That night, as the snow continued to fall, Team SHDE curled up in the kitchen in front of the lit oven to stay warm. Dahlia and Hunter cuddled under a large quilt they'd scavenged from upstairs and Ebony was curled up underneath Roy's outer coat. They had all nodded off a while ago, the heat from the oven hastening their descent into dreams.
Roy, however, was still awake, watching the snow drift down outside the window. He glanced at his scroll, the clock in the corner reading 10:38. He sighed and slipped the device back into the pocket of the light jacket he wore under his coat. The night seemed somehow darker, as if any external natural light had been extinguished.
The house was quiet and still around him, making the darkness that filled the nooks and crannies of the room much more pronounced. Somewhere, a lone cricket who had survived the cold chirped softly, performing a baleful duet with the soft hum of the refrigerator.
Roy shot a covert glance at Ebony as she slept. Her ponytail was draped over one shoulder and her delicate eyelashes looked especially dainty against the paleness of her skin. Roy quickly looking away, feeling his cheeks heat up as he blushed.
Roy's scroll suddenly buzzed in his pocket, causing him to jump slightly. Sliding the device out once more, he squinted at the vibrant screen to find that someone was calling him. Swiping the phone icon to answer, Roy turned the volume as low as he could and held the scroll close to his ear.
"Who is this?" he whispered.
"Roy?" Momo's voice answered, "Is that you?"
Roy quickly got up, careful not to disturb his teammates, and moved into the living room to continue the conversation.
"Momo? How did you get my number?" he asked.
"You gave it when you checked into your room. Never mind that, Where are you?"
Roy sighed, "I...can't tell you that."
Momo made an exasperated noise, "You'd better tell me something. Father Umber claimed that you framed Corvatts for the murder."
Roy blinked, "W-What?!" he exclaimed, "That's ridiculous!"
"Is it?" the accusatory tone in the barmaid's voice caused Roy to cringe slightly. "What am I supposed to think when you leave on such short notice?"
Roy pinched the bridge of his nose, trying his best to think. If he told Momo anything, he would be putting her in danger. He couldn't, in good conscience, do that to her.
"Things are complicated right now." he said lamely.
"Complicated how?" the barmaid said, clearly irritated.
"I can't tell you!" Roy said miserably.
"Why?" Momo cried, "Why can't you tell me?"
Roy looked skyward, begging the Gods for strength, "It's too dangerous Momo, you're better off not knowing."
There was a long period of silence before Momo spoke again. "That isn't your decision to make, but I'll trust you. Can you at least tell me if you're safe?"
Roy sighed, "We are. How's Sadie?"
Momo chuckled, "She's well, misses you something awful. When can I tell her you'll be back?"
Roy sank down onto the love seat with a sigh, "I don't know."
Another moment of silence passed. "Can I meet you somewhere tonight?" Momo asked, "...To talk?"
Roy cleared his throat awkwardly, "I don't know, I can't meet you in town and I don't want you to know where we are."
Momo was quiet for a moment, "What if I came to you?"
Roy chewed his lip, "The forest is teaming with grimm at this time of night."
Momo made an exasperated noise, "Damn you're right. Could you meet me halfway?"
The faunus considered the proposition, "I guess-"
"Great!" Momo exclaimed, cutting him off, "Meet me in the woods just behind the large storehouse on the west side of Ulmsted in 15 minutes."
Roy sighed, "I'll be there." he mumbled.
"Alrighty," the barmaid said, sounding quite pleased with herself, "I'll see you then!"
:
15 minutes later, Roy stood among the trees, waiting for the barmaid to appear. His hands were stuffed deep into his pockets and his breath rose in clouds of fog into the late night air. Roy's back was currently up against a large birch tree, the trunk between him and the town. He fidgeted slightly, the cold making his faunus ear tips ache slightly.
Suddenly, his ears picked up the sound of someone moving through the snow off to his right. Looking in the direction of the sound, Roy saw a figure wrapped in a gray cloak moving slowly away from Olmsted. Stepping out from under the tree, Roy crept toward the figure and stole up behind them. He reached out and firmly grasped the figure's shoulder, "Momo?"
The barmaid squeaked and spun around. Roy caught the gleam of a knife and lept backwards, narrowly avoiding the keen edge.
"It's me!" he exclaimed, holding his hands up defensively. Momo kept the knife pointed at him,
"Don't sneak up on me like that!" she cried, her voice shrill with panic.
Roy eyed the knife, "What were you hoping to do with that?" he asked, his eye brow rising slightly.
Momo, slid the knife back into a sheath on her belt, "Defend myself! What else? Ugh, my heart is beating a mile a minute."
Roy rubbed his neck sheepishly, "Sorry."
The barmaid sighed, "Don't apologize. I'm just glad you're safe." "
Roy cast a wary eye towards the shadowy buildings and well-lit windows of Olmsted, "Could we continue this away from town?" he asked.
Momo started walking farther into the woods, motioning Roy to follow, "Of course, come on."
The two of them walked for a while in silence, not speaking a word again until the last sign of Ulmsted had vanished into the trees. "So… Father Umber is lying, right?" Momo asked in a quiet voice.
Roy gave the barmaid a sidelong glance, "Of course he is! My team and I believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that Corvatts murdered Sadie's parents. He's just trying to discredit my team and I."
Momo's brow furrowed, "Why would Father Umber do that?"
Roy sighed, "I… can't tell you that."
Momo scowled at him, "What could you have done that would make Father Umber want to discredit you?"
Roy met her scowl with an even gaze, "I found out something I shouldn't have."
The barmaid's scowl deepened, "You can't tell me what that thing is, can you?"
Roy's faunus ears drooped and he looked away, shaking his head.
"Gods Dammit Roy!" Momo grabbed the collar of his coat and made him look her in the face again. "You don't need to protect me. I'm not a child!"
Roy looked up at her, his eyes blazing, "I do need to protect you! It's my job as a Huntsman!"
Momo released him and turned away, "And it's my job as your friend to help you," she said quietly, "How can I help you if you don't tell me the truth?"
Roy reached out to grasp Momo's shoulder. As he did, he felt a stabbing pain in his shoulder just above his shoulder blade. An exclamation of pain escaped him as he reached back and gripped the object protruding from shoulder. He pulled it free with a quick yank and held it up to inspect it.
The snow had stopped a while ago and the clouds had pulled back, allowing the moonlight to reflect off of a metal dart. The tip of the dart was crimson with his blood and the clear plastisteel center of the dart revealed a small amount of blue liquid. Roy's eyes suddenly lost focus and he staggered forward, dropping the dart in the snow as he did. His limbs felt like lead, his every movement feeling sluggish and his head dipped forward.
"Mo… mo?" he groaned as the vertigo finally drove him to all fours.
Momo seemed to move in slow motion as she turned, looking concerned at the sight of Roy on his hands and knees.
"Roy?"
her voice fought through the mist descending on Roy's senses. He struggled to reach out toward her, but his strength failed and he slid sideways until he was lying on his side in the snow. He felt Momo drop down beside him and grip his shoulder right before his world went black.
:
Roy came to on his knees, his arms held securely behind him by two people. His vision was full of worn and mossy flagstones and his head was pounding. He squeezed his eye shut and groaned as the pain peaked.
"Ah, you're awake, good." A voice spoke from somewhere in front of him.
Roy cracked his eye open again, "Ungh...where am I?" he asked.
"You're right where you need to be," the voice replied, "Courtesy of a very potent tranquilizer dart. Surprisingly cheap if you know where to look."
Roy looked up to see Father Umber standing on the square of stone at the center of the ancient ritual site. The reverend was wearing a long black robe with purple lining tied with a red cord. In one hand he held a dagger with a wavy blade, the keen edge gleaming wickedly in the light of the four braziers.
Roy struggled to shake off the lingering effects of the tranquilizer, "Whatever you're going to do, do it. Just let my team leave, please."
His gaze flashed around the ritual circle and spotted Black Orchid leaning against one of the standing stones, well out of his reach. Umber looked down at him coldly, "You're hardly in a position to negotiate. But, if you're promising to go along with this, I see no reason not to allow you this final request."
Roy glared at Umber, his blood boiling at the look of righteous smugness on the man's face, "Just get it over with already!" he snapped.
"Now now," Umber chided, "No need to be so bitter. We would've never caught you if it weren't for Miss Momo."
"Roy! I didn't know, I swear!"The barmaid's voice, shrill with panic, came from somewhere off to his left.
Craning his neck, Roy struggled to look over at where she was. Momo, like Roy, was held fast by two robed figures. Her cloak lay discarded off to the side and she was left in her normal Barmaid's attire.
"You should believe her. She never knew we had someone following her, hoping she would lead us to you." Umber said, walking over and gently cupping Momo's chin.
Roy struggled against his captors, "Let her go! She doesn't know anything. I didn't tell her, I swear!"
Umber nodded, "I believe you son, the look of confusion on her face when we captured you told me as much."
|Umber motioned to the two men holding Roy down and they lifted him by his arms, bringing him forward to kneel in front of Umber at the edge of the circular pit.
"Wait!" Momo cried, "What are you going to do to him?"
The reverend shot her a disdainful glance, "I don't have to explain anything. But his blood will bring about a series of events that will put this world back into its proper order."
Umber slowly placed the dagger against Roy's throat, the steel cold against his skin. Roy gritted his teeth and closed his eye, waiting for the knife to slice into his flesh.
"STOP!" Momo's voice cut through the air once more. "Please let him go! I'll...I'll take his place."
The knife disappeared from Roy's throat and the faunus opened his eye to see Umber pointing it at the barmaid. "One more word from you and I'll have you gagged. This ritual requires the blood of a faunus and you are not a faunus."
Momo bowed her head, "I am a faunus."
The declaration hung on the air, the words drifting away on the north wind that rattled through the burnt trees. Umber's eyebrow rose and he shifted his grip on the knife.
"Prove it." he ordered.
The two men holding Momo let go and she reached behind, unlacing the top of her skirt. From the small opening, a fluffy, red panda tail emerged and waved proudly behind the barmaid. Roy's eyes widened as he watched the tail sway gracefully and Momo gave him an apologetic smile, "I'm sorry you had to find out this way, I was going to tell you."
Umber walked toward the barmaid and came to a stop in front of her, looking down to lock his hazel eyes with her maroon ones. "You will die in his place and it will be painful, are you still willing?" he asked.
"NO!" Roy shouted, straining against the two men holding him back, "Momo don't do this, not for me!"
Momo's eyes grew misty with tears, "I am." she answered Umber, wiping at her eyes with her hand. She was scared, it was plain to see.
Why is she doing this? I can't let her. I won't let her!
Roy thought, fighting desperately against his captors. This is wrong, She can't!... "No! I won't let you!" he cried, finally managing to get one of his legs under him.
The two men who had been holding Momo leapt to help their fellows drag Roy away from the circular pit. He fought tooth and nail, putting all he had in his bid for freedom. He gave one good wrench and felt his shoulder pop from its socket. Roy cried out and went limp as an intense pain blossom in his arm; a horrible burning sensation that made fighting excruciating.
He watched in horror as Umber lead Momo to the edge of the pit. The reverend said something to the barmaid that Roy couldn't hear and she nodded, tears running down her face.
"Momo!" he screamed, struggling despite the horrible pain in his arm.
The barmaid turned and offered him a tearful smile, "It's okay...you're worth it." She turned to Umber, "I'm ready."
Umber nodded and raised the knife toward the stars. "With this blood we summon you, our master to this tainted world!" With that, Umber swung the knife across the barmaid's tender throat.
Roy often counted his heightened senses as a blessing, but at that moment he would've given anything to be without them.
His ears, hearing the gut wrenching sound of the knife slicing into Momo's flesh and the soft gasp she let out as her hand flew to the wound.
His nose, filling with the scent of her blood as it gushed through her fingers as she desperately tried to keep her life from draining away.
His eye, watching all of this as though it were clear as day. The blood staining the barmaid's clothing. The pained look on her face, tinged with fear. The way she slid to her knees, then slowly slid sideways as her strength dripped through her fingers. Roy heard a ragged guttural cry, more animal than human tear itself from his throat.
He struggled wildly, fighting like a wild animal that had been corned, trying once more to get free. He had to reach her; if he could just get to her she would be okay.
Umber, still holding the bloody knife, motioned to the men holding Roy, "Let him up, nothing can stop this now."
Roy felt the weight vanish from his arms and he staggered to his feet and lurched toward Momo's still form. Tears blurred his vision as he dropped to his knees beside her and gathered her into his uninjured arm. The barmaid stirred feebly, her hand rising to gently touch his cheek. The light in her eyes died with a flicker and her arm dropped down as her final breath left her.
"I… I…" Roy choked on his words, the lump in his throat preventing him from speaking. The tears finally spilled over and dripped slowly down his cheek. He reached over and gently closed Momo's eyes, using his sleeve to wipe some of the blood from her face.
"Do not weep for her." Umber's voice came from behind him, "She has served a glorious purpose."
Roy lifted Momo slightly as he turned to face Umber. The flickering embers of his despair flared into a white hot rage that burned him from the inside out.
"You…" he snarled, clutching the barmaid's body to his chest, "You!" His aura felt like it was on fire, his eye glowing blue in the dark of the ritual site. "You're DEAD!" he yelled, the final word shouted with such intensity that his throat burned and his voice broke.
What felt like a gust of wind suddenly erupted from the circular pit behind him, causing Momo's dress to flutter in the rush of air. The air suddenly became full of a rotten, dead sort of smell and an odd chittering noise came from behind him.
Umber's face blanched and he looked over Roy's head at whatever had emerged from the pit. Roy didn't care what was behind him, he only had eyes for Umber. He wanted the human to suffer; he wanted him to die screaming.
A shrieking cry split the air, causing Roy's ears to flatten to his skull and bloody tears to mix with his own tears on his face. Umber fell to his knees, directing the four other men to do the same, and raised his arms toward the thing. "Oh great Calamity! You have graced us with your presence! Go forth and deliver your-"
He never finished. A hand the size of Roy's head shot forward and grabbed Umber by the throat, dragging him forward. The hand held the reverend aloft, his legs dangling a few feet from where Roy was sitting. Roy looked up and watched the man struggle to breath as the hand tightened around his throat,
"N-no" Umber rasped, "Kill the impostors!"
The creature broke Umber's neck with a quick twist of its wrist. As it dropped the reverend's body like a broken doll, two other hands flashed out from behind Roy and raced toward the other robed men. They cried out in fear, scrambling backwards as the taloned fingers reached for them.
One hand punched through one of the men, splattering his fellows with a fine mist of blood. The other hand grasped another man around his head and crushed his skull like an egg. The two remaining men fled screaming into the woods and the creature leapt over Roy as if to give chase.
It must have thought better of it, because a second later, the beast's taloned feet entered his view. Roy slowly allowed his eyes to travel up the creature, taking in every terrifying detail.
It was humanoid in shape, but was larger than any man Roy had ever seen. It had four arms protruding from its deceptively malnourished looking torso. Each arm ended in four fingered hands, each finger tipped with razor sharp talons. It had a vulture's head with a cruel curved beat that made a harsh clacking noise as it opened and closed.
The creature's eyes blazed, glowing brighter than the markings on its bone mask. A smell, akin to rotting flesh, emanated from the creature, stinging Roy's nostrils and causing his eyes to water. It opened its beak, revealing a glowing maw, and shrieked into the faunus's face, causing Roy to shrink away as bloody tears cascaded down his face.
The grimm raised one of its hands, preparing to bring it down and kill the faunus kneeling before it. Roy gripped Momo's body closer to him and gazed defiantly up at the creature, determined to meet his end looking his killer in the eye.
A human cry rang out and Hunter suddenly slammed bodily into the grimm, knocking it away from his teammate. Someone stepped in front of Roy and he looked up to see Ebony standing there, between him and the creature. Dahlia sprang up next to Hunter, Comodia and Tragoedia twirling deftly in her hands.
"Get away from him!" She yelled at the grimm.
It shrieked again, obviously upset at being denied its prey. Ebony faltered slightly as the cry affected her, but remained standing tall. Hunter, the closest to the grimm, shot Roy a concerned glance. It only took a second, but that was all the creature needed to find an opening.
It pounced, swinging out with its fist and caught the taller boy in the chest. Hunter was tossed backwards like a rag doll, bouncing painfully across the ground before one of the standing stones arrested his momentum. Dahlia let out a cry of rage and darted past the creature, launching herself onto its back.
She sank her weapons up to their hilts into the grimm's flesh and pulled the triggers sending several dust rounds slamming into the creature's back. It shrieked in pain, twisting furiously to dislodge the tiny huntress. Dahlia held on as long as she could, but in the end it wasn't her grip that gave out.
It was her weapons that slowly but surely slid out of the creature's back, causing Dahlia to be thrown into one of the standing stones where she slid down to the ground and lay motionless in the grass.
Ebony stayed where she was and twirled Archimedes, sending a ball of fire slamming into the creature's back. It shrieked as the flesh on its back bubbled and blistered as the attack did its work. Swatting at the flames dancing along its shoulders, the grimm turned and vanished like a specter into the surrounding woods.
Ebony dropped to her knees in front of Roy, shaking like a leaf and breathing hard. She dropped Archimedes and clasped his face in her hands, "We got here as fast as we could!-" Her words died on her lips as she realized what Roy was holding. "Oh Roy… Oh Gods, Momo… Why was she here?"
Roy wanted to tell her, wanted to say something...but the words never came.
Dahlia staggered over and dropped to one knee beside them with a groan, "Ugh, I think I have a concussion… The-" Her eyes focused on Momo's still form in Roy's arms. "W-what's wrong with Momo?" she stammered, "She's… She's just unconscious… right?"
Ebony blinked back tears and shook her head, "No Lia… Momo's gone."
Dahlia's eyes widened and she looked at Momo's body. "But… But she was… we just saw her…" She leaned over and gently shook the barmaid's arm, "Come on Momo, wake up…"
Hunter limped over and took the scene in a glance. Kneeling down next to Dahlia, he grasped her shoulder and gently pulled her away from Momo's body. Dahlia looked at him forlornly, as if pleading with him to help her...then her eyes slowly filled with tears and she buried her face in his chest.
Ebony wiped her eyes with the heel of her hand, dashing away the tears that sprang up. Roy didn't move, he simply clutched Momo's body closer to his body and allowed his head to sink down until his chin touched his chest. His arm throbbed painfully, but he ignored it; content to just sit and let himself sink into the depths of despair.
Wow...I don't really have much to say here. Thanks for reading.
Until next we meet,
Ar3mRising.