"Do you know how to play?" He asked, taking the box's cover off. I tried ignoring him, but he kept snapping in front of my face. "Hello, Earth to weird kid?"
"I have a name." I muttered, refusing to make eye contact with this mess of a human being. He nodded approvingly.
"Tell me the name, silly fart face!" He demanded. I wasn't going to let someone call me fart face, but considering I had just spent the last 5 minutes being airborne and puking on my best friend, I didn't think I could rely on my fighting skills to carry me home.
"William. I'm not from here, and why do you keep asking me to play Candyland!?"
"Because I like it!" He burst out. "Can a man not enjoy board games? What's wrong with you kids these days!?"
"You're like… 3 years older than me."
He frowned. "So what's your name?" I asked him. He sighed.
"It's too revealing, just call me Joe. Joe is all you will ever need!" Said Joe.
I spent the next twenty minutes playing with this absolute buffoon, and I may not have proof but I know he was cheating. He accidentally kicked the dice and rolled a six, plus he predicted every single number he was getting on the dice. I hoped my shapeshifting could help me here and was debating trying to become the dice and rolling myself a six, but I didn't want to risk looking constipated and making a fool of myself. I tried ignoring the crowd laughing at how bad I was at the game but it was really difficult.
I decided to try and get some conversation out of this at least, since I was not only getting bored but also frustrated.
"How on earth are you getting such perfect rolls?" I ask
"I'm lucky is all." He replies with a bright smile
"That's a load of bull, you don't get such consistently lucky rolls like that off of chance, that's like statistically impossible!" I almost shout at him, his lying was really beginning to piss me off.
"Wanna know my secret?" He says, in a strangely serious tone. I start to wonder if he has some kind of multiple-personality disorder, this is a complete 180 from the man-child he was before.
"Sure...?" I say half asking half stating.
He leans in to my ear.
"I'm from that side of the family."
Oh.
"Don't tell anyone I gave you this. You and your friend need to get out of here, head north to New York. That's where you'll find where you're looking for." Joe shoved a leather book against my chest, which sent pain shivering down my spine and torso. I asked Joe many questions, but he ignored me. I clutched the book against my chest, biting my lip so hard it bled. I was snapped out of my confusion by a guard's voice.
"The higher ups have decided to move you to the combat arena. You'll be transported in 15 minutes."
Shit.