A/N: I welcome all of you to the debut chapter of Death March. This story is set in my Broken Hope AU, which is why some of the original cast of RWBY have different designs. Lastly I've gotten a lot of questions on how this story is going to fit in with the other schedule of RWBY:Twilight Abyss, and basically what's going to happen is they will alternate between weekends. For instance next weekend will be RWBY:TW on saturday, and then the following weekend will be DM on Sunday. Please favorite, follow, and review. Adieu, cherie.
The city lights twinkled like the darkest night's stars, through the large glass windows of the highrise apartment. The light streamed through the aforementioned windows in a faint white color, and illuminated the dark room to reveal a few medical journals lying on a coffee table. On the ceiling hung a fan that was lazily spinning; a dying cigarette smoke getting sent into its blades. The main feature of the room was the burgundy colored couch, where a young woman with short black hair slept; a empty bottle of vodka in her arms. She snored slightly, the scent of alcohol on her breath. A bottle of beer was also on the table, its bottom covering a picture of a family whom looked very happy.
The young woman was only dressed in a black tank top, and matching panties; the night wear of the young and experienced. A rectangular object lay on the coffee table and in the next moment it lit up with a piercing noise. The woman groaned restlessly as her long eyelashes moved to single her eyes had opened. Silver eyes looked at the phone for a second before sitting up. Her head spun and she felt nauseous; the tell tale signs of a hangover that would probably plague her for the rest of the night. She ran her left hand through her hair and shook it out before grabbing her phone.
She swiped the screen, "Hello?"
"Teh job starts in tirty minutes. I have sent you deh required infomation. Gankuai!" an unknown woman's voice said in broken english.
The woman set her phone back on the table as the line went dead, the caller ID reading "Chinglish".
She reclined back on the couch, "Something big must be happening. Yang if only you were here…"
The woman got up and in a flurry of rose petals made her way to the shower. On her way there she turned on the T.V. and listened to the early morning news broadcast.
The T.V. flickered to life and a news reporter by the name of Philip Arcain appeared on the screen.
"And with the mounting fears over the rapid escalation of the Fallen terrorist attacks, we have here Doctor Allen Valco. He is the head contributor to the study of the Auro virus, and even has a book on the topic.'
Philip turned to the older looking doctor who's hair was a perfect salt and pepper color.
"Now doctor most of our viewers don't even know how the Auro virus works, so if you could do a brief explanation many people would greatly appreciated."
"Of course, Philip. Now as we all know the Auro Virus first surfaced twenty years ago, and since we have been waging a war against it. At its most non-technical term the Auro virus, or Aura for short, is a blood disease that adds in a very interesting blood mutation that allows for super human abilities."
"I see, now is it in anyway related to leukemia, and if it is couldn't we just help those people using modified treatments?"
"Unfortunately, we can't. You are right to assume it's like leukemia, but we have experimented with such treatments and thus far they have all been failures."
"That truly is terrible, now with the cases of cannibalism." Philip put his glasses on. "Fifteen years ago the Librarian terrorised the 30th ward, as we all know she is now a double z rated Aura Sensitive who now affiliated herself with the Fallen, and during that time she ate both people and other Aura Sensitives. Now why would an Aura Sensitive need to cannibalism anybody?"
Valco took a drink of his water, "They do it to strengthen their Aura. At a certain point a normal Aura Sensitive can only become strong enough to become efficient with their Aura, which is equivalent to an A or Z rating. However, in order to become more powerful they need more blood and the easiest way to get it is from other people and Aura Sensitives can provide both blood and more mutated cells."
"Really? So what should we do to in case we ever see an Aura Sensitive?"
The camera zoomed in on the doctor, "Don't panic. Lock your doors and call the CCAS. It's what they're there for."
The screen transitioned back to the news desk where the reporter began talking about the rise in terrorism in Atlas, rumored to be the safest city.
The water turned off with a low pitched squeak, and now the young woman stood in front of a large, fogged up, mirror. Her feet were in the middle of a light blue shag carpet, and her toes would move every so often to play with the small strings. She wiped the mirror off and took a moment to look over her nude body. It was certainly a lot more muscular than the typical nineteen year olds, and just above her left breast was a large scar that had an equally sized one on her back. Water dripped down her face, making it look like the woman was crying; her brow furrowed, the memories seen forever in the darkness of her mind.
"Never again." she muttered, yanking a towel off the wall.
She covered herself and walked immediately into her bedroom. Opening her closet door she pushed all her other clothes to the side, the wire hangers squeaking as they moved. In the wall behind the clothes was a pair of metal double doors, and when she opened them she was momentarily blinded by a white LED light.
She quickly dressed and grabbed her black trench coat as well as her katana, which she attracted to her belt and hid underneath her coat. She soon found herself on the roof of her twenty six story apartment building. She watched the city that was still shrouded in darkness, and the early december cold froze every noise in the air as the brightly lit freeways looked like aquamarine rivers. She let out a sigh, her breath forming a white smoke. Much like the ghosts of one's past it stayed for a moment longer than she would have normally liked. She pulled color up on her neck and the tag revealed her name "Ruby Rose".
Ruby looked at her hands, which were covered by red and black leather, and saw a snowflake fall into her palms. She watched the snowflake, as it slowly melted away. When it was gone she stood up and reached inside of her coat. Ruby withdrew a mask that sported a molding of a human upper and lower jaw. It was from this half-mask that she earned her nickname; after all they wouldn't call a terrorist "Lockjaw" for no reason. She took a step forward, the wind that was a result of the oncoming storm blew her black hair wildly; her silver eyes glowing in the falling moonlight. She tightened the belt around her coat, and took a breath. The cold air burned her lungs as she kicked off the rooftop, rose petals flowing out from underneath her coat. Ruby disappeared into the darkness below, it swallowed her like a great abyss. However, the rivers of aquamarine soon had a streak of red in them, like blood flowing to the heart.
Meanwhile, in the middle of the city's center was a theater where the richest people in all of Vale we're currently gathering. Women with short, black dresses and near perfect curves were gathered there. With pearls decorating their necks and diamond earrings they were a perfect match for the fat businessmen who wore gold rings and smoked cigars that were worth more than a day's wages. The scent of corruption, debauchery, and general diseases filled the room and would make the common man not only sick, but would fill him with the desire to purify this place… by any means. The room was filled with laughter as people took their seats, some just chose to sit on the floor as they were already too stoned to think properly. The room was filled with security personnel who were constantly patrolling the entire building like robots, but some had already made up their minds and would be walking away from their job for good. The ceiling of the building was a large dome that was made entirely of glass that shimmered in the building's light.
The people finished taking their seats and as the clock struck 4 A.M. the lights fell, and spotlight was shown on the main stage. A man with black glasses and a trimmed brown beard walked on the stage.
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen to the Vale's premier play, Upside down and turned around. Now for those of you who do not know Upside down and turned around is a psychological thriller that was originally written by none other than Hannah Rodriguez; who was gracious enough to turn her newest, best-selling, novel into a dramatic masterpiece for you tonight."
The camera flashes illuminated the whole stage for a moment.
"The story of said novel follows a young twenty two year old man who struggles with life as he has been branded as a criminal and now runs from the law as well as his past. Through trial and error he meets friends and enemies. It is a harmonious mix of brutal gore, and delicate depictions of the main character's psyche as he makes his way through his Upside down and turned around world. Now without further delay we-"
He was cut off as a large man barged his way into the room. The theater goers turned around to look at the colossal man, who was clad in a sheepskin coat that went down to his knees; his head was covered by a hood that shrouded any sign of his face in darkness. His heavy military boots echoed throughout the entire room, a lasting testament that sent shivers down the backs of anyone not looking at the seven foot tall individual. The man passed by more people and in this group was a woman who could swear up and down that she could hear labored breathing coming from him, like if one were to use a respirator.
"Excuse me sir, but this is a closed venu. I'm not sure who let you in, but you'll-" the announcer silenced himself after the man stopped in front of the stage.
The man looked up at the announcer just enough so that the light would hit his face. The announcer grew a look of hysteria, and jumped back his eyes wide. Sweat ran off of the announcer's face, and dripped on the floor as he whimpered; his teeth were clenched so tight he thought they would pop like corn.
A filtered breath was taken by the man, "Oh, I'm sorry did I scare you?" The man took several heavy steps up the stairs of the stage. "You see it happens more than you think, especially when you can't take the mask off."
The man dropped his hood, and the lights came up on que. The crowd gasped and screams could be heard even out in the lobby.
"C-Corpsemaker." the announcer choked out.
Light shimmered on a shaved head that's face was covered by a half mask. It featured a gasmask like respirator that was allowing him to breathe. He picked up the man by the neck and lifted him at least a foot off the ground, their images reflecting off the hardwood floor.
"Yes, that is my name; and it's a very glorious name for somebody in charge." Corpsemaker responded before an audible pop was heard in the room.
The crowd gasped once again as the announcer fell to the stage gasping for air. His throat had been crushed like a strawberry, and now Corpsemaker walked to the mic.
"Excuse me for the mess." His yellow eyes were filled with hate and malice. "I would… just like to thank you all for the generous donations to our cause." the crowd started to talk amongst themselves. "Yes, in fact, did you know that while you all were getting fat and bloated coming here, every single year this glorious establishment has been stealing your money. Most it still sits beneath your feet. So we have come to LIBERATE you from this ignorance!"
The crowd had a look of horror on their faces, and a good majority of them also felt very sick. Not of fear, but of the fact that their entire life savings had just been stolen.
Corpsemaker chuckled as he looked at the disturbed crowd, and then his eyes shifted up to the glass dome. The glass shattered and rained down on the crowd, some of the larger pieces severely injuring them. A female figure landed on the stage next to Corpsemaker, her heels clicking on the floor. She was clad in a black, latex jumpsuit and was covered in various belts of matching color. Her whole head was covered in black latex and the only thing one could see was her brown eyes. As the crowd was focused on the newer figure a loud boom rang out from the lobby, the crowd began turning in the noises. The next thing they saw were the doors being ripped off their hinges, by a large black object; that slid across the floor when it landed. The lights came up and revealed the object to be one of the loyal guards who was badly bleeding and even had his fingers cut off. The women screamed as a majority of the guards rushed into the room, and began taking their jewelry. The guards had been paid off and some of them were Aura Sensitives themselves.
Behind all these men a black trench coat blew in the wind that now flowed freely through the room; snowflakes began falling through the shattered dome. Black boots with red soles crushed the glass beneath, Ruby as she walked towards the stage; a pair of the paid off guards on either side of her. In her silver eyes no one could find any feeling; she was like a… ghost. One of the guards pushed a woman down in front of Ruby, she was crying and desperately trying to get away.
"Ah she isn't worth it!" The guard roared, pulling his pistol from his belt.
As he took aim at the woman, a glass rose petal hit his hand and knocked his pistol away from her.
"Gah!" he yelled, before looking at Ruby, fire in his eyes.
Ruby's calm demeanor didn't change as she walked passed him, " How pathetic, you resort to killing out of frustration. I've known children who are more restrained than you."
She continued down the aisle and soon came to Corpsemaker whom was looming over the whole room. His shadow was cast over the whole room yet Ruby didn't feel threatened in the least.
"Corpsemaker, I was uninformed that Dominatrix would be joining us." Ruby said, pushing an elderly man out of her way.
"Terribly sorry, Red, but she was a last minute addition from the higher ups." Corpsemaker replied.
Ruby squinted her eyes more, she could almost feel his smile seeping through his mask. She turned her back and started to walk away.
"I see, by the way as I arrived I noticed that the Inquisitors are on their way. No doubt they're full force." Ruby said.
"Can you handle it?" Dominatrix asked, walking towards the back of the stage.
Ruby reached underneath her coat and grabbed a black cylindrical device. She pressed a red button on the side of it and a four foot long, katana style blade, shot out of the top of the handle.
"Yes."
"Good, all others are to follow me to the basement." Corpsemaker instructed, walking towards the back of the stage.
Dominatrix followed him and so did the other guards; who had already evacuated the people from the walked towards the center of the broken dome, and looked at the snow, as it floated down weightlessly. Her near iron grip on her katana softened as she remembered something from long ago.
The air was cold and snowflakes gently floated down; coating the already snow covered ground even more. Ruby lay in the snow and watched in amazement as the snow danced in front of her. Her wide silver eyes were filled with glee; not a care in the world was present there.
"Hey, Rubes."
Ruby looked to her left and saw the gold hair, and purple eyes that belonged to her sister Yang.
"I heard an old story the other day that when you put a wish on a snowflake it'll float down, and make your wish come true."
"Really?"
Ruby closed her eyes and on that day everything was alright. It was hard to believe that less than a week later, Ruby would be the only member of the rose family to survive the Great Extermination.
Ruby stood there entranced for a moment, the darkened storm clouds giving her much more comfort than the world below her could off. She was alone and had been for four years now. What do I do? Who am I? Why did it happen like this? These were the questions that constantly plagued her mind, and at times added insult to injury by crushing already broken glass. She closed her eyes, "I wish…" An explosion of pink lightening enveloped her, the black smoke concealing Ruby from view. A silver tear fell from her right eye.
"Hey, Ren what did you think? 25 points?" a woman with ginger hair, and lavender eyes asked.
A man with a red streak in his black hair emerged from the lobby, "Don't let your guard down, Nora. There are still other Aura Sensitives here."
Both of them were clad in matching black over coats that had green accents. The woman, Nora, carried in her hands a massive, multi round, grenade launcher, and the man, Ren, carried two green pistols with large blades on the bottom of them.
"Awwwwwww, come on! How many points?" Nora asked, a psychotic smile on her face.
"Hmpt, fine twenty five points."
"Yay!"
A voice echoed off the walls, overpowering all other noises; "If you were to look at this as a game, I believe she would have needed to accomplish her goal in order to deserve points."
Both of the Inquisitors turned back to the smoke cloud, were Ruby currently stood. Smoke rolled off of an invisible barrier in front of her; pink lightning buzzed along it as well.
"Heheheh." Nora chuckled. "Bravo, filth. To have a barrier strong enough to withstand Magnhild's grenades is truly a feat. However, I will now crush you like the insect you are."
Nora pressed a button on Magnhild and transformed it into a giant war hammer. She spun it behind her back and started to walk towards Ruby; who could careless what this arrogant girl was about to do.
"Wait, Nora, do you not know who that is?" Ren asked, taking a defensive posture.
Nora looked at him in annoyance, "Why should I?"
"Because, it could mean the difference of whether I take an arm or a leg; you foolish girl. It's been a long time Lie Ren, it makes me almost regret taking your superior's hand and not your own." Ruby carved a line on the hardwood floor using her katana. "I will say though he had a good choice in swords."
Ren's mouth formed a line, "Unfortunately, you will not force me into early retirement."
Ruby began undoing her trench coat, "Heh, we'll see."
She let the coat fall to the floor, which revealed her combat suit.
Her feet were covered by black military boots that went up to her knees, her black leather pants had a red stripe down the side of them and were tucked into the boots. Around her waist was the belt where she stored her katana, and beyond that her toned stomach and midriff were completely exposed. The rest of her upper body was covered by a leather top that zipped up the back; the neck went up to her jaw but was unnoticable as it was covered by her mask. The only other skin they could see were her exposed shoulders, which allowed her more ease of movement.
Ruby spun her sword between her fingers; the blade making a rhythmic whooshing sound before she again pointed it towards the floor. Ren raised his pistols up, and slowly started moving towards Ruby. Nora on the other hand, couldn't control herself and ran at Ruby.
"I don't care who you are! You're just another pest to me!" she laughed, raising her hammer above her head.
Ruby smirked as the hammer was thrown down on her, but the only thing Nora hit was a puff of rose petals. "What?!" Nora thought as she felt a burst of air behind her.
"This is stupid." Ruby said, preparing to swing her katana at Nora's extended right arm.
Shots rang out in the room, and caused Ruby to go on the defensive; her katana's blade turning the rounds into small fireworks. Nora took the initiative and tried to swipe Ruby with Magnhild. The red themed woman jumped on top of Magnhild, and spun to avoid the hail of rounds sent towards her. She took advantage of her speed and bent Nora's arm backwards. She snapped the younger woman's humerus, ulna, and radius; before throwing the arm forward so she could get underneath Nora.
A guttural scream could be heard from the ginger as a katana blade protruded out of her lower back.
"Nora!" Ren yelled.
Before he could try and intervene, however, a wall of razor sharp rose petals were shot at him; cutting his arms, legs, torso, and even his face. Meanwhile Ruby, who was still underneath Nora, grabbed the shorter woman by the neck and used the hilt of her katana to lift Nora off the floor. She coughed blood, as Ruby dropped her onto the floor next to Magnhild; a single line of red running down her chin.
Nora gasped as Ruby removed her katana, "I didn't hit anything vital; you'll live. Whether I take anymore, however, is your decision. So stay down if you have any sense."
"You bitch." Nora muttered, as she watched Ruby walk over to Ren.
"You can run at anytime, Ren." Ruby raised her sword and pointed it at him. "I believe in your condition that would be the best course of action."
Ren smirked, "Tsk. When have you known me to run, Lockjaw?"
With that he ran at Ruby, firing as he went. The chairs behind Ruby were turned to splinters as the rounds ricocheted off her sword, the sparks reminding her of when Yang first found out she was Aura Sensitive. Sharp metal clashed together as Ren's pistol blades were blocked by her katana. Ren kicked off of the sword and launched himself into the air, the lights creating a odd blurry effect. Ruby ran to her left as bullets started impacting the ground behind her. The trail of bullets followed her until Ren landed where she was standing, the floor started to creak. Ren looked at the floor until he was enveloped in a sea of rose petals. He grit his teeth started to yell as he was batted around. A shot went off inside the rose petals by accident, and grazed Ruby's left shoulder. Ruby looked at the wound, and watched it heal. She raised her hand and moved it over to the wall.
The sea of petals lifted off the ground in a ball, and slammed into the wall. Ren fell to the ground grunting, his leg was broken.
"Hmm, Corpsemaker should be done. I believe I've entertained both of you for long enough." Ruby said, walking back over to her trench coat.
She grabbed the piece of fabric, but stopped when she heard a piece of metal scrape the ground.
"I've got you know!" Nora yelled, swinging her hammer with one hand.
Ruby didn't flinch as she grabbed Nora's hammer, stopping it with her body weight. She took a step back and threw her head back as well. This action caused Nora to see stars; her nose now bloodied.
"So you've made your decision." Ruby muttered as she hit another button on her katana.
The bottom of the hilt fell out and Ruby grabbed a small tanto blade from the hilt, and spun. She plunged the tanto into Nora's right shoulder, and then swiped her katana… low.
Two thuds could be heard in the room, the echo eerily discomforting. Nora's breathing was ragged as she lie on the ground unable to move; the snow gently falling on her. Ruby wiped her brow and looked over her shoulder. Nora's legs lay a few inches away from her and had a pool of blood underneath them.
Ruby grabbed her coat and walked over to the wide eyed Ren, "During that fight I could have killed her at least 628 times. I would cover her up if I were you."
Ruby closed her eyes and walked towards the lobby. Ren crawled over to Nora and held her up, the snow falling on both of them.
Ruby ran out of the building and passed all the CCAS guards preparing to storm the building. Rose petals flowed behind her as she made her way onto the freeway. She turned down the residential streets and blew by a woman with long jet black hair. She held her hair out of her eyes and looked towards the red streak that already gone. "What was that?" she asked herself. Suddenly she heard her phone go off, and started digging through her purse.
"Hello, this is Weiss Schnee." she answered.
As Ruby continued down the road she pulled into an alleyway where she took her mask off, and proceeded to walk home. Above her, on top of a thirteen story building sat a small woman who was clad in a burgundy robe. Her face was covered by a china doll like mask, that only showed black holes for her eyes. Red pupils lit up when they lost sight of Ruby.
"Heheehehe.' she giggled. "I wonder what you wished for… Humanity's Egg."
