Chapter28

« Samson… Bene… »

Sebastianus alternately stared at his two comrades lying down on the blood-drenched floor, with a look which meant that he didn't believe in that nightmare. It could be only a nightmare…It couldn't be true. He couldn't believe in it. No…That's impossible. That's impossible that these two, who had been his strong comrades for such a long time…could be…could be…

Elaine felt her own fists clenching. Then she felt her terror from earlier turning into an extreme feeling of anger…Glancing at Samson first then Bene, she felt a rage invading her body…Invading her soul…

"…No…"

Then, not being able to bear it more, she erupted.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAh! SAMSON! SAMSON! BENE! BENE!..."

Her own world then disappeared then she rushed over her comrades, howling out of despair. Sebastianus followed her almost immediately then, while Elaine was rushing over Samson, he rushed over Benedictus next to him. Watching them, Misao stayed unmoving, completely stunned to the shock, and gripped tighter her two swords, as if she didn't want them to fall on the floor too. While Elaine energetically checked Samson, she glared at her with a fierce rage.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING, YOU DUMB? HELP US! HELP US FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!"

Misao moved back to this tone. Seeing her scared look, Sebastianus turned to Elaine, telling her to calm down while he knelt in front of Benedictus. After all, he thought that's already enough…The situation didn't need to be worst now…Elaine clenched her teeth, but hearing this soft tone, she complied even if keeping her collected was too difficult in this situation.

Samson had been hit at the head, probably with the golden war hammer which was lying down on the floor next to him. She couldn't see where the injury was but only a long trace of blood running down on his face.

…He had been hit with his own weapon…Something that nobody could expect…

She felt her view covering, feeling tears which wouldn't last to fall down…She couldn't imagine such a scenario…Such a scenario where people that she liked could die like this…in front of her… However, when she stretched her arm toward his forehead, she felt a faint breath on it.

"…That's…"

Her eyes goggled…She came closer to his face, as if she wanted to feel his breath…While she was doing this, she heard a slight growl coming out from Samson's mouth.

"Samson…Samson is alive! Samson is okay!" She cried out, a joyful smile appearing on her face. She sighed, relieved to this and helped him to sit up, ignoring the beads of blood which fell down on her arm. However, another thought spared her mind and she turned to Sebastianus.

"Benedictus…How is Bene?"

To her worried tone, Sebastianus frowned. Like he had been taught to do, He took Benedictus's pulse and waited for few minutes, hoping with all of his strengths that he would be okay too…He sighed. He knew that Benedictus and he weren't the best friends ever. Benedictus contempt people enough for the slightest reason so he was certain that he also despised him…But that's still his duty as a comrade at least…The least thing to do was checking if he was alright.

Fortunately, after some seconds, he felt it beating. He sighed, barely relieved. He was in a bad state, but alive. That's still that. However, unlike Samson, Benedictus's suit was covered from blood…And when Sebastianus tried to move him, a strident howl of pain came out from his mouth.

"…"

Not wanting to hurt him more, he left him against the wall then unbuttoned his blood-drenched suit…As he thought, he had been hit on the stomach, making a rather deep injury on…As that injury kept bleeding strongly, Sebastianus leaned his hand on the injury to stop it.

"Benedictus…Can you hear me?" He asked him.

Benedictus opened his eyes to his voice, but nothing but another howl came out from his mouth. Sebastianus frowned. At least, he felt no organs that had been touched. That's a good sign he thought.

"…My head…" Samson put his head in his hands…"…What-what happened…?"

"I don't know either…" Elaine touched his forehead. "Don't talk more. It would hurt…"

"That's…that's like if Hell…came there for us." Samson stammered, before coughing strongly, feeling an awful taste of blood in his mouth.

Hell.

Exactly like that Witch said, Elaine thought. So…that's what she meant yesterday…?

She couldn't think that Hell itself, in the literal sense, could come there to kill them…But seeing Samson's injuries, that's definitely not a normal human, or even another apostle of Index, who came there for them.

As Benedictus kept his twisted face in pain, Sebastianus could do nothing more than catching a piece of his own suit then tearing it apart to apply it on the injury…That injury didn't seem to be deadly, but Benedictus would suffer for a long time…However, when he did it, he noticed his comrade's mouth moving.

"…What?"

Benedictus kept moving his mouth, spitting inaudible words…Sebastianus came closer to him to hear, but instead of repeating, Benedictus used all of his strength to point his arm to one of confessionals which were there…

"…Benedictus…?"

However, he didn't respond anymore…Then, letting his arm falling on the floor, he fainted again.

Misao understood then, taking her swords, she headed for the confessional. She guessed she wouldn't discover the one who caused that, but her face frowned when she noticed through the little space not covered by the curtain, two feet that she didn't see earlier, standing up on the ground. Glancing back at the others, she quickly pulled the curtain, expecting to find the worst…

"Hm…? What…?"

"What is it?" Elaine cried out, as she was too far to see anything.

Then she saw that her face softened, finding who the one that Benedictus talked about was. Behind the curtains, a very scared and shocked Scholastica was standing up there.

"Scholastica! You're safe!" Misao cried out, making a relieved smile.

She hid behind the curtain from the confessional. It looked like unlike the others, she didn't have been involved in the slaughter. At least, there was still this…Misao gave her a glance but apparently, she didn't have been injured either. She sighed of relief.

"Scholastica? …" Elaine frowned, rather surprised to see her.

She jumped back, as if she didn't understand first that was Misao…However, when she realized that was definitely her, she rushed over her then hugged her, sobbing into her chest.

"Misao? Is she okay?" Elaine asked her, glancing at Benedictus next to him.

Misao smiled then put a protective hand on her little shoulder, reassuring her.

"Sshh…It would be alright, Scholastica. Don't worry…It's gone. I'm here, I'm here." She turned toward Elaine. "…Just very scared. But I guess she is fine."

"No wonder why…" Sebastianus just said, taking off the piece of suit that he applied on Benedictus's stomach, now recovered of blood too.

While she was watching them, Elaine's eyes goggled out of terror when she heard a loud noise coming from the corridor.

"…What?" An alarming look appeared on her face. "…What's that?"

"What?" Samson turned toward her. "…What did you hear?..."

"…You heard it too…didn't you?" She asked to him, seeing his concerned face too.

"…There was nobody…It couldn't be…" Sebastianus tried to say…but no words came from his mouth.

She glanced at Samson, who was as worried as she was. Sebastianus, turning back from Benedictus, clenched his fists, hearing this same noise, a lot louder than the first. They could recognize the sound…That's a noise of a step. Misao heard a third, then, fearing the worst, she told Scholastica to move behind her. She then took her sword out, ready to fight if it's needed.

"…It is…?"

The steps came louder and louder, as if it approached. Samson wanted to take his war hammer too but he felt himself too weak to use it for now…Cursing himself for his own weakness, he just watched with worry the curtain on the door, which prevented them to be seen.

"…No…"

Then, the steps stopped, and Misao could see the feet behind the curtain. When the curtain was pulled, she was about to make a spell, but right afterward, she realized she didn't need it. Actually, when she saw the face of the newcomer, her eyes goggled with surprise, releasing her swords out.

"…Georgius-sama."

Sebastianus let his guard off, as surprised as she was. Then, Misao rushed over him to hug him into her arms, realizing her voice cracked up now...

"Georgius-sama! Georgius-sama! You're safe! You're safe… I…I…really believed…" She felt some tears which covered her eyes.

"Georgius-sama…You were…" Sebastianus asked.

Misao cried out of happiness and nervousness in his shoulder. However, Georgius didn't hug her back for this. When he observed the scene, he only pushed her back, not hiding his shock and terror when he looked around him.

"…Who…What…How awful"

He couldn't say nothing else...especially when he realized that one of corpses which lied down not far from him were one of apostles that he knew…Georgius clenched his fists. Samson tried to explain but he didn't need. Georgius understood what happened there.

"…I see…That's like that…"

If he could, he would release all of his anger but as being the leader with his subordinates, he should stay calm and collected...He didn't want to panic the others more than they were already.

"…Georgius-sama…" Misao tried to say but he cut her in. He then counted all his subordinates, insuring everyone was there.

"I see…At least, everyone is there…Safe and alive…" Georgius sighed, relieved. "That's good…Thanks God."

He then realized that Samson and Benedictus had been hurt however. He turned back behind him and the others realized that Georgius didn't come alone. Actually, there were others people who came along with him…However, the others people didn't join up Georgius. They were staying in the church, and wandered through the benches and altar, checking the all slaughter. Apparently, someone had warned about what happened…Seeing their surprised faces, he declared.

"Misao, bring the others outside. The others Saints will come there soon and it would be better if they don't see you. You don't have to stay there."

His members nodded to this order. Elaine helped Samson up, while Sebastianus caught a now fainted Benedictus to carry him. Misao then gently caught Scholastica by her hand then told her, with a reassuring smile.

"Scholastica…close your eyes and just follow me. Okay?"

Scholastica still looked scared but obeyed to her and closed her eyes. Samson nodded, agree with her.

"Yes…Let's spare that view from her."

When they finally came outside from that horrible murder scene, Misao thought the best thing to do first would be to bring the injured people to the Index's Research Department. After all, there also was a hospital area for injured apostles so…even if doctors were more of scientists; they would still have their own usefulness about it.

However…at the second where they headed for this place, Elaine noticed someone who was standing up next to the Church's main door. This person observed the scene from inside with a curious stare, and when Elaine came closer; she realized this person was definitely not another Saint, or even an apostle…

"Sophia…"

…nobody but that mad woman as scientist. Truly the same state that they saw of her yesterday. Then, her eyes burnt out of hatred. What the hell was she doing there?

This latter didn't seem surprised, noticing their presences. She even gave them a little smirk, as if this scene made her laugh.

"Tehehe…Now, now. What happened to you?" She asked to them, glancing at Benedictus's shape who was carried by Sebastianus.

"As if you didn't know…" Elaine replied, mocking. "Unless you're blind, you know pretty well what happened there! A lot of apostles had been slaughtered in this church, during the mass…"

Sophia nodded, as if she seemed to understand. "Tehe…That's truly the reason why I never went to masses…anybody can be put in a very regrettable incident…"

Well, as she said these words with a great smile, it didn't seem to bother her very much. However, hearing these words, Samson felt himself losing it then yelled at her.

"I advise you very carefully to erase that hypocrite smile of yours…THAT'S EVERYTHING BUT FUNNY! Don't you guess how much people died there in one hour?"

However he couldn't finish his sentence, as he began to cough some blood again. Misao softly told him to calm down, as he needed some rest. However it didn't seem to bother Sophia as much then kept on.

"This? You're rather lucky you know…" Sophia smiled again. "In the past, I had witnessed to much more gory slaughters than that. I had even witnessed only one people to slaughter at least nearly fifties people in ten minutes." She cackled. "That's rather funny to watch however…as Index doesn't share my point of view about these sorts of things, I can't even explain this to you."

Elaine glared at her. Why was she staring at her when she was saying these words? It looked like she gave her a message. Or maybe she thought it…However; Misao cut her in then asked, trying to contain her anger.

"…I don't care about your point of view of these things…Nevertheless, as you see, we have more urgent business to deal with so…"

"Are you asking me to give a helping hand?" Sophia frowned, not really thrilled with it. "…how many times must I tell you about it? I'm not a doctor after all…"

Then, seeing Scholastica's little shape who was hiding behind Misao in trembling, she understood what she meant. "Oh I see…some restoration is needed I guess?"

"You understood." Misao closed her eyes, taking a collected look.

Sophia crossed her arms, bored. She liked her researches, but something like being forced to help others people with her talent…she liked less.

However, as they would stay planted there until she said yes, she guessed she couldn't make fun of them longer…she had others interesting things to do after all. At this thought, she looked back at Elaine again, hiding her crooked smirk.

"I see…Well, you can just go there…I would go when I would have finished with this…" Sophia shrugged. "My personal servants would begin the work without me if that's so needed…"

She added this with a kind of ironic tone. Samson growled but actually, he was kind of happy that she wouldn't be the one to take care of him as she said. Misao helped him up then replied to her with an ironic tone.

"Thanks for your precious help, Sophia."

Sophia shrugged, looking amused by her way to responding. Misao then caught Scholastica by the hand, bringing her along, followed by Samson who had some trouble to walk. However, when Elaine was about to join them up, Sophia asked her, with a surprised tone.

"Oh…Don't you ask me anything?"

Elaine turned back to her, with a distrustful look. "Tell me…What would I have something to ask you?"

"I wondered if you were going to ask me about the "Hell" I told you about yesterday." Sophia smirked, waiting for the reaction yet to come.

"…" Elaine clenched her fists, replying with a despising look. "…So…that's what you meant…I guessed you had your role in this…"

"A role?" Sophia asked, with a kind of surprised tone to this. "…A role in this? Why would I have one in that slaughter? I love witnessing to slaughters, but I never slaughtered people in this way…except for my specimens." She added with a creepy tone.

"Well…it wouldn't surprise me from you…From such a sinned woman who likes playing with corpses of others…" Elaine crossed her arms. "…and who likes playing to make hell out of others…"

Sophia knew that if she had her weapon along with her, she would attack her without any problem. However, she kept smiling, without caring about it. Then she turned back to her, asking with a nonchalant tone.

"By the way, Elaine…did you guess about the sentence which was written on the door?"

"…" Elaine just gave her a glare to her as if she didn't understand. "…What about it?"

"Hölle, wenn Sie Balor nicht zurückgeben… » Sophia calmly repeated with her words the sentence. "…Do you know what it means?"

Elaine goggled. She didn't really care about what it meant earlier…but when she heard it again…She suddenly realized in which language that's written.

"…Don't tell me…" Elaine shivered, feeling some fear inside her being. "...That's…that's impossible…"

"Yes…Once you know in which language this sentence is from…" Sophia smirked, liking her reaction. "…you know a bit about the culprit."

"…" Elaine had troubles to say it even if she knew it…She clenched her teeth, not wanting to look up at her. "…What do you mean…? Do you mean…that's Thule you mean…? That's what you mean…" She stammered.

When she said the word "Thule" again…she had the feeling that a nightmare was about to catch her up again…

"Ding! We have a winner!" Sophia nodded in agreement.

"…" Elaine frowned, not caring about her congratulations. "…How they could…?"

"Did you really think that everything about Thule would be finished in such an easy way?" Sophia asked her with a softer tone. "Index is powerful but…as everyone was distracted with their little cults of religion there…I feel that wasn't difficult for him to penetrate in."

"Him?" Elaine cried out, feeling some anger invading her over her fear. "…But who are you talking about again? Who did it? You know about him, didn't you?"

"…" Sophia just shrugged, without answering.

"No, let me guess! That's AENUS, right? That's FU, right?" Elaine kept saying, feeling she needed to punch something…or rather someone who was in front of her. "TELL ME, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!"

Sophia just played with her own ponytail, mocking her. "..If I told you…that this sentence meant "Hell if you don't bring Balor back"…What do you think about? …Think …"

Elaine didn't understand. Balor's name…It recalled her something but…she tried to recall about the Thule's section they read about in the book "The Other side of Holy Office of Index"…She recalled that Balor's name appeared in…

Then…suddenly, she realized.

"…No…That's not…"

She recalled about this part perfectly now…Then, seeing Sophia's face when she told about it…she knew that she was right.

"…No…You don't tell me that…the person who came there…The person who came to slaughter everybody…that's Golvas you mean?"

That member was from far the most mysterious from all…and the one who looked like the most ominous to them…She recalled about the part where he smashed some dummies to release his anger…That part really showed how much he was a lot more dangerous than he already looked.

"…"

And this time… it looked like the dummies…were the apostles of Index that he had slaughtered now.

"Golvas…" she repeated, voiceless.

"That's from far the worst opponent that you could get…" Sophia added. "…after all, I don't think that taking Balor from him and bringing it there was a very good idea…"

This sentence was like a bomb to Elaine. What did she just say about?

"What? What did you…?"

"Yes…you perfectly understood me." Sophia nodded. "…If you didn't bring Balor there…nothing of this would have happened. And I guessed none of your comrades would have been hurt…"

"We…We didn't bring anything…" However she cut her sentence in. Another thought spared Elaine's mind…

The box…

"Do you mean…that the thing that we brought…that Fu gave us…was Balor you mean?" Elaine goggled, realizing the great mistake that they just did by bringing it back to Index…

"Hell if you don't bring Balor back"…

"Hell if you don't bring Balor back"…

Actually…That's what Sophia had said about.

Sophia had said about that Hell which could come sooner or later.

"You mean…" Elaine asked her, toneless. "…if we didn't come back…everything of this could have been spared?"

Sophia knew how much she looked ill at ease…and hurt as well. She could expect such a reaction from a human after all…but as a Witch, she thought that she couldn't understand human feelings from them actually.

Then she just nodded. "…You can only blame yourselves for what just happened. Fortunately as I just said earlier…it could have been worst for you. That's the reason why I told you that you should stay at home once it would be finished…You can guess that if Balor is taken away, Golvas would be never so far behind…"

"…Sophia…" Elaine tried to ask, taking her head into her hand. "…Tell me…will Golvas…will Golvas come back there? …Will Thule come back there?"

"…" Sophia seemed to be unsure and this time, Elaine guessed that she didn't make fun of her. Actually, she looked partially serious about her question. Then, at last she just said.

"…I could tell you what happened…but actually I don't know if he will or not. With Golvas…everything is unsure."

To these words, Sophia felt a kind of awkward feeling inside and…to be honest, she didn't expect to see Golvas again…and not in this kind of state.

How much time changed things…

Without saying anything else, she checked at the hour and thought the best way would be coming back to Index's department of researches now... and just checking a look on her personal servants' work. After all that's still her work…and it could allow her to know what Golvas's sick powers did to them. Now that she had fun enough, that murder scene sounded a bit wrong to her. Before leaving, she just gave a little look to Elaine, filled with mock and…kind of sympathy if she could say. However, Elaine didn't care and stayed alone, in front of the main door where everything of that happened.

…So…that's all of their faults?