Hello everybody, and welcome to the first installment of my newest concoction, which I like to call "Best Served Cold".
I hope you'll stick around for the show as we explore the aftermath of the fall of Beacon from an entirely new perspective. So, come gather around as I regale to you the happenings of a story best served cold.
"S.i.g.n. L.a.n.g.u.a.g.e."
"Thought"
Teardrops splashed on the ground, forgotten. She collapsed to her knees, whether it was from exhaustion or grief, she couldn't tell. She didn't care.
"She did this," thought the young huntress as more tears fell into her lap. "He understood me like nobody else before. She'll pay." Tears streamed down her face and she sobbed silently. For the first time since she was found by Roman, she cried herself to sleep, alone.
She awoke to the sound of a familiar voice calling out. "Neo," called Emerald. Then louder, "Neo, where are you?"
Neo stood up quickly. "I have to find them," she screamed inside her head, cursing the fact that she was mute. "I've already lost Roman. I can't lose them, too. I can't lose them. My friends."
She followed the sound of Emerald's voice, running as fast as she could. After what seemed like an eternity, she finally found the green haired girl, and Mercury along with her. She ran up and wrapped Emerald in the tightest hug she'd ever given. Tears streamed from her troubled eyes. She looked up and was greeted back with Emerald's red eyes.
"Oh my gosh," exclaimed Emerald, breathing a sigh of relief. Upon noticing the tears in Neo's eyes, she spoke again. "What's wrong? Wh-Where's Roman?"
Neo hung her head. She wished so bad that she could speak. That she could explain her feelings and the hatred she harbored for the girl in the red hood, but alas, she couldn't. She did her best to manifest the grief she felt into one heartfelt stare, hoping Emerald would understand.
Emerald simply gasped. "Y-You mean he's-" Emerald cut her sentence short as Neo broke into silent sobs. There was no need to continue. Mercury and she had figured it out. "How?" she asked after several minutes.
Neo had never thought to try. "Maybe, just maybe…" Neo signed the letters very slowly, hoping that at least one of them knew sign language. "G.r.y.p.h.o.n," she signed slowly, making sure to make each sign precise.
Immediately, Mercury caught on. "Sign language," he said, eliciting a skeptic look from Emerald, which he promptly ignored. He watched intently until she had finished. "Gryphon. He was killed by a gryphon?"
Neo simply nodded. "Thank god," she thought, a feeling of weight lifted from her shoulders. "Somebody who can actually understand me."
"Oh my gosh," exclaimed Emerald as she noticed a red streak along her side. "Neo, you're hurt!"
Neo glanced down and noticed a large amount of blood leaking onto her dress. "How did I not notice that before?" she asked herself silently, her eyes starting to feel heavy again. "More importantly, why isn't my aura healing it…" She looked up at Emerald pleadingly.
"N-Neo," asked the mint-haired girl as she gazed worriedly at her friend. "Neo, what's wrong?"
Neo signed as fast as she could. She didn't feel right. "S.o.m.e.t…". However, before she could finish her message, she collapsed into Emerald, unconscious.
"N-Neo? Neo," screamed Emerald, losing all composure. Turning to Mercury with tears in her eyes, she pleaded. "We need to get her to a hospital, NOW!"
And thus ends the pilot chapter of Best Served Cold. Let me know in the reviews if you liked the story and would like to read more. I'd love to continue this story for you all, and I see great things for the future of it.
P.S. Don't worry. Future chapters will be longer. This is just a pilot to see the reception of the story.
Anyway, feel free to leave a review with any comments or criticisms you may have, and if you liked it, make sure to follow/favorite to make sure you get your fill of our Neopolitan Queen.