About a week past after Jaune and Liam met. Liam made better time then that of team RJNR and arrived three days before them at the destroyed city of Shion. He walked in calmly and surveyed his surroundings. This attack was recent. Buildings crushed and fires still burning. Corpses littered the streets. He looked to see women and children lying motionless. Some had burns, others bullet and stab wounds, their dry blood littering the cobblestones. It was obvious no Grimm did this, however it was only a matter of time before they arrived. He removed the lower half of his mask and lit a cigarette. "Help….please." A weak voice said, almost a whisper. Liam looked around. A hand emerged from some rubble. Liam rushed over and began to clear the debris. No sooner had he pulled this woman from the remains of this house had she laid eyes on his mask. Fear was visible in her green eyes. She wore a dirty green overcoat with a battle harness underneath, she wore black boots with torn pants revealing a minor cut on her tan skin. "You..look...like...them." Liam picked her up and sat her up in a house. He reached into his pack and took hold of a bottle of water. He tilted her head back and moved her short black hair out of the way and poured it into her mouth. She coughed a bit and wiped her mouth. "Thank you." She looked at him.
"It's Liam."
"Thank you, Liam." He nodded.
"What did you mean I look like them? He asked as he sat across from her on the floor.
"Bandits overran this city." She began. "They came and killed everyone, I had barricaded myself inside a house. I looked through a window and saw their leader brandishing a mask like yours. She nodded her head and a man rolled a bomb under the house, causing it to collapse." Her stomach growled loudly as she wrapped an arm around it.
"Do you know where there's any food?" Liam asked as he put the lower half of his mask on. She nodded.
"There's a house near the center of town where emergency rations were stored." Liam nodded. "Thanks….?"
"My name's Amara."
"Got it, Amara, I'll be back soon. Take this for now." Liam reached into his jacket and pulled the pistol. He put it on the floor next to her, "There's one in the chamber and safety is off. Do not shoot unless you need to." She nodded. He placed his backpack in a corner, "Don't touch this." Liam exited the house, locking the door behind made his way to the center of town. After half an hour of following the stone walkways, Liam's prediction came to fruition. He stood still, his back against a stone wall. Peeking his head around the corner, he saw an adult Beowolf sniffing around some bodies. He drew his sword. It was a broadsword that had seen action since Liam's days at Beacon learning how to use it. Etchings covered the lower portion of the blade above the guard. The blade measured around two and a half feet, each side held a pattern of serrated teeth. He took a long breath then walked toward the Grimm. He found it behind a collapsed house feeding on a corpse. He whistled.
The monster jerked it head around, an arm in its mouth. The two made eye contact as the beast turned all the way around. They circled each other growled as drops of human blood trickled down it's white face, it's eyeing matching the color of its meal. It suddenly lunged at Liam. He reacted fast, sidestepping and bringing his blade down onto the beast's neck, ripping through flesh and bone, severing the head from the body. Another pounced on him. He rolled out of the way and got to his feet. More had arrived a whole pack. He felt something: excitement, a tingling sensation that made him crack a smile under his mask. He knew immediately what was happening. Liam tightened his grip on his blade. The beowolves began to all attack. Liam grabbed the first by the muzzle with his free hand and slammed it against the ground. Another lunged in directly over him. He jumped back and the monster crashed down in front of him cracking the ground. Two more Grimm joined the attack. One pounced. Liam stabbed it in the chest and his blade emerged from it's all of his strength, he charged forward with the beast still on the blade and thrust it into one of the others. They both turned to smoke, but Liam was just getting started. He hacked up more, severing arms, heads, and jaws alike. His face began to burn. Damn, he thought to himself. I need to finish this quickly. More Grimm closed in. Ursas, Beowolves, Nevermores, surrounded him. Out of this crowd of gnashing teeth and crimson eyes, one emerged. A horse-like being with what resembled a person on its back. It's arms reaching from the humanoid to the ground.
It opened its mouth wide and uttered at blood-curdling screech that seemed to intimidate the other Grimm. The others fell back as the new monster walked forward. Its eyes glowed brighter than the other Grimm, every exhale showed steam. It began to paw its hoof against the ground. Liam knew he wouldn't stand a chance of winning if he fought this thing alone. Shit! His eyes darted around the battlefield, desperate for a way to escape. The beast charged at him. Thinking fast, he jumped to the left, avoiding the charge. He sprinted away from the monster not knowing what to do. A hand grabbed him from behind. It lifted him and turned him around. Liam came face to face with the humanoid. In a panic, he slashed his sword on the shoulder of the lower half. It screeched in agony and threw him. Liam crashed into a concrete wall forming a small crater in it. He heard a loud crack on the impact that made him cringe. As his sword skittered across the ground, Liam noticed a small stream pouring across the street. It was dark with many colors in it's reflection, a spark from his sword sliding across the stone touched it and it set ablaze. It was oil! The beast screeched again. Fire! Liam thought. It hates fire! Jumping down from the wall, he found the source of the stream. A cluster of barrels were blocking a narrow path. He dashed to the cluster, picking up his sword on the way. He clambered over the rusty barrels and began to make his way through the walkway. Once at the end, he pulled his rifle off his back and unfolded it. He loaded a single fire dust cartridge. Looking down the scope he waited for the monster to show it's head. Just like Liam predicted it peered over the first barrel. Gritting his teeth, he pulled the trigger. As it it was in slow motion, the barrels caught ablaze then exploded into a fiery inferno. Liam heard the screech again before seeing trees moving in the distance. Liam inhaled and exhaled. He folded his rifle and put it back in
Liam heard the screech again before seeing trees moving in the distance. Liam inhaled and exhaled. He folded his rifle and put it back in it's holster. He lit a cigarette and removed the lower part of his mask. He held his cigarette between two fingers and took a long drag. Smoke exited through his nose as he exhaled. After a long walk through the broken, overgrown city, he arrived at the house where he left the woman and his gun. The door stood open, moving with the draft. He wasn't surprised by what he found, but he was angry nonetheless. No Amara, no backpack. There was a decomposing Grimm and an empty sidearm on the floor. He picked up his pistol and reloaded it. "Damn bitch," Liam exclaimed. "First my pack and now my fucking gun, ammo isn't fucking cheap!" He yelled as he punched a wall. He tried to compose himself. He slid down the wall and sat on the floor. After the use of the semblance he hated and sustaining an injury, this was the icing on the cake. Across the room there was a mirror. He got to his feet and walked to it. As he removed his mask, he saw what he feared. Jet black veins ran down his face starting at the eyes. He understood what was happening and knew he had to calm himself. He pulled his wallet out of a pocket in his vest. Inside was a picture of him, his wife and daughter. Again he sat down, transfixed on this picture. The burning sensation faded and the tears began. He stared at his wife. The wife that he lost all those years ago. "You always said I was too trusting." he said as he caressed the photograph. "I'm so sorry." He placed the torn photo back in his wallet. He placed the mask back onto his face. He gently pulled his hood over his head. He was very careful with it, after all, it was the only other thing he had left of the wife he missed so dearly.
Well here's the thrid chapter. This is where I tried to incorporate Liam's mental state a wee bit.
As always constructive criticism is appreciated.
Enjoy.