Positively Criminal

Chapter Ten

Chrno turned his gaze over to Shader, who sat in the corner of the small and dirty bar. She turned to him and nodded, signaling she was ready. Chrno silently breathed in relief. Everything was set. Nothing could go wrong. He had to make sure everything was perfect. If Aion got one hint that something might be up, he wouldn't hesitate to sniff out his suspicions until he found what he was looking for.

Chrno turned to look over at Aion, who was seated comfortably over by the bar. Aside from him and Shader, he was the only other one in the bar. Slowly, Chrno rose to his feet. "Aion," he said, catching the man's attention. "I have to know; why did you kill Mary?"

Aion gave him a puzzled, but warm smile. "Why Chrno, you never bring up Mary, what's with the change of heart?"

Chrno sighed. "It's been bugging me for a while. Why did you kill Mary, and her family? Why didn't you just kill me and get it over with?"

Aion smiled as he ran a hand lightly across Chrno's cheek, unnerving the man. "Chrno," he said. "We are Sinners. We sin against god's teachings to do his work, and in return, we are condemned for an afterlife of pain and suffering. We do it so this world can be cleansed. Mary was doubtful, she didn't believe in our ways and she was bringing not only you, but other Sinners down with her." He stood eye level with Chrno. "I killed her family, and I killed her because it was what had to be done. She sinned against us Chrno," Aion grabbed Chrno by the collar of his shirt and pulled him roughly towards him. "And no one sins against us." He dropped the man and smiled warmly. "Well, I'd love to stay but there are others who need my blessing." He shoved his hands in his white coat and turned for the door.

Chrno only breathed when he heard the door close behind the man. "Did you get that?" he asked, turning to Shader.

"Every word," Shader said, holding up the stopped tape recorder.

"Thank god," he said, before slumping against the bar. "Because I don't think I could've done that again."

---

Rosette had been pacing the lengths of her house for a long time. She was waiting for Shader to come. Every minute that passed by she just wished that the girl would hurry up and deliver the tape. Her brother had told her she should stop worrying, but had to go out before he could console her any longer.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the doorbell rang. Rosette bounded over to the door, and answered it, finding Shader standing on her doorstep. "Here," She said, before shoving the tape recorder in her hands. "It's got everything."

She turned to leave, before Rosette caught her. "Wait," she said. "I have to know, why are you helping us?" She knew it was rude, but she had to know.

Slowly, Shader turned to face her, a sad smile on her face. "You should know," she said. "You love him too." And then, she disappeared down the driveway and around a corner.

Rosette stood, gaping for several minutes. She didn't know exactly what to think of it. Turning, she pulled on her shoes and grabbed the keys to the car, before bolting out the door. Her mother was still inside, but she didn't care how much trouble she got in any more. She found it didn't matter.

She drove rather quickly to the police station, and entered. Unfortunately, a lot of other people had problems in New York and so she had to wait in line for at least an hour before she got to the front of the line.

"Can I help you with something?" the man asked.

"Yes," Rosette replied with a smile. "I have substantial proof that the killer Chrno is in fact, innocent of all charges!" she proclaimed proudly.

The man stared at her for a moment. "Okay then. Next please!"

"No wait!" she cried, blocking the plump woman who was trying to weasel in for her turn. "I'm telling the truth!"

His eyes drifted down to the tape recorder in her hands. "Fine. Can you please wait in the room over there?" he asked, pointing to a room with an oak door. "I'll have an investigator meet with you in a few moments."

Rosette smiled. "Thank you."

It was another hour before anyone came to see her. She was gripping the sides of the chair in annoyance, her nails digging into the fabric. Why did they have to take so bloody long?! After what seemed like forever, a man entered the room. He seemed older, his hair thinning. "You're here about Chrno, are you not?" he asked, she nodded. "Come this way."

He led her into the back of the station, into a dark room, with a table they usually interrogated criminals in. It was complete with a side mirror. He sat down, and motioned for her to sit. "I understand you have a tape for me to hear?"

She nodded, and quickly rewound the tape recorder, before setting it on the table and pressed play. It was at least five minutes of a solid confession from Aion. He admitted in every way that he had committed the murders, and by the end of it Rosette considered him more of a psychopath then he already was. The man seemed to hesitate a moment, before he grabbed the tape recorder, popped it open, and took out the tape. In a split second, he snapped it in half.

Rosette gaped at him. "What do you think you're doing?" she cried.

"Aion came in this morning. He told us that some prankster like you was going to try and pull a stunt like this," he said. "I can't believe you would try and frame such a man of God." The man turned, heading for the door. "I'm sure you can show your way out."

---

Rosette didn't know what to say when she stumbled back home. Her mother had yelled at her for taking the car, but she didn't really care. She was completely and totally speechless. "Now what?" She would have to tell Chrno and Shader that their plan had failed. It seemed as though they would never be able to put Aion behind bars. Her cell phone suddenly rang, causing her to squeak in surprise. She turned back to look at the small phone, before answering it.

---

Shader hung up the cell phone and cursed. Then she cursed again and turned to face Chrno, who had just come out of the washroom. He blinked innocently. "What's the matter?" he asked.

"It's those damned police!" Shader grumbled. "They destroyed our confession."

The two Sinners stood in the back of the bar, in a lone room where Chrno had been staying in. It was the best piece of privacy they could get around the dump. "What!?' Chrno cried. "Are you serious? That was a straight forward confession!"

"I know," Shader mumbled as she took a seat on his bed. "It's almost as though someone interfered."

A laugh called their attention to the doorway, where Aion stood, his hands in his pockets and a devilish look in his eyes. "Of course someone interfered. If I hadn't, Chrno would have had his freedom by now and I would be looked up in some backwater prison cell."

The two instantly tensed, watching every movement he made. The man took a few steps into the room. With a quick movement, he slapped Shader across the face. Hard. The girl went tumbling back, falling off the other side of the bed and hitting the ground painfully. Aion then advanced on Chrno. He grabbed the man by the collar of his shirt, and lifted him so he was centimeters away from his face. "Do you hate me Chrno?" he whispered. "Why do you torment me this way!?" he breathed.

Chrno stared at him, his breathing short. "I-"

"You'll speak when I tell you to speak!" Aion snapped, slamming the man up against a nearby wall. Chrno hissed, but turned his deep crimson eyes on him.

"Did you think I was a fool?" he asked. Chrno gave no response and Aion slammed him once again up against the wall. "Answer me!"

"No!" Chrno chocked out.

"You came to me and I gave you shelter. I fed you and protected you." Aion's eyes were blazing furiously. "How dare you insult me with your treachery." Aion dropped the purpled haired man, causing him to slump to the ground in a heap, coughing. "I'll make sure your punishment is fitting."

---

Ewan had rung the doorbell, and Rosette had answered it. He asked if he could come with her to the station, because his father had some questions about Chrno to ask her. Reluctantly, Rosette had agreed to go down with him. They had placed her in an interrogation booth, much similar to the one she'd been in not long ago. Apparently, some police had caught some of the Sinner's just as they were about to kill someone. They kept silent in their confessions, except for one red haired woman. She told the police that they were hiding Chrno, but would not rely any more information as to where he was. So Charles had considered that Rosette knew where they were hiding. Ewan's father had sat her down, and kept relaying questions to her about the Devil's Nest. She continued to keep her mouth sealed.

Charles was getting a headache. "You can go home if you just tell me where it is!" he said, pacing the booth. "Then we can put that killer in bars and you won't have to worry about him ever again!"

Calmly, Rosette replied; "I know nothing of a Devil's Nest."

Charles growled. "Yes you do! Stop lying to us and tell the truth!"

"I am not lying," Rosette replied, causing the man to suppress a scream. "Hey, Detective, got anything to eat, I'm starting to get hungry."

"You can eat when you tell us where the Devil's Nest is!" he snapped. The door to the interrogation room opened, revealing an officer, holding a piece of paper.

"Detective?" he said. "We just got an anonymous tip. We know where the Devil's Nest is."

---

Aion pulled one of the knives from behind the bar and had pinned Chrno's shoulder to the wall with it. He enjoyed relaying bible verses, and repeating facts about the Sinners. His "Laws" as he called them. Chrno knew he was trying to brain wash him, and had to admit, the pain causing from the knife and Aion's constant blabbing was starting to get to him.

The door then opened, revealing Shader, she looked at Chrno, and shot him a helpless look, before turning to look at Aion. "The police are here. They want to see you."

"The police?" Aion asked, as he tried to recall as to why they had arrived. "That's odd. I should see what they want." He took a few steps, before pausing, as if he'd remembered something. "I almost forgot." He said, before turning back to Chrno. He grabbed his left hand, and held it up to the wall, before pulling out an extra knife and pinning his hand to the wall. Chrno let out a scream. "Don't go anywhere now," he said, before turning and leaving the room.

As soon as Aion was gone, Shader flew to his side. She pulled the knife out from his hand, then his shoulder. He clutched his bleeding hand, suppressing whines of pain. "Oh god," she whispered. She had known Aion for a very long time, and never had one of the Sinners gone so far as to make him this angry. "Are you going to be okay?"

"Yeah," he grumbled. "But we have to get out of here before he comes back."

"Here," Shader said, grabbing his good hand and slinging it over her shoulder. "I'll help you out."

---

Aion arrived outside, smiling at the cop cars that surrounded the alleyway. They were effectively blocking their only exit. "Can I help you?" he asked, stepping up to Charles, whom he had known as a good friend for some time now.

Charles smiled sadly. "Aion," he said. "We have two out of three confessions that you are hiding Chrno down in your depths."

Aion smiled. "I am," he admitted. "The criminal came crawling back to me, begging for my help. We were old friends once. I gave him shelter for a while, and then he attacked me in my sleep. I was teaching him divine punishment, but I guess I could hand him over to you."

"That's not all," Charles continued. "Our confessions included information that you have been secretly killing people underground."

Aion smiled calmly. "I am a peacemaker of God. You of all people should know this Charles."

The man looked skeptical. "Then tell me, peacemaker Aion. Do all peacekeepers carry guns?" he asked, signaling to the handgun on his hip.

Aion looked down at it and mentally cursed his mistake.

"Let me through!" Rosette cried, catching his attention. The blonde haired girl that had been with Chrno tried to make her way through the crowd, but was held back by Ewan, Charles' only son.

He smiled as a plan started to form. "Rosette, my friend, how have you been!?" he turned, and grabbed hold of Rosette's hands, causing the girl to look up and shoot him a questionable glare. "I missed you so much!" he cried. "How was your trip?"

Rosette wasn't sure what to say. "Aion!" Charles said in a powerful tone. "Do not change the subject on me."

"Ah yes, the gun." Aion said as he pulled the gun from his belt and twirled it. "As I said I am a man of God." In one swift motion, he aimed the gun and pulled the trigger, causing a loud boom to crack through the air.

The light quickly died from Charles Remington's eyes as the man fell to the ground, instantly dead. "Dad!" Ewan cried in horror.

"And as a man of God," Aion continued. "I must do his work and purge this world of Sinners." Immediately, Aion found himself faced with tens of guns. Their barrels perfectly aimed. Aion spun Rosette into him, holding her tightly and aiming the barrel to her temple. "If anyone would so kindly shoot, you will be taking an innocent life. So, what'll it be boys?"