Page 71 of Hollow

“I mean, we can test it out if you like?” Jack sauntered up to Dimitri, playfully shoulder-bumping him. “But when I beat you, I am claiming a prize.”

“And what is that?”

“You’ll get on camera and say I’m stronger in all the ways.” Jack folded his arms and made a cocky little face. “I’ll write the script and everything.”

“Fine, I will speak on the silly little camera for the audience if I lose, but if I win, I will claim a prize as well.” Dimitri stepped in close to Jack, pressing his chest against Jack’s crossed arms.

“And what’s that?” Jack asked boldly.

“This.” Dimitri slapped his hands onto Jack’s ass and squeezed tightly, pulling Jack uncomfortably close. “After I best you in battle, I am going to fuck you into the dirt.”

“Fuck,” Jack said with a definite quiver in his voice. “Might have jumped the gun on my prize. Is it too late to change the bet?”

“I do not know, you tell me.” Dimitri moved ever so, caressing Jack’s hips until he lowered his arms.

With his guard dropped, Dimitri snatched Jack by one of his arms and spun him around to build momentum. Once he managed that, Dimitri hurled Jack through the air and sent him crashing out of the living room window.

Jack yelled. Glass shattered. The collision came with a loud thump and the crackle of clinking shards of glass, but Jack sprang up quickly with a look of shock.

“Are you crazy?” he shouted. “You threw me out a goddamn window. Do you know how expensive those were? And I don’t even know how to replace a window. Who do I even call? What the actual f⁠—”

Dimitri lunged ahead, coating his body in the darkness that remained mostly around his hands and feet. By the time he jumped through the window and pounced onto Jack, he had fully armored himself. The tackle sent Jack tumbling backward, but instead of falling on his ass, Jack sank through the ground and disappeared into the shadows.

“You are predictable.” Dimitri whipped around and backhanded Jack as he sprang out of the darkness.

“Son of a⁠—”

Dimitri didn’t waver, offering Jack very little opportunity to think. It was the best strategy Dimitri could come up with against his boyfriend. While Dimitri didn’t intend to go all out, he was also careful not to hold back. He didn’t anticipate Jack would unleash his full wrath either, but Jack possessed more power than he did, even if he spent most of his time as a jokester.

“Enough of that.” Jack shielded himself with shadows, launching them into Dimitri’s path.

A portal opened and sent Dimitri tumbling through, crashing into a large tree.

“Sorry, friend.” Dimitri pushed off the tree, then turned to jump back through the portal, but it had vanished.

Dimitri closed his eyes and caught his breath. As he awaited Jack’s surprise attack, he did his best to listen to the trees as they whispered warnings.

Even before Jack’s boots crunched against the ground, Dimitri had sussed out his location. He launched himself ahead, startling Jack, who now had to pivot away from ferocious claws that swung at him swiftly.

“So much for the element of surprise.” Dimitri kept swiping his claws, slashing bark, and almost landing a few blows on Jack.

These weren’t intended to strike, though. Dimitri wanted to lead Jack into position. After Dimitri got Jack where he wanted, the two of them sparred. Jack seemed to have the advantage, disappearing into the shadows anytime Dimitri came close to landing a heavy-handed blow. Dimitri allowed this, doing his best not to tire himself out, and instead allowed Jack to gloat as they battled.

“Caw-caw-caw,” Nikolai called from above, announcing his arrival and his commands.

Dimitri smirked as dozens of crows dive-bombed at Jack.

“What the—” He weaved back and forth, dodging the aggressive birds who didn’t relent.

Even when he jumped into his shadows, the crows gave chase, holding no fear of the darkness.

“Son of a… Get off me, you psycho… Aah! Damn Edgar Allen Poe looking motherfuckers!” Jack swatted at the crows as they pecked him from every position.

Dimitri watched and caught his breath.

“If you think a couple birds will stop me, you have no idea what I can do.” Jack sent a wave of shadows, knocking the birds back, offering himself the tiniest reprieve.

This break was cut short by the nearby howls. Soon, a pack of wolves joined the crows, growling as they ran toward Jack.