Fallen
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Deep within the never-ending maze of cold steel and machinery, it seems that something is astir….
Zone 3. Sector A. Footsteps scurrying about, the clamor of machines and the sound of people endlessly tapping on keyboards created a sort of racket.
"Sir," murmured a prim intellectual. "Shall we begin? Unless you're not ready for this…" She brushed her sable ponytail off her shoulder, seeing it as an annoyance, and then turned to her superior, a stern man sitting aloft a comfy chair on a higher platform slighting enveloped in darkness.
"Heh. I was born ready," replied the shady figure.
The former then grinned a cunning smile.
"Okay. Release the Cancellers! I want the specimens front and center by the end of this week!"
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Chapter 1: Midnyt City
A couple of years after the Belvedere incident.
'Twas a sunny afternoon….Many people would choose to relax and idle around at this time, but I prefer the adrenaline-pumping sensation of combat—which led me to where I am now.
Was that just a rush of wind or was it...
I scanned the surroundings frantically for my prey.
Where the hell did that cheater go?
Then for a split-second, I felt his presence. Something was headed straight for me! Following my instincts, I knew what I had to do. I briefly glanced at what seemed to be a stick poised to strike me. My reflexes quickly reacted as I grabbed the stick without any hesitation and—
WHAM!!!
I opened my eyes to see if I did the right thing. All I saw was a young man lying on a grassy spot, wincing from the pain.
"Ngg…You didn't have to throw me so hard, Mary," murmured the poor guy as he tried to dust the dirt off of his crimson attire.
"Well, sorry Deb," I grunted, "If you've never used that stick on our hand—to-hand combat, you wouldn't have landed so hard on your bum right now. You deserved it hon."
As usual, I began preaching about the different things I've been trying to teach all this time. I guess Deb got used to it by now.
Minutes passed and I finally reached near the end of my speech.
"In battle, you should never let your emotions get the better of you…Coz if you do, you'll just lose yourself, and the battle as well."
….So says the girl who goes berserk in battle from time to time. Pshh….Then a sudden moment of silent came, which felt pretty awkward, but something came to mind.
To lose oneself…Just like that time I…
A piece of my past reared its ugly head. I remembered it was raining hard that day. An aftermath of endless killing… I can still recall the disgusting small of fresh death…My hands were covered with the blood of many that day….The day I—
"Hey."
"H-huh?"
Deb waved his hand at me, still sitting where I threw him.
"…Can you lend me a hand?"
I reached for him, and then I remembered my father. His harsh words still echoed in my mind even though years have passed. I seemed to have blacked out after speaking with that wretched man. I guess I ended everything after that…That was the day that the Belvedere Massacre happened, and I wasn't aware that I started it.
"Let go."
Deb's words snapped me out of my trance. He seemed to have already gotten up, but his face showed that he was still flinching from pain.
"You're crushing my hand, Mary. Let go," uttered Deb, his right eye slightly twitching.
"O-Oh my God! I'm so sorry!!"
I quickly released his hand from my tight grip. Whoops….Guess I don't know my own strength. It did kill hoards of people after all.
Deb relieved his hand and spoke once more, "Shall we go back?"
I nodded. Training was done for today. It wasn't that strenuous in my opinion but Deb was another story. He still needs to practice more….But for now, it was a good idea to return to Midnyt City.
Deb began to slowly back away from me. He seemed to be whispering something to himself. It was barely audible but I think he something like…Andrealphus? Or was it Andromalius…? Like magic, he somehow spawned wings. They were as black as coal and seemed to be covered in…blood? Weird. I've seen him perform feats of dark magic like this a couple of times, but the feedback's taking a toll on his body—slowly bringing him closer to death….Believe or not, it does worry me.
He grabbed me into his arms(….) and flew towards the urban jungle of sky scrapers and high-rises. I looked back to whispered a little goodbye to our sparring grounds—a grassy meadow with scattered patches of small, white flowers. The snowy blooms swayed in the wind, as if they too waved farewell to us.
A cool breeze caressed my face as we flew higher and higher. It felt like the windy sensations back at Belvedere. It was a beautiful town, with the sun always shining its golden rays upon it. Though small, it was bustling with life, that is, before I came along and fixed that. All that's left of Belvedere now are ruins….crumbling walls and all. I never was happy in that town tainted with discriminating thoughts and fake smiles. I loathed Belvedere. I loathed its denizens. I even loathed my own family. I wanted them dead. and now they all are…
A few minutes have gone by and 'twas not long until we saw the city. Deb gently landed atop an old building and set me down carefully. He then walked towards the edge of the platform. Due to my slight fear of heights, I was a bit shaken from the ride, but I did catch a glimpse of Deb's wings being slowing blown away by the wind as scattering dark feathers. It made me wonder if he was alright.
"Are you…ok?"
I slowly approached him, but he turned away,
"I'm fine," he said in a cold tone.
I began to see drops of blood drip off his Lemegeton Trappings.
Is that supposed to be fine?
I crouched beside him as he wiped something from his mouth.
"Don't worry….I'm fine really."
He said that with a sad look in his scarlet eyes. He always does. I'm curious to see why he's so…..secretive, ever since I met him years ago. He was in charge of recruiting me into the Hell Angels when I decided to live a damned life. He told me that his superiors were interested in my "talents". I didn't really care though-- I hated this place and just wanted to break out. They gave me a taste of power from the elusive Formless Darkness, and I like it. I chose to render my services to their cause….To destroy the weak and those we see unfit to live Astralis, the world destined to be plunged in Everlasting Darkness.
Deb stood up and looked at the abyss of concrete below. He ran his hand through his dark hair, and frowned as his gave fall upon the desolate city, with its infrastructure torn asunder.
Midnyt City, AKA the City of Angels…Hell Angels to be precise. It's a city of ruins….not a pretty sight, but it was home to of us. I've heard rumors that the city wasn't always like this, that it was once as brightly lit and flourishing with people as Hylyt City. Midnyt was supposedly leveled down after some big-shot facility blew up and desecrated the marvelous metropolis. Now the remnants provide shelter for those entirely consumed by Darkness….my brethren that live in the cracks between steel and stone.
How long have I stayed here? About 3 years, I guess. This broken city does hold some memories for me. How I met comrades within the Hell Angels, such as Deb, my…dearest companion.
Deb suddenly turned around and said, " What do u want?"
"Ei," I peeped, confused.
"I have a message for you and Mary-san."
I was a little startled to hear the voice of another. It was a clear and obviously feminine voice, like that of a fine maiden. I turned to find an unexpected guest.
Judging by her looks, I'm guessing that she's around 14 or 15—only a bit younger and shorter in stature than me. She had a tan complexion and long, flowing, dark brown hair that billowed with the wind. Her white ensemble was quite tattered and revealed a bare midrib. Scar markings on her cheek and pointed ears gave her an almost elf-like appearance. Her blood-red eyes contrasted perfectly with her angelic face, as it does to the scythe she wielded—beautifully decorated with intricate designs and engravings.. She carried the treacherous weapon with no difficulty.
I summoned Black Zenith as I stuttered,"W-Who are you…?"
The girl giggled. Deb showed no difference in his stare.
"Don't worry! I'm a Hell Angel just like you." she said in a very cheerful disposition, "I came to inform you of a mission assigned to you 2 by Ex, silly. I'm May, by the way. Haha! That rhymed!"
That was also embarrassing.
"May," I spoke, "What did Ex want with us?"
"Ex-sama wants you to—"
Deb butted in. "We won't do it"
His interruption shocked us. I swore my jaw dropped when he wanted to turn down a mission from Ex. That's not like him.
"What?! You dare defy our leader's order?!"
May furiously glared at Deb. His answer wasn't by far what she wanted to hear.
Deb sighed. "No, it's not like that. Me and Mary just came back from training you see, and we're exhausted. Can't Ex assign other Hell Angel units to do this mission?"
"You see…That's the thing…"
May paused for a moment.
"Hell Angels have been disappearing one by one lately. The elites are too busy with their own missions—I'd do it myself, but I feel I am not capable enough to do so….I'm still new to being a Hell Angel y'know!"
I blurted out, "Huh? Just vanishing like that…?"
The situation also perplexed Deb. "Maybe they just didn't return from their missions too", he exclaimed, trying to refer to logical reasoning. "Or maybe they're somewhere fooling around and toying with some nontensities…."
"No," uttered May, "Our Leaders always know where we are—Their telepathic abilities greatly surpass ours."
Her statement proved how powerful and obscure the three hierarchs, Ex, Wy and Ze are. Their anonymity and power are testaments to their iron-fisted rule among the Hell Angels. Only the strong are chosen by them and only a handful are given the honor to see them.
"Ex wants you two to search Midnyt City for the culprits, or any sort of evidence for that matter. Be very careful. My sources suspect that the kidnappers are…"
Cancellers….