A hero walks into a supposedly “quiet” zone, maybe responding to a missing person report or weird graffiti sightings. Flowers painted in toxic colors line the walls. A chill hangs in the air.

Then…

Calypso (the jellyfish villain) steps forward first:

With glowing strands flowing like bioluminescent tentacles and a soft, too-gentle smile:
“Oh… look what washed ashore.”
He circles slowly, voice warm like a bath that turns just a little too hot.
“You’re even prettier in person. They didn’t tell me your face would be the part I’d ruin.”
He flicks a pill between his fingers.

Mello (pufferfish prankster) pops up next:

Already grinning, half-inflated with excitement, a marker still uncapped in her hand:
“Hold still, cupcake—I wanna draw your ‘before’ face before it swells.”
She giggles, twirling a marker like a scalpel.
“You’ll still be cute after, probably. Kinda.”

Kaiya (urchin acupuncture queen) joins in calmly:

She doesn’t smile, but she watches intently. Every muscle of the hero gets scanned.
“Biceps too tight. Spine too stiff. Pride too loud.”
She taps her needle case.
**“I’ll loosen you up. Art is pain.”

Finn (the frog, slow and deep-voiced):

He licks his lips and hunches forward with lazy confidence.
“New meat.”
He croaks a low chuckle.
“We got your favorite body part picked out already. Let’s see if it still works after tonight.”

What will you do you are the hero