Notes: Hi guys. So, I'm super sorry about how there has been no content recently. It always makes me sad to see the view graph jump around Sunday only for there to be no content. Life has been super hectic.
BUT! I've decided to give all of you the biggest apology ever. Heather's backstory arc is a grand total of 5 parts (this will be part 3). I've decided to finish THE ENTIRE ARC this week, PLUS Ch.13 this Sunday. I've decided to make this my top priority because I want this done before November (I will be participating in NaNoWriMo). So, prepare for Alpha Week and I hope you enjoy.
Today, Heather fights a bunch of monsters and gets more emotionally destroyed. Plus: Devilman references. Hooray! Or...maybe...not...?
[Opening: "Amazon" by The Union]
[Closing: "Church Bells" by Carrie Underwood]
[Insert: "It Will Mean Victory" by Shiro Sagisu] - plays during the (1)
[Insert: "The Sound of Tortured Souls" by Shiro Sagisu] - plays during the (2)
[Insert: "Persecution of the Masses" by Shiro Sagisu] - plays during the (3)
Disclaimer: Kamen Rider Amazon and Kamen Rider Amazons are owned by Toei. Original Characters are owned by yours truly.
Kefálaio X: álfa Erythró méros III
The sun shined through the window of the music room, awakening Heather from her sleep. Heather rubbed her eyes and looked around the room a bit before noticing the clock on the wall saying 7:25 am. Swiftly, Heather raced out of the music building before students arrived for their morning classes and have to set up the room. She ran towards the graveyard and managed to leap over the fifteen-foot fence around it. Heather stopped momentarily; shocked at the feat she just performed and then raced off towards the heart of the graveyard. Despite the somber surrounding, Heather felt oddly at peace.
"I bet they're all at peace." she whispered to herself. She walked over to a tree in the graveyard and sat up against it, looking out at all the graves. A bit farther out there was East Merry road and parking lots for students to park. Heather thought about going to class, but questioned if it was worth to even finish high school.
"Oh my. What a sad little chick sitting in the scary graveyard. How brave!" a voice said, from around the tree. Heather quickly leapt forward and turned around to see the Jaguar Beastman coming out from behind the tree. Heather looked in horror, as she didn't bring her belt with her to fight. However, the Jaguar Beastman tossed the belt to Heather!
"Why would you give me this?" she asked.
"Because you need it to serve Geddon." the Jaguar Beastman said, flashing a grin at Heather.
"I'll never join Geddon!" Heather yelled, putting the belt on. "It's time to end this!"
ALPHA
WILD WILD! WI-WI-WI-WILD!
Heather exploded into red fire and transformed into her monster form. The Jaguar Beastman also transformed into his monster state. (1)
The Jaguar Beastman charged at Heather, his claws out and prepared to attack. However, Heather dodged out of the way and grabbed his left wrist, swinging her arm up and pushing his left elbow against the joint, breaking it and the bone jetting out of his arm. The Jaguar Beastman screamed in pain, but Heather quickly manipulated his arm to stab the Jaguar Beastman's throat with the exposed bone. Blood began to spew out of the wound and he started to fumble back, tripping over a gravestone and falling on his back. Heather raised her hands, preparing for him to jump back out and attack her, but he stopped moving. After a few moments, Heather moved closer to the Jaguar Beastman to see if he was dead or not. A squelching noise came from his body and left arm flopped to the side, snapping back into place. Heather leapt back as the Jaguar Beastman leapt to his feet, grab the gravestone he tripped over, and threw it at Heather with tremendous force.
The gravestone struck Heather's head and knocked her down onto the ground. The Jaguar Beastman grabbed Heather's left leg and flung her against the tree, a large cracking noise ringing out as her back wrapped around the tree. Heather slowly got back up, but the Jaguar Beastman stomped on her back, flattening her against the ground.
"Look at you! So weak! I know you're required for Geddon's success, but it's honestly insulting that I would have to bow to you!" the Jaguar Beastman laughed. Heather quickly raised herself off of the ground, the Jaguar Beastman being knocked off balance. As he started to fall, Heather thrusted her claw through the Jaguar Beastman's stomach, blood splashing out onto the graves behind him. Heather pulled the Jaguar Beastman close, her face close to his.
"I was told that if I became queen, no one would miss you. Let's test that." Heather said before ripping her arm up along the Jaguar Beastman's body, slicing him in half, blood spraying all over, his entrails falling onto the ground. Heather's breathing was hard and she fell onto one knee as the Jaguar Beastman's body began to dissolve into black goo. Heather transformed back into her human form and sat up against the tree again. "I avenged you, mom and dad."
Heather returned to the high school around the start of second period. Despite having no intention of continuing with classes, she wanted to at least see her friends. She wondered to the band room where Caitlyn and Chloe would be getting ready to leave the band room. However, when Heather got there, she found out that neither were there. Heather began asking around the band room and discovered that they just weren't at school that day. As Heather was leaving the band room, Graham walked over to her.
"Hey. Are you doing okay?" he asked.
"I'm looking for Caitlyn and Chloe, but everyone says they weren't here." she responds.
"Yeah. I didn't see them come to school today." he said. Heather stared at the ground, disappointment painting her face.
"Heather," Graham said, placing his hand on her shoulder. "I know things have been tough lately. I'm here for you if you want to talk. Especially since it seems your 'friends' don't seem to care." Graham said. Heather looked up inquisitively.
"What are you talking about?" Heather asked, rolling her shoulder so Graham's hand let go.
"I overheard them talking." Graham's eyes narrowed and his expression became serious. "I heard them saying that, ever since your parents died, you just didn't feel like their friend since you just 'sulk all the time'." Heather's eyes widened in horror. Was it true? Did Caitlyn and Chloe truly not care about her? "But I care, Heather." Graham grabbed both of her shoulders. "I love you and I'm here for you!"
Heather frees herself from Graham's grip and takes a step back. "I'm going to find them and confront them about this." Heather said. She then turned and ran out of the school, Graham watching her leave.
"When will you see that I am the only one who cares about you?" he said to himself. "When will you see that you should be mine."
The small strip of a downtown was quite as night descended on the quite town near the destroyed Geddon base Sigma left. The town was desolate and felt like a ghost town, not a soul in sight. Which, was all the better, since Sigma was roaming around in his birthday suit. Despite his immense power, he could still feel embarrassed about his appearance. He came across a clothing store and tried to open the door, but it was locked. So, he proceeded to tear the doorknob off the door, thus disengaging the lock on the door and allowing Sigma to enter. He rifled through the clothing until he came across a pair of grey sweatpants and a purple t-shirt. He quickly threw them on and went looking for a pair of shoes, which he found in the form of black boots. On his way out, he found a black jacket and threw it on. Once he was set, he bolted out of the town and ran in the direct of Bowling Green.
Heather wondered around all day, trying to find Caitlyn and Chloe. She checked both of their houses, but their parents said that neither were home, but confirmed that they at least left for school. Heather began checking the town and looking at all of their usual hangouts. Despite looking all day, she could find them. Heather eventually found herself at the city part as night was falling. Since the park was technically closed once the sun set, there was no one there but her. Heather walked over to the swing set and sat down, gently swaying while staring at the ground.
"May I join you?" a voice asked behind her. She turned to see the Turtle Beastman sitting down on the swing next to her.
"I'd say 'no', but you seem to not care." Heather responded, sneering at him. The Turtle Beastman smiled and gently pushed himself, letting his feet hover above the ground so his swing swayed back and forth.
"I heard you killed Jaguar Beastman. There has been a wave of joy washing through our group. I'm even willing to buy you a meal. I hear the Corner Grill has excellent hamburgers." the Turtle Beastman said, continuing to push himself gently so his swing wouldn't go over a certain height, but continued to sway.
"If I eat a burger, will you leave me alone?" Heather asked.
"Of course not." the Turtle Beastman responded, chuckling.
Heather stopped swinging. "Have you done something to my friends?" she asked.
There was a moment of silence as the Turtle Beastman stopped his swing and his smile faded. "It was for the best."
ALPHA
"YOU BASSSSSTARRRRRDDDDD!" Heather screamed as her body exploded into blood red fire.
WILD WILD! WI-WI-WI-WILD!
Heather's transformation melted the rubber seat of her swing and blew away the woodchips that surrounded to ground of the swing set. The Turtle Beastman leapt away, transforming his own body into his monster form, his face remaining stern and stoic. The Turtle Beastman's body was a light green with black spots all over. His legs were thick and staunch while his arms were massive with black nailed claws for hands. His shell was massive, which provided for massive defense. His head was distinctly turtle like, but it's mouth was open and it appeared his human face was sticking out of the turtle mouth, abet colored like his turtle skin.
Heather dove at the Turtle Beastman, who didn't move out of the way at all. Heather's fist collided with his shell, but did no visible damage, and pain shot through Heather's fist. The Turtle Beastman chuckled as he reared back his fist and launched a powerful and swift punch, colliding with Heather's fist and sending her flying into the nearby Masonic Stone Shelter, smashing through one of the stone supports and then a wooden support before crashing into the stone fireplace. Pain shot through Heather's body as she struggled to bring herself to her feet, quickly collapsing and supporting herself with a nearby table, her spin broken.
"It appears you're having some trouble." the Turtle Beastman said, approaching her slowly. Heather's spine was slowly fixing itself, but Heather worried that it wouldn't be fixed in time to counter the Turtle Beastman's next attack. "You may have been able to kill Jaguar Beastman, but I am on a different level. I am one of the most powerful Beastman Geddon has ever conceived. I have killed countless humans and I've even killed Masked Riders! You may be one of the strongest beings on the planet, but it will take more then rage and brute strength to defeat me." the Turtle Beastman gloated, chuckling at he reached the entrance of the shelter. Heather's back was mostly fixed and she was able to get up and started to hobble away. Thankfully, the Turtle Beastman was slower then her hobble.
"Wouldn't you get in trouble if you were to beat me?" Heather asked, heading up the hill towards the playground.
"I can knock you out or break your body. As you have discovered, your body can heal at an extraordinary rate. As long as I don't destroy your heart or brain, or tear you in half, you'll be able to survive." the Turtle Beastman said in a low, menacing voice. "In fact, it would probably be beneficial, since you're so unwilling to join willingly." he started up the hill, but Heather was already at the playground, her back fully healed, and she leapt down to hide in one of the tunnel slides before the Turtle Beastman reached the playground.
Once the Turtle Beastman arrived, he was surprised to see that Heather had managed to disappear. Somehow she was able to hide her monster body within the confines of the children's playground. The playground consisted of one massive area in the middle, deep within a pit that lead to the mouth of the hill. The massive area had a large play set that consisted of several platforms connected by bridges. There were several tunnel slides and a climbing bar that ended in bar that you could hold onto that would slide you to the other side of the area. On the other side of the play set were several sand pits.
"Come on out, Alpha." the Turtle Beastman called out. "Why resist us? We are your brothers and sisters. And all we want is to be one big family." the Turtle Beastman was looking around and started checking the tunnel slide closest to him by tearing off the top of it and looking inside. "It's what your friends would want. After all, it's because of your heritage that they were attacked. I made sure to tell them that they would be okay if you had just joined us, and that filled them was great sadness." there was a slight rustling from the slide on the edge of the play set. The Turtle Beastman grinned as he maneuvered towards it, pleased that his ploy ended up working. "First your parents and now your friends. You just let everyone down, don't you? But no matter. Soon you will realize. God has abandoned you. Your only recourse is Geddon." the Turtle Beastman punched his fist through the slide, but realized he didn't hit anything. Suddenly, a sound could be heard above him, as Heather ran across the bridge and leapt down, landing on his shell, and plunging her hand into his exposed collar, tearing out his collar bone. She then proceeded to stab him in the face multiple times with the collar bone, his screams of agony cutting through the silence of the night.
Heather leapt down off of his shell and used the fins on her arms to slice off the arm the Turtle Beastman had stuck in the slide, blood gushing out of his wound. The Turtle Beastman staggered backwards away from Heather and into an open area between the play set and the wall of the pit. Heather began to slowly advance on him, casually tossing his collar bone away, which was starting to melt in her hand. "Even if you use my friends and family, I will never join you." Heather said in a cold and serious tone. The Turtle Beastman's calm demeanor was suddenly broken and one could clearly see the panic in his face. Heather lifted her right arm forward and pointed her bloody claw at him. "And now I'll tear off your head and get revenge for my friends." she said. (2)
Suddenly, the Turtle Beastman grinned wildy and began to laugh. "Revenge for your friends!? I wonder what THEY have to say about that!?" he cried out as he spun around, his shell facing Heather. Heather stopped suddenly as his shell began to glow and each segment of his shell began to become more clearly defined. Each segment of his shell began to become more and more like a face!
"What the..." Heather was shocked as dozens of faces stretched out of his shell like they were stuck behind some force that only allowed for the imprint of their faces. As Heather looked at the horrifying sight before her, she noticed that two of the faces were that of her friends; Caitlyn and Chloe. "Oh God..." Heather mumbled. "What have you done?"
The Turtle Beastman began to laugh. "I have the ability to steal the souls of those who I kill and trap them within my shell! However, they are still what you might consider conscious, so if you were to kill me, you would kill them as well!" he explained, the sounds of the moans of the trapped souls disturbing Heather. The Turtle Beastman used her shock to his advantage, quickly spinning and spewing a fireball from his mouth. Heather didn't have enough time to dodge and was knocked away, her chest burning from the flames. Heather quickly patted out the flames, but had trouble getting up because of the pain of her burns. "Maybe your friends would like to have a little chat, eh?" the Turtle Beastman sneered as he slowly moved towards Heather. Heather had managed to get up but the Turtle Beastman fired another fireball at her. Heather managed to dodge the attack and rushed towards him to deal another blow but he quickly turned so Heather was face to face with all of the trapped souls. Heather's eyes darted back and forth between Caitlyn and Chloe's dead, hollowed out eyes, their moans creeping their way into Heather's ears.
The Turtle Beastman quickly spun around and swatted Heather back into the play set. "If you join us, I will let their souls go free. Granted, they couldn't return to their bodies, but at least they would be free from the suffering they are enduring now." he chuckled. Heather slowly stood up, her body sore and her will weakened.
"If I kill you, they die. But if I join you, they'll be dead, too." Heather mumbled to herself.
"Yes. As you see," the Turtle Beastman's arm had regrown and he began to ball his hand into a fist, "there is no avoiding this fate. You might as well join us." Heather began to walk forward, but she stared at the ground and swayed from side to side. When she got near the Turtle Beastman, he stabbed her through the stomach with his claws, her blood dripping onto the ground. The Turtle Beastman proceeded to lift her over his head and throw her at the wall of the pit, Heather hitting the wall and falling to the ground. The sounds of the souls began to moan louder and some of the female souls began to wail in agony. Heather got to her feet and punched the wall, screaming as the moaning and wailing imprinted themselves into her memories. Heather quickly turned to the Turtle Beastman and made another attempt to rush him, but he once again turned his shell to face her. However, this time, Heather leapt over him and landed in front of him, quickly pivoting and punching him in the face.
Heather screamed as she began to unleash a barrage of punches at the Turtle Beastman's face, hitting him countless times before finally unleashing a punch strong enough to launch him back slightly. The Turtle Beastman landed on his back and the souls could be heard screaming in agony. Just block it out, Heather thought to herself. Just block it out.
"Not bad." the Turtle Beastman said, slowly standing up. "Not enough. But not bad. You clearly don't care what happens to these souls, do you?" he asked. Heather's face was blocked by her monster form's 'helmet', but if you could see it, you'd see the pain she felt at hurting the tortured souls trapped within his shell, and she was even shedding tears for them. "Why don't I let you have a chat with your friends." the Turtle Beastman said, turning around to let the souls face Heather. The souls of Caitlyn and Chloe moved forward and Heather began to approach them. (3)
"Heath..er..." Caitlyn moaned.
"I'm so sorry." Heather said, reaching out to touch their faces, her voice trembling with sadness.
"Hea..ther..." Chloe moaned. "Why...?"
"Why what?" Heather asked.
"Why...did you...let us...diiiiie...?" Caitlyn moaned.
"I didn't let you die!" Heather cried out. "I came to school to see you! Your parents said you had left for school!" Heather could stop the tears from flowing.
"Why...?" Chloe moaned. "You...stopped...coming..."
"I wanted to see you. I killed my parent's killer and I wanted to tell you." Heather said, sobbing. "Did...did you not see me as your friend anymore?" she asked.
"Plea..se...kill ussss..." Chloe moaned. At that moment, the Turtle Beastman reacted and retracted their souls back to his shell. Heather was left stunned. As she looked at the shell, the other souls moaned the same words.
"Kill usssss..."
"That's enough!" the Turtle Beastman cried out. He turned, but Heather was already on top of him. She punched him in the face again, this time jabbing her thumb into his eye. The Turtle Beastman stumbled back but Heather quickly tore off his left arm, blood spraying everywhere. With his good eye, the Turtle Beastman stared deep into Heather's eyes, which were full of rage and conviction. Heather used all of her strength to punch at the Turtle Beastman's chest, shattering his shell and plunging her claw deep into his soft flesh. Heather tore out her claw, splattering blood everywhere. The Turtle Beastman howled in pain and swatted at Heather, knocking her off balance. As she fell back, her hand accidently knocked the handle on her belt, twisting it a second time.
VIOLENT SLASH
Heather's hand became engulfed in fire and she regained her balance. She quickly turned to the Turtle Beastman and plunged her flaming fist into his chest. She then quickly tore it out, got up onto his shell, and plunged her fist deep into the Turtle Beastman's gullet, her arm going in as far as her shoulder. She grabbed his heart and tore it out of his body, her fin slicing off his head in the process and releasing a torrent of blood that washed over Heather's body. The Turtle Beastman's body went limp as it fell to the ground, his shell exposed.
Heather regained her composer and turned to the shell. The glow of the shell was starting to dissipate, and the souls began to lift up off of the shell. Heather watched as their moans turned into sounds of joy and elation as they ascended into the sky. The moment brought Heather to tears, not just because she was able to save their souls, but because it also meant that she was, truly, alone.
Heather walked all the way home from the park. It had to be midnight at that point with how late it had gotten and how far out she lived. When she got there, she noticed that Graham was sitting on her front porch.
"I was worried." he said, softly. "I wanted to see you." Heather just walked up her steps and opened her front door, as if she didn't even see or hear him. Graham grabbed the door as she opened it, now directly behind her. "Didn't you hear me? I said I wanted to see you!" his voice getting stern. But Heather just walked inside, turned on the lights and walked to the kitchen to get a glass of water. Graham followed her in, but stood at the doorway of her kitchen. "I know what you're going through." Graham said. "I am like you. A victim of Geddon."
At that moment, Heather stopped and turned to Graham. "What?" she was shocked. "You're a victim of Geddon? How? When?"
"About a year ago. My sister was attacked and killed by a man who looked like a turtle." Graham said quietly. "I was looking for him and I overheard you mention Geddon and I figured that they were the ones responsible once I saw your parents killed in the same way." Heather pushed her way out of the kitchen and sat down in a chair in the living room. "That's why I said I wanted to help you and why I'd be there for you. I know what you've been through." he said, sitting on the sofa next to her.
"So...I can trust you?" she said hesitantly.
"Of course." Graham said. "I love you, after all."
Heather put the glass down and quickly stood up, slowly pacing the room. Graham stood up and wrapped his arms around Heather, kissing her on the forehead. "Graham..."
"It's okay." he said. "I'm here for you. I know what you've been through and that makes me the best person for you." Heather looked up at Graham and Graham quickly kissed her on the lips. Despite Heather's initial unwillingness, Graham's kiss and embrace was the closest thing she had to any sort of reassurance, and she kissed him back. Graham's hand quickly moved to the small of her back and he quickly took off her shirt. Despite Heather's hesitation, she went along with Graham, since it was the only form of normalcy she had.
"I don't know if I'm happy."
"How did you get out of your cage, Sigma?"
"I think Geddon is on to us."
"Where is it?"
Next time: álfa Erythró méros IV
"I don't think I can ever feel joy again."