….
The train came to a screeching halt as it reached the station. Allen followed a rather stiff looking Cross off the train and Belle hopped off shortly after. The former St Monica student had been filled in on what had happened after she had fell unconscious but both he and Cross had left out a few minor details.
The ghostly woman, whom Allen had found out was called Merideth, was completely left out of their explanation. As usual Cross wasn't willing to talk further and instead, called the school as soon as they had gotten back to the hotel. To their worst fears, there came no reply except that the phone number was unavailable.
As they rushed down the street, police vehicles had clearly barricaded one half of the entire town. Reporters and cameramen were bustling at the edge taking in the damaged building and debris that scattered beyond the yellow tape.
'The fuck…?' Allen couldn't help but utter in disbeilef as he and Belle followed Cross to one of the policeman standing guard.
'We're from the school…' Cross grumbled in a low voice and it seemed that was all the authority he needed as the policemen allowed them to pass. Either that or the emblem on Allen and Belle's uniform was all they needed to see.
A distant shout from a reporter got some unwanted attention towards them but the policemen were roughly shoving them back. Allen promptly ignored them as two men in yellow hazard jackets and white hard hats past them carrying a black bag between them. He didn't need any help to know what was possibly inside.
Belle whimpered and stared ahead at the twisted metal that had once been the Academy's front gate. Allen couldn't help as his mouth fell open at the sight of the school.
To be frank, there was nothing to look at in the first place except for crumpled slabs of concrete and broken glass. Pitched up outside the flattened building blue tents were erected with people bustling in and out. Amongst the rubble, more men in yellow hazard jackets were searching for any more survivors.
Belle was the first to move as she raced forward hoping to see familiar faces somewhere amongst the tents. Allen was close behind her but stopped short when a hand grabbed his shoulder, holding him back. He went to glare at the person who was holding him back.
'I wouldn't if I were you,' Allen couldn't help but frown at the man, his head was thickly bound with bandages and turfs of blonde hair poked through.
'Is that you Reever…? What the hell happened here?' Reever shook his head sorrowfully and glanced up to see Belle being assisted back to them by a nurse.
'Even I'm not so sure… one moment I'm yelling at Komui to do some work, the next thing I knew I was a metre under rubble,' the scientist groaned as his hand touched his head lightly. Allen couldn't help but grimace at the action.
'It was the Noah, wasn't it?' Reever sighed but nodded in agreement.
'That is one hypothesis…'
'Brother! Where is he...? BROTHER!' A voice called out from the mangled gate and Allen didn't need to look back to see who it was. Black hair with a hint of green blurred past his vision as Allen quickly reached out and grabbed onto its owner.
'Lenalee wait…' the Chinese girl seemed rather furious that he had stopped her as she struggled against his grip. She seemed worst for wear like the both of them so there was no doubt in Allen's mind that her assignment ran into some trouble as well.
'B-but my brother… where is my brother?' Lenalee said anxiously as she gazed amongst the nurses and injured personnel. Allen merely shrugged at her, he had barely been there for a few minutes and he still wasn't sure about it.
'Lenalee!' Fortunately enough, Komui stepped out from one of the tents, his right arm bound in a sling and his head wrapped in bandages. Allen could see the tears spring to Lenalee's eyes as she rushed forward.
'Brother!' She wrapped her arms around the deputy principle sobbing loudly. Allen raised his eyebrow in slight curiosity, this would be the first time he had ever seen Lenalee accept her brother's affection.
'And the mushiness begins…' someone breathed across the back of his neck causing him to jump. Allen glared daggers at the redhead whom chuckled lowly. Despite her dark mirth she seemed rather relieved which was strange, particularly for her.
'Do you have to do that Phoenix?' Allen hissed at her as she rolled her eyes before he registered Jesse behind her.
'Blimey this place is a mess, fucking bastards did a good number on us huh?' Jesse exclaimed bitterly. Allen nodded slowly as he noticed Kanda and Lavi join them, each sporting some sort of injury.
'The school is beyond repair and many are still missing,' Komui spoke up as he loosened his hold on his little sister but kept a firm hand on her shoulder.
'Don't tell me we have to fucking go back there?' Kanda snarled as Allen noticed his grip on mugen tighten till the Japanese teenager's knuckles turned white. Komui opened his mouth to speak but someone else beat him to it.
'We don't have a choice in the matter,' the mature reply came from none other than Limina who was closely followed by Timothy. Kanda silently cursed under his breath while Allen was drawing a blank.
'What are you guys talking about?' He couldn't help but feel curious.
'Before the Academy opened, there was another base of operation where we left for assignments…' Lenalee began though with each word she spoke, she seemed to grow nervous.
'Yeah, it's some miserable place isolated in the mountains but after that Fallen incident, Komui literally begged the higher ups for a separate facility for those under aged,'
'You don't have to be so blunt Phoenix,' Lenalee grumbled, her damp eyes narrowing at the redheaded female.
'Oh please… I wasn't the one about to cry again,' Phoenix snickered back sarcastically before Komui coughed and the girls settled down for the time being.
'We didn't have many exorcists back then and the Fallen incident didn't exactly help in the matter,' he sternly reminded them though Allen was still completely lost. Fallen incident… now he couldn't help but be curious about that.
'So what happened?' Allen decided to ask out right gaining a few nervous glances from Komui, Reever and Lenalee. Phoenix however, didn't seem so disturbed.
'Well you see sprout-'
'Not another word Miss Hills,' the harsh words were demanded as the redheaded girl glowered and folded her arms across her chest.
'What do we owe the pleasure snake?' She hissed with annoyance earning a rather disapproved frown from the vile man Allen had come to loathe more than Cross. It was about then that he noticed the presence of someone he had never seen before.
The newcomer was older than him, maybe by about three-four years, with blonde hair pulled back in a low plait. He also wore some sort of uniform that looked similar to military.
'Komui, may I remind you of who is in charge here. You specifically went against my orders and sent Allen Walker out on an assignment,' Rouvelier's eyes narrowed as he completely ignored Phoenix who looked close to scorching him alive. But she was promptly held back by Jesse.
'Belle was going on her first assignment without the sufficient training and Allen was the only available exorcist at the time to accompany her,' Komui replied, matching the principle's gaze with equal calmness.
'Hmph, I'm going to let this incident slide for the time being. Furthermore, because of this little stunt by the Earl, we'll be returning back to Central to regroup,' Allen frowned as a dark look dashed across Komui's face before disappearing. He was left to wonder about how much Rouvelier's words disturbed the usually eccentric man.
'Well I suppose it's about time to see my mum anyway…' Allen turned to look at Phoenix. Her muttering seemed awfully painful before she turned her back to them and walked away. His frown deepened as he looked to Komui for a proper explanation. But it looked like it would take a while before it actually came.
….
It wasn't long after that he and the others were hassled onto a waiting bus and sent off to God knows where. Allen just sighed as he gazed out the misted windows, watching the forest scenery blur past. This whole thing just grinded his gears with that doubtful feeling that Rouvelier was treating them all like precious cargo than actual human beings!
His thoughts were then perpetually disturbed when someone prodded him in the back, hard.
'Ow! What the hell was that for?' Allen demanded as he glared at the person who had taken up residence behind him. Phoenix just giggled and flicked his forehead. Allen couldn't help but boil with rage. He had no idea why she was bothering him all of a sudden.
'What do you want?' He asked again as Phoenix leaned against the back of his chair with a grin that rivaled the Cheshire cat.
'Ya curious about Central right?' Allen cringed under her gaze. Yes, he definitely was a good while ago but now he was positively disturbed. Her head tilted slightly before another mop of red hair appeared behind her.
'What are you guys talking about?' Phoenix visibly groaned, her smile falling from her lips and was replaced by an irritated frown.
'Go and annoy Kanda, baka usagi,' with that, Phoenix kicked him out of her booth. There was a loud thud and everyone glanced over the seats to see what was going on.
'Aw~ don't be so mean Phoenix, Yuu looks like his about to kill someone,' Allen raised his eyebrows.
'When doesn't he ever look like that?' he murmured eyeing the Japanese teen seated at the very back of the bus. There was a slight twitch to Kanda's brows and Allen wondered if he could hear them.
'I suppose moyashi has a point,' Phoenix said with yet another tilt of her head.
'It's Allen!' Allen shouted at the fiery girl who simply smiled.
'Central is that miserable place in the mountains, it was the main centre of operation for exorcists,' he couldn't help but blink at Phoenix whom begun rambling about something entirely irrelevant. But Allen frowned as he realized that she was explaining this Central place.
'Was meaning it isn't anymore?' Lavi seemed to have a similar thought as Phoenix fell back into her seat and gazed the window.
'No it still is, but younger exorcists or those under the age of nineteen went to Our Sacred Heart Academy after the Fallen incident,'
'What kind of place is it?'
'It's a place full of fucked up people with their idiotic ideals,' a snarl came from the back of the bus and Allen eyes fell on Kanda. Lavi was right, Kanda looked like he was about to murder someone right there and now. He couldn't help but wondered what had really ticked off the wannabe-samurai.
'This fallen incident… what happened?' Something flickered across Phoenix's eyes, something akin to fear.
'It happened six years ago, an exorcist returned from an assignment unable to re-synchronize with their innocence. At first, those who were working around him didn't sense the threat until it was too late,' Allen had never seen Phoenix so serious before. Often the redhead would muck around making a mess of things but the Fallen incident seemed to have left some really deep scars.
'Allen, a Fallen is a person who failed in the eyes of God, no one is safe from His punishment not even an exorcist…' Lenalee had spoken up and was walking up the aisle towards them. Her eyes wavered sadly.
'Suman had betrayed our location to the enemy and while we were dealing with his Fallen form, the Noah attacked with an army of akuma… and Kanda…'
'Enough! We are here,' Kanda shouted from the back of the bus as Allen glanced out the window.
Barely visible amongst the greenery, a building stood out like an eyesore. Allen knew instantly that he wasn't going to like this place at all.
….
Phew~ took a while but I have finally finished this chapter! I had one idea but then scrapped it, when this other came to mind and it seemed to fit perfectly with what I've got planned…
Hope you enjoyed this and please leave a REVIEW!
