Screams and gunshots echoed from the campus and hallways outside. A small group of teenagers huddled in music classroom, lights off, doors barred with whatever they could find, but they still stayed far away from the windows. None of them knew how they would escape this, or if they would even survive. The four of them were alive for now, but with the massacre going on outside, none would say they believed they would escape.
The sounds only got worse as a minute dragged by, and by then they were all considering the only way to escape they could think of. They didn't believe the police would get here in time, and three had turned to a girl, who's hands were clasped together as if she was praying, but praying for what? For the madness outside to stop? Or for her friends not to suggest what she knew they had all come to the conclusion of?
"Manna, please." A boy with red brown hair begged her, the first to speak.
The frightened girl, Manna, slowly opened her eyes. She was a model, tall and thin with plenty of curves, long, straight black hair, and pleading chocolate brown eyes. "I can't." She finally choked out, hating the fact that she was the one essentially refusing her friends life. "Summoning the Ark; playing the Fourteenth's song has been forbidden by my family since the Holy War ended over a century ago!"
"If you don't, we're all dead!" a girl with chunky red hair argued. She knew if they pled with Manna long enough, she would give in. She wasn't the type to refuse her friends if they were in trouble.
And sure enough; Manna Walker did give in. Breaking a century of observance of a carefully placed restriction, she walked over to the piano, uncovering the keys. As she sat down, her fingers immediately finding the right notes, although she had never even touched a piano before this event, a deadly prophesy in a cold, promising voice echoed in her mind, reminding her why she had avoided piano's all these years. 'You will bring the Holy War back to an Earth with no Innocence; you will be the cause of humanities destruction as you play my song and summon the Ark by your own will.'
It was too late to stop now though. As Timcanpy, a relic from the Holy War, landed on her shoulder, she had already begun to sing. The Fourteenth Noah had patiently resided in the Walker line, waiting for this single moment.
The Millennium Earl continued playing, even though he felt the arrival of someone upon the Second Ark, which he had created only a week earlier. Whoever had arrived was coming to this room; no point in bothering to move then. And the presence was a curious one, it interested him greatly.
Finally, he was alerted to the entrance of the newcomer.
"Good Evening, Millennium Earl."
"Good Evening." The Earl replied without a hint of surprise as he turned his eyes to the location of the voice. The speaker was a young woman, rather pretty with long black hair and brown eyes. She wore a black silk and velvet dress adorned with white lace, and a lacy white hat.
"I'm sorry for bothering you." The girl apologized; "I wouldn't even be here if the Innocence hadn't cheated."
"Should I… know who you are?" The Earl asked, a little perplexed now.
"Only in the general sort of way." She replied with a weak shrug. "I am Manna Walker, the Centennial Witch. I'm sure if you remember the full prophecy of the Destroyer of Time, you can figure the rest out." She smiled fondly.
The Earl was smiling very widely now. "Ah! I didn't think I'd get the chance to meet you, dear. So, the Innocence cheated?"
Manna nodded in annoyance, "I was going to dispose of those kind four; descendants of other exorcists who encouraged my awakening, but the Innocence took them from me. I've decided to chase them down so I don't leave any loose ends behind me, and I was wondering, Lord Earl, if you would help a new player like me?" she asked a little shyly.
The Earl chuckled, "Of course my dear. I'll introduce you to the Noah; I think we could both benefit from working together." He replied, standing from the piano and holding out an arm. "And maybe, I'll get the chance to introduce you to your great grandfather. Won't that be fun?"
The Centennial Witch took the Earls arm, "I also must thank Hevlaska; for not revealing the full prophesy." She agreed, smiling coldly, "I'm sure she deserves to see the results of her decision."
"Well then, come my dear; so we can get started on this next Act of the play of humanity's destruction."