Crona still shuddered in his corner. Hours had passed now. He didn't know how many. He hated being here. But he didn't want to move. He wanted to talk to someone… but he couldn't speak. He wanted out of here… but there was no where to go.
A small smile peaked at his lips.
What more was there to do? His situation. This situation. It was all he could do. Everything that he could do. The room was silent now. It was dark. He couldn't hear anything but the thoughts in his head. And so many thoughts there were. He wanted to question himself… question the thoughts. But what was the point? He wouldn't get anywhere. No where…
A small giggle made its way into the pitch dark room. Was Crona all alone? Was he? He couldn't answer that question either. He didn't know the answer. He knew of answers. But none of them fit.
His mind drifted. He hadn't slept. Not at all. Should he be tired? Another question. No answer. He tried to listen to his breathing. But that was so random and out of rhythm… he didn't want to listen to it anymore. And now he couldn't tear his attention away. He tried to think of something else… he thought back…to what happened hours ago…
It wasn't like before. This was different, before Maka he never knew what it was to have a friend. When he was here with her. She was his friend…he knew she was. But… now?
Crona felt something throb inside him at the memories…what was that? What was it? It hurt him. He didn't like it. Yet he didn't want it to go. Why?
He remembered the way she looked at him, the way she tried to smile at him. Even in here. The way she tried to protect him. Talked to him. Was just…there for him. She wasn't like anything before, he couldn't describe how she was to him. He knew he couldn't live without her. Even now. He couldn't bear the idea of her being away from him. Why? That beating in his chest. It hurt. He doesn't understand this anymore…anymore? Did he once understand? Did he?
Crona huddled into a corner of the room. His form tight and close, hugging his legs near to his chest, almost like a scared animal trying to make itself small. In the smallest place it could get to. As if on instinct. Was Crona just an animal? Just a pet? Just a creature…? No. Something inside told him no. Something…someone seemed to treat him like a person… a human being. He had reached out to that person… he had felt…such happiness…joy… at being accepted. She wasn't scared of him…didn't run from him… she drew close. Wanted to be around him. Worried about him. Crona began to shake in his corner…but he hid it and clenched his hands close to his form. His face appeared almost…blank. He made not a sound. Not a mumble or a whimper. Nothing. He was silent. His mouth grew dry, but he didn't even swallow. He hardly blinked. He felt so…numb.
He felt as if pieces of him were missing… he didn't know where they were. He could hardly feel anymore. He knew what emotions were…but he didn't feel them. He remembered them… remembered what they were like. But didn't feel them. Some small niggle at the back of his mind told him to get up. To try again. But…he ignored it. After all…what was the point? Why? Not when…she…
Crona arched his eyes up. His pupils slowly moved higher. His gaze travelling from the floor, the blank empty stone floor. Over to the opposite corner. The opposite corner which once held the only other person in the entire world who understood him. The only other person who he trusted, felt safe with…wanted to be with. The person who…he was pretty sure even now…still held his heart. She must have it. For he didn't feel it anymore. In fact she now understood him possibly more then ever…after all…she was just like him now.
He watched the body of the other occupant in the room. The dim light from the bulb up above hardly spilled light down from up high. It was fading. But the glass orb was holding on, struggling to cast its last light out. A vain attempt to push back the darkness, the darkness…that seeped from this very room like it was water. The choking darkness that threatened to snuff out the lives of anyone else to draw close to this room.
Maka was over there. He watched her. She too…was so still. It was odd to see from her crazed and wobbly actions from before. He didn't like that. And he didn't like this. She was in her own corner but unlike him her form was leant back as if in a relaxed state. Her legs were spread out before her haphazardly, her arms likewise were far too loose at her side. She was slouched back on the wall and her head was leant back. Her form was so slack that it was like she was nothing but a corpse… on first glance with her blank stare and loose frame… you would think she was one of the dead now. However… the soft rising of her chest spoke of life. But it wasn't her loose posture that bothered him. It was her eyes. Always…it was her eyes. They were so…wrong.
Her once bright verdant eyes were now the sickly green of the ill, of rot, of disease. Her eyes continued to flicker about the room. As if she was watching something. But many times he had flitted his own eyes to where she was looking. To find nothing but stone. Still he watched her eyes move. Back and forth. Back and forth… sometimes her grin widened as if she had caught something. As if she was playing a game. But he didn't know what it was. Before her grin slipped and she went back to watching. Her eyes flickered to everywhere but him. She didn't…see him. She never looked at him. Not once. Why?
Even her usual giggles were gone. He visibly shivered. It was too quiet. How long had it been? How long were they to stay here?
Once again for the umpteenth time…. Crona dropped his head back down. He left her to play whatever game she was playing. Trying to ignore her eyes. He wished he could bring back her old smile…her old eyes. But he doesn't know how… he doesn't know what to do. He can't speak to her. Make her feel better. He can't even feel anything himself anymore. How can he possibly help her? But he can't leave her now… he could never be away from her now. No matter what she is like now. He remembers how she was…cherishes the memories…the old feelings. He can't let it go…never. He will stay with her. He can't leave her side now. It was his fault she ended up like this. And he will carry that burden, he will stay with her always…
How long had it been now? The hours dragged by without a sound. Not one. Nothing. It made his ears buzz in the silence. Now…it was just like it used to be. Just how it was. Before…Maka. Before her. Here he was. Sat here in the endless silence. With nothing but his thoughts. Nothing more. It was back to the never ending waiting. Simply…waiting. Alone… Here with just…nothing. But what more did he have? Yet… his eyes panned up from the floor once more. Maybe he wasn't quite alone. A small smile appeared on his lips… but his eyes were so…pale and lost. That his smile grew twisted. Into that of a sick grin. A laugh almost seemed to be at his lips. A laugh at the situation. A laugh at himself. And a laugh for…Maka. At least he still had her… as lost as she was. They were lost together. He still had her. And he would not…could not let go. Not now. Not ever.
She was just something he had to cling to now. Some…obsession that he could no longer ignore. Could not stop it. Could not change it. He wanted her with him. Needed her with him. Even the way she was now.
His eyes locked onto hers once more. Watching her. Watching her pupils as they continued to move and dance around the room. Following…something that Crona couldn't see. Something only she could see. He wondered what it was. But he didn't bother to look away this time. He just sat…and watched her. That small grin still at his lips.
Suddenly… Maka shifted. Almost as if she somehow knew that she was being watched. She finally stopped in her frantic flickering of the walls. She shut her eyes for what seemed to Crona like the first time in a long while. It was a slow blink. As if finally realising she needed to. Her head leant down and turned to him, and her eyes re-opened. Locking her gaze with his own. It was so slow…yet so sudden. Crona felt a small part of him flinch. But his body never moved. Never reacted…apart from his grin growing wider. Maka likewise matched him. Like a mirror on the other side of the room. She grinned back. Her face matched him now. Twin expressions. Somewhere inside Crona knew that wasn't Maka…not really. Not anymore. But he couldn't stop his mind. He didn't want to look away. He wanted this contact. This wordless contact was all he had and he wanted it. Craved it.
The pair of them seemed to be in their own little world. One of just the two of them. Crona certainly thought so. To him Maka seemed like a mirror. Of himself. He felt like he was stood before the glass. Watching the entity that only existed when he gazed into the mirror. Another person that existed at the same time as he did. Another person that copied his every movement. Yet was not him. As if that person was from another plane all together. Someone else… However he could not dwell on such thoughts any longer. As the familiar tell tale ripping erupted from his back. His own blood spurting out into the air and coalescing into a form above him.
A very angry dark creature. Above him Ragnarok leant his little fists down onto Crona's head. Crona never worded a complaint…or said anything at all. In fact the little demon never even broke the bizarre staring match that was now going on. But Crona could swear he sensed the tension exude from his weapon. And he was right of course.
"What are you looking at cow?!" The demon shouted out. Breaking the silence. Almost as if the silence was a thin sheet of glass hovering above them. The empty feeling given form. That sentence cracked it. The crack spread through the sheet and it shattered. Falling over them both. Sending the tiny particles raining down onto the group. That changed the air in the room. Something seemed different now. Maka's eyes flitted away from Crona's. Their locked gaze broken. She stared up at Ragnarok. Crona actually felt his weapon tense…or flinch. He wasn't sure. But it was odd behaviour for him.
Her grin grew in size now… it split her face like a surgeon's knife. Crona followed suit. As if he couldn't help it. His mirror moved and he had to follow. The grin on his own lips widened. Copying her. Then another sound broke into the room. Without the glass the barrier dampening the room was gone. A small giggle. The noise began to emit from the girl. His companion. It was soft and small… but in the once silent room it was like a boom of a drum. Soon another giggle began to join in… who was it…oh…it was him. Crona didn't even realise when he started to laugh. It was almost as if he had been holding it back for all this time. But he joined in with her giggles… and as she grew in volume…so did he.
"…why are you both laughing?!" Ragnarok shouted over their din. Clearly growing more agitated by the second. Crona felt a fist smash onto the top of his head. Sending a wave of pain through his system. But that didn't stop him. It didn't stop the noise. Crona laughed on. Laughing with his copy across the room.
"Are you both serious!?" Ragnarok shouted. Raising his voice above the din. As if eager for his own voice to be heard. "You are both giving me a headache!" He yelled on. Growing more irked as the pair ignored him. Crona didn't pay any attention to his sword. The weapon's complaints were nothing but background noise. Not worth taking note of. Not anymore. Crona's eyes widened with his raised brow as Maka did likewise, their laughs rising to a fevered pitch. Not even feeling the harsh blow that Ragnarok attempted on his head. As if trying to get him to shut up…
Suddenly…without warning… the light above them. The bulb that was always just…there. It existed. It always was. It shut off.
It was so sudden as the room was plunged into the pitch darkness. As if the darkness had finally won its battle with the light and engulfed the room. Leaving nothing untouched. Nothing untainted. Twisting the images of the room into hellish versions. Fear now existed in that room as a material thing. It formed not just in the mind, but in reality. Almost as if you could reach out and touch it. Almost palpable. However… to the two occupants in that room. The darkness may be a fear filled hell. But it was their hell. They dwelled there. Creatures of the darkness. Shunned by the light. When the light vanished…so did their laughing. They both ceased. Mid laugh. They both stopped.
"Finally…" Whispered Ragnarok. His voice sounded glad… yet his lower tone gave evidence that he was perturbed. Crona slowly shut his mouth. Clamping his jaw together. He was blind. His eyes had grown used to the small light in here. And the sudden shift had taken away his vision. But his grin held. He didn't even flinch. He just stopped. He continued to stare at where he knew Maka still was. He just knew she was there.
Suddenly the light above them flashed back on. Was it still alive? Crona's eyes shot to the bulb. It was dimmer…but it gushed out the life back into the room. A second wind. A renewed attack on the darkness. But Crona knew it was pointless. Darkness always wins… It's always there…you can't escape it…
He felt Ragnarok tense and actually jump in surprise above his head. Crona wasn't worried. Nor did he care anymore about his feelings. Not really. But he did pan his eyes back down. To see what had shocked him so. A small giggle flew from his mouth at what he saw. It was Maka. She was on her feet now. Odd…he didn't hear her move. She stood on the other side of the room. Still in her corner. Her head was slightly turned down low, but her gaze was focused solely on him. That grin of hers wide on her face. She wobbled ever so slightly. As if she had gone dizzy. But Crona knew that wasn't why.
"Gah! Don't do that!" Ragnarok shouted once more. His angry little screech doing very little. "You nearly gave me a heart attack…" He mumbled mostly to himself. Maka's eyes moved to Crona's weapon, her gaze focused in on him. And she cocked her head as if a confused puppy. It wasn't a cute sight though.
The light went off. Again the bulb seemed to be losing its fight. Losing the will to live. He was blind again. He wished it would stop and just die. It was annoying to be caught in both light and the dark. Just stop. Just stop fighting it.
Crona wasn't surprised when the light fought back. They always fight…why? What's the point? When you know you can't win? When you know you will fail? Why even bother? Crona's eyes stung once more. He had to shut them in the difference of light. He felt Ragnarok jump again in shock above him. But Crona knew why. Maka was closer now. He opened his eyes. She now stood in the centre of the room. But…he didn't hear her move. And there was no way she should have been able to move that fast. No way. She appeared in the same stance she was in in the corner. But now in the middle of the room.
However this time… Crona didn't see just Maka. Now that she was in the middle of the room, he now noticed something out of place. She still bore a shadow on the wall. That wasn't right…was it? How could she still have that? In fact…now that he looks at it. Looking right at it. The shadow didn't seem…right. It was larger then Maka… and sharper… Was that right? It didn't move with her either. She wobbled in place. But her shadow never moved…
"Whaddya wa-" Ragnarok started. About to yell at Maka once more. But was cut off when the light died once more. Was that it? Was it done for now? He wouldn't have been surprised. It would die soon. Just like everything else.
In darkness again… he hoped it was done. He didn't want to see anymore light. He was sick of it. Done. But yet…without the light…it was cold. He shivered in his corner. He had never felt cold before in this room. But…he was now. And something sharp pricked at his body. It felt as if something was wrapped around his form…wound tight…and it was sharp. As if barbed wire…or a vine of thorns. Wrapped around his body tight…and tighter still. It wouldn't let go! Crona couldn't breathe now. His panic flooded him. He couldn't breathe…
Why was this happening? What was it from? Why?
The thorns were cutting him… jabbing him. He felt like trying to move…to get away… but that was impossible. He wanted to shout out… for someone to help…but again…that was useless. As he realised this. The barbs didn't hurt so much… the thorns dug into his skin…he felt it. Felt them rip through his flesh and into muscle. But it didn't affect him now. He couldn't change it. It was useless.
"I'm getting so sick of this!" Crona was pulled from the nightmare by his weapon. He blinked and on reflex craned his neck up to his weapon. "I can't take this Crona!" The black weapon screeched out at him. But Crona wasn't sure what he meant… what could he do about this? However… he suddenly felt pain jab into his head. Ragnarok had grabbed two fistfuls of his hair and was yanking on it…
"Ow!" Crona cried out. Feeling the pain of his tugs… but actually feeling kind of glad that the familiar pain had brought him out of whatever nightmare he had been drifting down into. He no longer felt the thorns…the barbs…they had vanished.
"Don't hurt him…"
A voice spoke out. It was close…but it wasn't Ragnarok. Crona flinched at the same time as his weapon now. That was Maka. But she was right in front of them! How had she moved that fast and without a sound?!
Above him Ragnarok grinded his teeth together…he wasn't liking this. Crona knew it. His form held a slight shudder… how was Maka doing that to him? But Crona was still at least. After all…it was only Maka.
"Are you talking to me cow?!" The black sword spat out to the girl Crona still wasn't sure how she was just in front of them. Ragnarok shouted out to try and hide his agitated state. But it was painfully obvious even to Crona now.
Suddenly the light flared back into life. Like the last breathe of the dying. It grew bright, brighter then ever. Casting its last light across the room. Crona stared right into the face of Maka. She was close. He was right. But how close she was… actually surprised him. She was stood right in front of him. Her boots just inches away from his own. His own face showed his slight shock, his face was pale and his eyes wide. But Maka… she was grinning. Still grinning. Like always. Her head was up now. Her posture was straight. She was never predictable. Never the same. Always different. Hair fell over one of her eyes now. But the other was shown clear as day. It was madness.
The light flared too bright… too bright. The light filled up the room and cascaded over the entire place. Running over the walls and around the objects. However…it was nothing but a swan song. As a crack sounded out. And the bulb broke. That crack was the sound of the last fall. The fall of the hero in the last battle. It was gone. Dead and gone…done. Crona listened to the glass tinkle to the floor now. Silence filed the room now. Filled in the void.
"… hmm… you are a him…aren't you Crona…?" Her voice wavered as she spoke. But it wasn't her odd tone that bothered him. It was what she said. Why did she say that?
"Oh! You want to know for sure do you?" Ragnarok quickly chipped in. His voice was mocking yet excited. As if he was glad of the attention drifting back to something Ragnarok could handle, knew how to deal with. But now… Crona was the one who couldn't deal with this. Maka didn't answer him. It was too dark. He couldn't see her anymore. But he knew she was right there.
"Why don't you show her Crona!" Ragnarok's dark voice yelled out. The harsh tone was an order, an order from a bully. Knowing he didn't want to do such a thing. But he would make him. Ragnarok always tried this. He knew he hated it. Didn't want to do such a thing. It was almost as if Ragnarok enjoyed making him uncomfortable. Making him hurt. Making him do things he didn't really want to do… but Crona had to admit. He was a lot better then Lady Medusa. He didn't 'make' him kill anyone…and his bullying was a nice distraction. A distraction from what was worse.
However…he still wasn't going to let Ragnarok do…that! No way!
"C-Cut it out!…" Crona shouted back. Hoping that would stop him. Stop this whole situation. He was feeling…uncomfortable. He wasn't scared…he didn't feel mad… he preferred this over his madness…ad the killing. But not now…not in front of Maka…
"Your 'girlfriend' wants to know Crona." Ragnarok mocked him. Emphasizing the word girlfriend. Crona felt his breathe hitch. Girlfriend?! What?! The black sword cackled as he began to tug at his robe at his knees… Crona felt himself lose the colour in his face. No!
"S-Stop it!" He shouted out. He couldn't deal with this. This was going too far. Crona quickly reached out and wrapped his fingers around the wrists of his weapon. Stopping him from pulling on the material. It would be fine… it was an even fight. Even with the weapon laughing away above him. Finding this all very hilarious. But Crona felt nothing but dread. He didn't want to show himself to Maka… that was wrong. He felt it was wrong… he wished he would stop now. Crona clamped his fingers down harshly. Locking his arms in place and leaving his weapon unable to move. They were stuck. And that suited Crona just fine.
But Crona had forgotten there was a third player in this game…
A small giggle announced her presence. Crona tried to see her in the darkness…but it was too thick. The blackness covered his eyes like material. He couldn't see her. But he wasn't sure about this…
Suddenly he felt her cold hands reach under his robe… he heard her shuffle in front of him as she knelt down. He couldn't speak…not anymore. Only a small whimper. But that didn't stop her. Crona's teeth chattered as he froze. He couldn't move. His mind didn't seem to process anything right now. It just…stopped. Maka didn't say anything more as he felt her part his knees. He had been holding them so close together up until now. Clamping them together with such force…but with her cold hands on his flesh. He put up no resistance. His legs felt like jelly as she pushed them aside and another hand delved further under his robe. Her fingers tracing his inner thigh…
"… hey…whatcha doin…?" Ragnarok spoke out. Confusion lacing his voice. But Crona didn't respond…he hardly even heard him anymore. All he could feel was the ice cold fingers of Maka on his inside leg. The chattering of his teeth grew worse. He could hear it now. His whole body tensed up once more…
Then her fingers finally painfully reached their destination…
He felt her fingers cup him. That tell-tale bulge in his underwear. Crona widened his eyes and actually squeaked.
"Huh?" Ragnarok responded to him. Still confused. But then…he was as blind as Crona was. He couldn't see what she was doing to him…
Crona somehow found his voice.
"…M-M-Maka!" His voice pitched higher then ever.
As soon as he spoke however she quickly removed her hand. It was like lightning. He didn't quite expect her to give up her position so quickly. He could breathe again though… Without Maka's arm inside his clothes Crona quickly smacked his knees back together. He whimpered slightly as he tried to push himself more into his corner.
"I was right! I was right!" She repeated herself. Her off tone hiding back giggles. She sounded like a little school girl proven right in an argument…
"Hey!" Ragnarok chimed in, still sounding confused but now annoyed. "What did you do?!" He yelled out to her even as he heard her get up from the floor. Her clothes rustling as she moved. But Crona didn't know what to do now. He was in shock. He barely blinked. How…why? Huh? His brain didn't seem to quite kick in now.
"Thanks Ragnarok!" Maka hummed as he listened to her trudge away from him. Leaving him to his corner.
"I didn't help you do anything! Whatever you just did to Crona! Only I'm allowed to do that! You can't do anything to him!" Ragnarok huffed out to her… possibly not quite understanding what had happened… this made Maka laugh…. That horrible giggle…. Her giggle echoed around the room. It wasn't nice. It was like a blunt hammer smashed against glass. It was sudden and powerful. He didn't expect it. It sent shivers down Crona's spine. That laughter wasn't just for no reason this time. She honestly appeared to be laughing at what Rag had said.
"…funny…" She managed out between giggles. "…so funny y'know!" She spat out at him. Crona felt Rag pause above his head.
"Eh?" The weapon managed out. Crona still couldn't see Maka in the bleak cold darkness. But he could hear her…hear that laugh. He may have joined back in…but right now. He was stuck. Unresponsive.
"You saying… you want… to touch him little Ragnarok?!" Maka shouted out at the pair. Her voice wavered horribly. The laughter barely being held back. She really did find this funny….
"Tch… I'd say you have a screw loose…but I don't think you have any screws left in that head!" Ragnarok spoke in a low tone… he sounded tired. Crona didn't understand though… what did he mean screws? But he didn't think more on what he said. As soon after another harsh ear splitting laugh erupted into the room. It was far too forced…as if her throat would rupture from the effort. That hammer was thrust against the glass once more… again and again it beat… cracks appeared…more and more and more… Crona felt each of them as he shuddered in his corner. He wrapped his arms around himself now. If he could just stay in this corner…
"Stupid girl…" The black sword huffed out under he breathe. He felt his weapon disappear back inside him. As if he was done. Fine…that was just…fine.
Crona ran over what had happened in his head. Was that real? Or did he imagine all that? He wasn't sure. It was another question. He can't answer his questions. However… he now heard breathing again. Oh not again. He didn't want to listen to his breathing again… but this one was fainter. It…wasn't his own. It came from another point in the room. He listened to it. It was real…
Next he heard shuffling. Now he knew who it was… he hadn't imagined any of it. Maka was still here…still in this room with him. But it wasn't 'his' Maka. Not really his friend. He wanted to laugh…to cry out… she was just a mockery… a fake… but that thing was still Maka… he shook his head. He wasn't making any sense. He knew it wasn't her…but it was. He knew that Maka wasn't like that. But yet she was. He needed Maka. And if this was all that was left of her… then he would stay.
"…Crona?" A small weak voice whispered out. So small he wasn't sure he heard it. He didn't say anything…but he did look up. "…Crona?" The voice sounded weaker now…but he caught it. Something in his heart tugged. He was sure of it. But he wasn't sure what it meant. He still felt just….numb. The voice was different now… different then it had been. It wasn't wavering….or loud…or laughing. It was weak…tired…drained…but stable.
"…I…I don't know if you can hear me…" The voice carried on. It was near to a whisper now. He wanted to tell her to speak up…he wanted to hear what she had to say. But…his mouth didn't move. He couldn't speak. Her voice broke then… and he listened to her small cries. His heart pained him. But he wasn't sure why. He should be feeling something. Was this even real? Or was this just another trick on his mind. He couldn't see her…only hear her. Was this real?
"…but…I…" She hiccupped now. He listened to her cries… it was like a small cut was being sliced down his skin. Opening wounds along his body…it stung. "…I'm sorry…"
Crona's breath hitched. His eyes widened at what she had said. He listened to her crying now. It was quiet. As if she was trying to hide it…or was too weak for anything more. He wanted to do…something. But didn't know what. He still couldn't speak. Only…listen. Listen to the cries. He wished he could see now. Because this didn't seem right…didn't seem real. It can't be real… he was just wishing it so much. That he heard it. Wanted it so much…that his mind was tricking him… it must be…
The cries carried on in the silence… so small… anywhere else…and they might have gone unnoticed. But here? It was all around him…
However… those cries began to change… to shift. Crona's brow lowered as the tone changed in her. The cries began to grow erratic. The sound grew sharper…louder…harsher. He hated that noise. As much as the crying pained him…it felt more real…then this. A new noise erupted into the room… a horrible screech rang out. Maka was…laughing.
Medusa hated to leave her work like this… but if she didn't stop and take a break from this particular line. The other would never improve. She sighed out as she dropped her pen onto the desk. Pages and pages of scribbles and doodles now littered the desk. Her computer blinked at her beside her. Before her was Eruka's eye. However… you would no longer recognise it for a witch's eye anymore…
It was twisted and warped now. The magic within crackled and sparked even now. This was why she didn't really want to leave it. The eye no longer even looked human. The visage was warped beyond recognition. The eye had turned blue and black stripes and stars littered the stalk. It was quite a bizarre reaction to draw out the inner madness. It made little sense. Medusa was reminded of a carnival with the bright pattern. Like clowns at the circus… but that couldn't be right… could it?
Medusa tapped the desk she was resting on with a finger… it glowed a faint purple and then faded. There. Now it was encased in a barrier. Similar to the one that she had once placed upon the old cell of her dear child. She was confident that it would hold away anything that could possibly happen while she was away. She was researching madness itself. Of course she could never truly predict it. But she was perhaps the most qualified outside the realm of the mad to actually try.
She pushed herself up off her seat, the seat groaned out as she finally moved, and pulled off her lab coat. Letting it gently fall onto the back of the chair. Her dress melted into that of her usual hooded outfit. She was after all… going out. She was finally leaving this hole of hers. Out into the world. She would just love to catch up with the DWMA if she caught them. She smiled to herself. They really should try to avoid them at this crucial stage.
But a part of her was excited to bump into them. Catch up on old times… perhaps introduce them to the new Maka. She was sure they would be overjoyed with finding her again. She laughed to herself. That was a sight she was looking forward to. It would happen…. But Medusa wanted it to happen under her own terms. No one else's. She would never be caught off guard. Never. She had everything planned out. Every single step. All the way.
Medusa stepped toward her door, and with a final glance back to her work she vanished out of the door.
The small witch waved a hand in front of her face… back and forth, side to side. She frowned. In sadness and anger. It was a pained look. She sighed out. Her one eye followed her hand as it moved. But with only one eye… she found it hard.
"I'm not sure if I'll ever get used to this…" Eruka muttered to herself. But she was not alone in the room. And her partner in crime turned to her. His ears perked to her sounds. He grinned at her.
"You will. Besides you might be able to get it back. Lady Medusa might not be keeping it forever." Eruka's one eye panned up to him. The frown still on her face.
"What… like how the grand witch might get her own eye back?" She huffed out. Clearly pointing to the fact that the werewolf would never give up his prize. But the werewolf just shrugged at her.
"If she really wanted it back then she would have come after me…" Eruka's mood shifted as her brow lowered. Feeling that Free's wording was directed at her and not at the grand witch… but wasn't quite sure if that was purposeful from the clumsy immortal.
"Hey…" She started. But never got the chance to finish. As suddenly the door to the room was swung open. The pair of them snapped their heads toward the sound. There of course…was Lady Medusa. She stood there in the door way with that ever confident grace. That aura of power that immediately denoted everyone in the room as below her. The way she held herself… made Eruka cringe. She still feared her. She was trapped. She feared for her life from the sick witch. She may respect her. She may actually look up to her…but she hated her. And knew that as soon as she was useless….she would be killed.
Eruka's eye darted away from Medusa's own. She dared not look her in the eye…not now. Not after what she had done to Eruka. She still remembered those snakes… she shuddered involuntarily. If Medusa noticed it…. She didn't say.
Lady Medusa didn't move from the doorway… in fact she turned and motioned for the pair of them to follow. Her eyes flickered over them both…like a snake sizing up its prey. Eruka hated that look…
"R-ribbit…" She whimpered out to herself… as she tried to control her nerves around the superior witch. No…she had to get ahold of herself. Eruka knew what she had to do. She had to make herself useful to the witch…well…still useful. And that way she would stay alive…hopefully long enough to escape from her vile clutches.
She wondered what she could have possibly done to deserve this. She pondered it as she walked in step behind Free and followed the snake witch out of the room.
Eruka knew what was happening. Lady Medusa had spoken with the pair of them earlier that night. They were taking out Medusa's…pets. Taking them out to feed them… urgh. Eruka felt a slight sickness in her stomach at Medusa's wording. She loved to make people uncomfortable. It was a skill.
Still… Eruka was glad she didn't have as much as Medusa's attention as they did. She doubted she could handle that madness they were living through. She remembered the madness she felt around the kishin in the academy. That was too much. Far too much. She nearly killed herself out of sheer insanity. They both did. How could the meisters handle it? That black blood was an infection of the mind as well as the body. It sent you literally…mad. How did they handle that?
Eruka didn't have the answers. She didn't know. So she tried to stop thinking about it as they continued.
It didn't take long to arrive at the door to the cell of the two crazed balls of madness. The two meisters turned weapons. Eruka had never actually been here before. She avoided it like the plague. She remembered the last time she had dealt with the nutball that was Maka…
But Eruka tried to stand tall. After all…Maka was nothing more then an animal now. And if you looked weak. An animal targeted you. It was all instinct. Maybe if she looked strong…she would be ok.
No… maybe not. It didn't sound right to her. She glanced to Free beside her. Maybe if she had him next to her though. She would be ok. No…she shouldn't think like that! Eruka sucked in a gasp of air into her lungs. Straightening her back and standing tall. She was a witch. She loved being a witch. People were supposed to be afraid of her. Not the other way around! That was how it worked!
Ahead of her and Free was Lady Medusa. Eruka couldn't see her face as she unclasped the locks and bars that kept the pair of animals trapped. Locked away. Each click and clang sounded like the ticking of a clock…. Ticking down to zero. A countdown. To a bomb. No…stay calm…stay calm… But Eruka started to bite her lip as she waited there. Crona she could handle. She was ok with him. Even crazy…and even with Ragnarok. He would never try anything. But the other one? No way. She didn't want to be anywhere near her. Not the way she was. Sane Maka was fine. She wasn't afraid of her. She didn't even bother her. She was weak. But insane Maka? She hated her. She was like Medusa in the emotions that she brought up.
"It's time…" Lady Medusa spoke as she opened the door wide. Eruka held her breath. Almost expecting Maka to jump out at them. Blades in full view. That crazed look of a killer on her face. But… there was nothing.
It was pitch black inside. Like the old cell…but the old cell held the dim light from the corridor…this one was even worse. Not a shred of light existed now. Barely any from the room down from where they came. She squinted her eyes to try and see inside…
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand…done!
Ok chapter 26 done. Hope you are all looking forward to Maka's first soul hunting exercise as much as I am! Hope you all enjoyed.
Oh and I mentioned last chapter about the military. Well they finally got back to me about my date for the start of my training… and it is December… omg. As it is so far away I have to redo my medical and fitness test as I will be out of date! ARGH…. *whacks head on keyboard*…
Though on the bright side… will most likely have this story done before I leave then XD.