Officially the longest chapter I have made so far in any JTS story :D
Things are turning out a lot better then I expected. On chapter two, I could've actually posted another chapter for both stories the same day. I'm planning on linking the puzzle together before the real fun begins, including revealing a few characters pasts.
This chapter may answer a few questions your eager to find out. And defiantly bring in some new ones.
I'm really desperate to get some feedback for this story. Including comments on your opinion on Bale, and anything I should improve. Please enjoy.
Today in his office was utter gloom for Lucius. Viewing on reports of an incident that had happened. Two hours ago, he had just received report that three guards were found 'dead' by another patrol, in a contained location deep inside the factory. This report accidentally went public, thanks to Heloise, who heard the news and began to spread the word for her own amusement.
Rumours began to spread that the disease has mutated to become even more deadly, and now even the soldiers are not immune to it. This rumour was quite commonly feared by the guards themselves, who now hesitate to go back inside the tunnels.
Others say that there is a creature that has gone loose in the factory, preying on anything in reach.
This created a catastrophe for Lucius. If there was something worse to fear rather then a Heinous, then how could he 'encourage' his workers to do their jobs?
Sammy Garvin cowered by the side of the doorway. Usually when Lucius was mad, he would torment Sammy to calm him down. The goblin like creature was quite certain that he would do so after he had finished checking these new reports. From this distance however, nothing would give him pain without him knowing it.
The door slammed open, smacking Sammy in the face, flattening him to the wall. Horian walked in, waving a handful of what seemed to be yet more reports.
"Sir, there's been another incident! Three workers have been found in the same condition as the guards."
Lucius growled. "These problems will ruin our business!"
Horian ran to the desk. He examined the new reports, raising an eyebrow.
"Sir the incident has been reported outside the containment area. Do you think if this was the disease, it might have got free?"
Lucius lifted is head. "Impossible. That area is 100% contained from the inside and out. Even the soldiers have to be checked before leaving."
Sammy limped his way towards Lucius and Horian. "You think there's been like… a leakage sir?" He said, rubbing his injured arm.
Lucius snatched the reports from Horians scaly hand then took a look at them.
"I've had the whole area checked by Heloise. She would have told me if there was."
Horian made an unimpressed face. "And you trust her, sir?"
The red devil showed no hesitation at responding. "You can't trust anyone these days. But knowing Heloise, she'll do her job. She's rarely the lying type without sarcasm."
Horian snorted. Sammy became desperate to change the subject of the top inventor.
"You have any plans for this catastrophe sir?"
Lucius scowled. "Unless I can get Horian here to strangle you to relieve my own stress, then no. But I shall work something out. Am I not Lucius Heinous?" He said proudly.
"Well actually you're Lucius Heinous the Seventh sir" Horian noted. Lucius responded to him with a scowl.
"Why don't we give the guards some medication, sir? If it still happens, then we'll know what to do." Sammy said.
Lucius rolled his eyes. "Bah. It won't work."
Horian gave a thought. "Why don't we give them medical treatment and see if they still turn out bad. If the incident continues, then we'll know the infection isn't causing it."
Lucius leapt up. "That's a great idea! Horian, I'm giving you a raise for that!" Lucius leapt off then ran towards the door.
Sammy made an angry scowl. Horian just smirked at him.
8 years ago
The street of Miseryville was blinded by the night. The only thing that broke the silence was the rapid rain, eternally falling on to the ground.
Deep in the wet, empty streets of the poorer area of Miseryville, a little girl ran past, holding a loaf of bread. She was running for her life. Persuaded by horrid creatures, which ran in the shadows.
"SHE CHEATS! SHE CHEATS! KILL HER! KILL HER! I WANT HER DEAD!" Yelled an ugly, female voice behind her.
The girl immediately turned around the corner to an alley. She stopped at a dead end. The creatures ran into her view. They were horrible, humanoid rat creatures. Their clothes were torn and made out of leather, their eyes burned red through the darkness, their rotten, sharp teeth pointed from their mouths. A larger female one pointed at the little girl.
"Grab her! Grab her! Make her wish she never make a fool of me!"
Two of the rat creatures snatched the girl by the arm, one of them snatching the loaf of bread from her grasp. The rest of the pack began to laugh and jeer at the sight. The girl screamed and cried for help. One of the rats pulled a knife out from its leather pouch, and placed it to her neck. The crowd of rats began to cheer with joy, the girl began to sob tears of fear.
"Slit her throat! Slit her throat!" Yelled one of them.
The girl closed her eyes. This was it. Her life was ended. She waited for the knife to cut through her neck.
A moment passed. The rats went silent. Something was wrong.
She opened her eyes again, the rat creatures were no longer cheering, and they looked above the girl with terror on their faces. The child looked behind her to the one of the rat creatures that had the knife. He stood their lifeless, horror on his face. She looked at his stomach, almost screaming at the sight. A massive sharp talon had impaled through the rat.
It immediately ripped itself out of the creature's dead body, which was left to fall in the mud, and then vanished into the darkness of the darker side of the alley. The other rat let go of the girl, then tried to make a run for it. Immediately from the shadows, a long, Black Hand pounced out, grabbing the helpless creature, and then pulling the screaming victim to the shadows.
A moment passed. The girl heard the sound of a spine break from the dark area. A horrific laugh came from inside it.
From the depths of the shadows, a hideous creature crawled out.
It was Bale.
Four, black tentacle-like arms swirled and twirled from his back, his left arm was a crab claw, and his other was a normal disfigured one.
The rat like beasts found their courage from the sight. Their horrified faces turned into bloodthirsty scowls, they all screamed and ran towards the demon.
Bale burst out laughing, the massive tentacles charged towards the swarm. The girl ran into a corner and watched in terror.
Bale smashed himself into the rat tide; he grabbed one of the beasts with his crab shaped hand, with a quick squeeze, the helpless creatures torso split in half. One of his tentacles took the form of a blade, stabbing into the face of one of the creatures. Grabbing one of the rats with his normal hand, the demon bit his head, ripping the creatures head off, and then tossing the corpse away.
One of the rats crawled towards the edge of the wall, leaping from it on top of Bale. Pulling a knife out, and then stabbing the laughing demon by the neck. The demon screamed in pain, and then with its blade shaped tentacles, he sliced the creatures head off while still on its back. The corpse fell from its body into the jeering horde.
With his disfigured hand, he grabbed one of the creatures out of random from the horde, then with a scream of pain; the crab shaped hand formed itself into a blade, slitting the creature's throat, then dropping the choking body back into the angry tide. His bladed hand grew larger; the demon began to slice the weapon into the rat horde, the screaming creatures flying from all direction.
Bale cackled with laughter as the creatures tried and tried to kill it. But every time they punctured a wound into the demon with a knife or weapon, it simply rehealed.
Bale made another scream in glorious pain; his bladed hand took the form of a massive, hammer. He lifted it into the sky, and then crashed it into the horde. The horde flew from every direction. Hitting into the brick wall or else the floor. After all the rats screams of pain and fear died away with them, the alley became silent, and the rain took over.
Bale hesitated, looking around on all the corpses of the dead creatures. The demon turned its motionless head for any survivors.
The frightened girl looked at the massive figure, which was standing victoriously on the mound of bodies it had slain. Then, something grabbed her by the wrist, and then placed a knife by her neck, pulling her into the open towards Bale.
"No move! No move! Or the girl dies! You see! The girl will die if you move!" It was the large female rat that the girl had cheated.
The demon calmly turned its head towards the hideous rat beast.
The female creature laughed in excitement. "She fooled me in a poker game! She stole the bread from me! She deserves to die!" She said with an idiotic laugh.
"I am Lasquue! Dominant female and gang leader of the rat men! The girl stole the bread! She stole it! I demand justice!"
Bale did not move. The demon looked directly into Lasquees grey eyes.
All of a sudden, a flash of lightning brightened the entire alley. The girl and Lasquee were blinded by the flash. When the lightning vanished as quickly as it came, Bale was not there. Lasquee made a groan of confusion, looking in all directions, yet the only thing that was there were the bodies of corpses of her comrades and the girl in her clutches..
All of a sudden, something massive grabbed her by the neck, lifting her into the air. Lasquee screamed in pain and confusion. She turned her head to see Bale, holding her by the neck with a crab- formed claw. Bale laughed in madness.
"I have met and preyed upon many people like you." The demon said, one of its tentacles took the form of a blade, and placed its sharp edge on Lasquees neck.
"You call yourself mighty. Yet you send a swarm to kill a six year old. You are a coward." Bale burst out in laughter.
Lasquee squeaked in fear. "P-please! Please! D-don't kill me! I will spare the girls life! Don't kill me! I'll do anything."
Bale's bladed tentacle slit into the ratwomans throat, watching her in amusement as she began to choke on her own blood.
"Then die for me."
Bale let go of Lasquee, leaving her to choke to death on the wet floor. Finally, Lasquee stopped squirming for air. And she fell silent and motionless.
The little girl began to cower behind a nearby lamp post. Her eyes set upon the horrific demon.
Bale turned its head to her. The demon did not move. But stared at her in curiosity. Turning its head towards the loaf of bread, lying next to one of the dead rats. Bale's hand-shaped tentacle picked up the bread, and then directed it towards the girl, offering her to take it. The six year old turned her eyes towards it. She slowly and hesitantly took it, and then looked up at the demon. There was no hideous look of madness in the demons blank eyes. The girl somehow saw a welcoming, harmless look into it.
"What is your name, girl?" Bale asked her.
The girl struggled to find her words. Then opened her mouth for response.
"Heloise."