Lander clapped uneasily along with the rest of the crowd, and the Fisherrabbit beamed with pride. Without warning the eyes of the creature shot open with a sudden burst of bubbles. Lander stared deeply into its eyes. Empty and cold. Even the dead had the mark of emotion engraved on their visage, but this showed no emotion at all. The creature stirred uneasily from its sudden awakening. When the rabbits against the glass saw the movement they all jumped back. The exhibitor, baffled with the strange occurrence, began trying to calm the crowd. The serpent swam to the top of the cage and crawled out with its two large claws.
“Oh crap! It’s crawling out!” Somebody yelled from behind.
“Is this a part of the presentation?” Another girl screamed.
The monster jumped and stared right into Lander. Instantly it felt like his blood had turned to ice, as if death itself had touched him. Lander wanted to run, but his muscles didn’t respond. The creature lunged at his throught.

*BOOM*

Lander was rained upon by yellowish green blood. His knees started to give out but a few nearby people came over and helped him up. His opponent has been shot with a shotgun by a nearby police officer. However it still had much fight left in it apparently, because it calmly turned back and stared at its assailant. It jumped onto him with its powerful legs and began ripping through the police officer. His shredded uniform flew through air like leaves in a sudden updraft. Thunder rang through the air.

Adrian Lafayette

“Read em’ and weep boys.” Adrian announced triumphantly. “6-7-8-9-10 straight flush.”
“Awaragh” The other players groaned.
“Yo Adrian.” Aaron said. “You too good at this. Eh maybe you cheat?”
“What can I say? I was born a card shark. Now’s I gots business to take care of so adios. Oh, and thanks for all of your money.” Adrian replied through a smile. He abruptly turned and walked out the door of the small bar.

Outside, Adrian took a cigarette out of his inside coat pocket and lit up.
“Nothing like a good smoke after taking some punks to the cleaner eh?” He leaned against the building smoking for a while, and then started walking without any real care as to where he was going. Adrian was a gangster here in Carota Del Bambino for about 3 years. On the outside you see a made man. Sport coat, silk tie, shined black shoes. But behind that he is a notorious thief and gambler with a knack for guns. Never seen without his little buddy, a .45mm handgun, Adrian is a bit headstrong and full of himself, however poor he may be. Otherwise he looks like a normal ferret. Tan colored fur with a white underbelly. He tail was fairly short and tipped in black. His claws were always filed short, and also had a small beard on his chin.

Suddenly, a single drop of rain came down and hit his whisker. It rolled off to the tip and hit the ground. Another came down on his head. Suddenly a full storm rolled in and Adrian was being drenched in rain. He decided that it would be best to head home. He walked back and got into his convertible. He rolled into the front seat and jammed his keys in. He began cruising towards his house and took a turn. Suddenly 2 limousines turned in a cut him off. Adrian slammed on the brakes. One of the limo’s doors opened. A rabbit stepped out.
“Adrian Lafayette I presume? I’ve heard much about you.” The rabbit announced.
“Glad to know that good news travels fast?” Adrian replied.
“Must be a sad town if people consider you good news.” He snarled.
“Tell me your name.” Adrian said calmly.
“You may call me Libra.” He answered with a bit of sarcasm.
“What a pathetic nickname.” Adrian muttered loud enough for Libra to hear.
“You talk better than you shoot.” Libra bantered.
“I see what you’re getting at. And if it’s what I think then have at you.” Adrian leaped out of his car and opened the door and ducked behind it. Adrian reached into his coat and pulled out a handgun. He loaded took out a cartridge from his belt and slammed it into the gun. Meanwhile it was continuing to pour down with rain. Adrian squinted through the darkness.

*RATATATATATATATAT*

Glassed rained on Adrian’s head. Libra had pulled out a Tommy Gun was ripping through his car with bullets.
“Holy!” Adrian exclaimed. He rested his gun against the side of the door and fired blindly three times. He rolled through the car and stretched across his front seats. Libra shot at the car door for a few seconds. The door was completely ripped off of its hinge.
“Is this your best? Hiding and firing randomly?” Libra called out tauntingly. Adrian placed his gun against the dashboard and fired through his now shattered windshield. After about 4 shots he leaped out over his passenger side door and ducked behind the car. Lighting struck. For an instant the battlefield was illuminated. Libra was hiding behind a trashcan directly in front of Adrian. Apparently Libra couldn’t see Adrian. Then the light was gone. Adrian fired at were he guessed Libra would be but all he heard was the clash of the trashcan flying through the air and landing on the ground.
“It’s too dark, I gatta move someplace a bit better.”
Adrian crawled back silently into his car and into the drivers seat. The engine purred as he turned the key, and then he floored it.
“Oh crap!” Libra yelled. In his headlights Adrian saw a figure rolling out of the way. Adrian steered down a road towards the center of town. It didn’t take long for Libra to catch up to him in his Limo. His car pulled up next to Adrian’s, and he rolled down his passenger side window. One of his goons stuck an Uzi out of the window. Just as he was about to pull the trigger Adrian slammed down on his brake.

*dh-dh-dh-dh-dh-dh-dh-dh-dh-dh*

Adrian reached into his back seat and felt around for his Ak-47. His hand came across the cold steel of the gun barrel. The Limo came into a stop under a street light and started to go into reverse. Adrian grabbed his gun, slammed it against his dashboard, and let loose. Libra’s car windows shattered. His tires popped. His doors bent inwards. His side view mirror flew off. A pause. Adrian had run out of ammo in that clip. He waited to see what would happen. Libra’s car puttered to a stop about 10 feet away. All the sound that was made were the raindrops and the occasional clasp of thunder. Then an all to familiar sound came rang out from the distance. Just a police siren that’s all.

Adrian sped off away from the sirens. After about 20 minutes of driving he finally lost the cops. Unfortunately he was completely lost.
“Why are there no lights in this side of town.” He pondered out load. He looked down at his radio and checked the time.
“Seven-oh-three…oh that big party thing has started hasn’t it?” He commented. He pulled up on his turn signal in an attempt to turn his headlights on. They had both been shot out.
“Figures. How am I supposed to drive now!” Adrian yelled. He tilted his head back and looked at the clouds. The torrents of rain had finally died down and there was a golden ring around the moon.

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Very long...