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Chapter XXI

Passing

This is the water, and this is the well.

Drink deep and descend.

The horse is the white of the eyes,

Darkness within.

Nicholas Arc woke from a nightmare- a crowd of large creatures wearing the skins of men were invading a building and killing everyone inside, taking it over to use it for their own nefarious ends. Those words rang out in his mind, spoken in an unpleasant, gravelly voice, rasping out from the depths of Hell.

Something was wrong- even in the waking world, he sensed that something was wrong. He rose to his feet, but found it difficult to stand. He had barely made it to the hall before collapsing onto his hands and knees- struggling, he clawed his way across the carpet towards the stairs.

This is the water, and this is the well.

Drink deep and descend.

The horse is the white of the eyes,

Darkness within.

"N...Nichole," he gasped out as he reached the bottom of the stairs, crying for any help he might receive.

There was no sign of his wife- all he could hear was the ticking of a clock and the overhead spinning of a ceiling fan.

He reached the bottom of the stairs and clawed his way into the living room, looking up at the window.

A large figure appeared before him- a magnificent white horse, standing in the room's middle. It snorted and chuffed for a moment, before vanishing.

This is the water, and this is the well.

Drink deep and descend.

The horse is the white of the eyes,

Darkness within.

Finally, he passed out, never seeing his wife in the bathroom, examining herself in the mirror.

Tears fell from her eyes, her body raked with sobs. "Please... no... don't do this... don't make me do this..."

She looked up into the mirror, and saw her reflection change. The tear-stained crystal blue eyes turned a cruel amber. Her short white hair grew longer, a burned charcoal-black. The suit she wore gave way to a crimson dress, as her pleading lips curled upwards in a cruel smile.

While Nichole remained in the real world, the reflection showed the truth.

Cinder cackled in glee, producing a scroll and taking it into the living room. She briefly relocated Nicholas Arc's body- it would only get in the way. Finally, she set the scroll up, and it began to sing.

Iiiiiit's nooooot easy having yourself a good time!

Greasing up those bets and betters, watching out they don't four letters-

Fuck and kiss you both at the same time!

Smells like something I've forgotten, curled up, died, and now it's rotten.

She heard footsteps above, and heard the sleepy voice of Jacob Arc. "What's going on?" he yawned. "What's with the music?"

He froze on the stairs, seeing into the kitchen where Nicholas Arc's unconscious form had been laid over the table. An acrid smell met his nostrils as he hurried into the living room. "Aunt Nichole! Aunt Nichole, there's something wrong with Uncle Nick! And I- I smell something burning! Aunt Ni-"

He faltered when he entered the living room to see Cinder there, grinning at him wickedly. He saw her as she really was for only a brief moment, before he blinked and saw Nichole standing there, holding the same cruel expression.

I'm not a gangster tonight! Don't wanna be a bad guy!

I'm just a loner, baby, but now you've got in my way!

Cinder struck as the song reached it's chorus.

I can't decide whether you should live or die!

You'll probably go to Heaven, please don't hang your head and cry!

No wonder why-

My heart feels dead inside!

Cold and hard and petrified!

Lock the doors and close the blinds, we're going for a ride!

Jacob dashed to the front door- Cinder caught up and pulled him violently away, tossing him back into the living room, smashing his head against the fireplace. He struggled back to his feet and moved to the windows- he moved slowly through his daze, and his heart dropped when he found them fastened as well.

It's a bitch convincing people to like you!

If I stop now, call me a quitter. If lies were cats, you'd be a litter.

Pleasing everyone isn't like you!

Dance a jig until I'm crippled. Slug ten drinks, I won't get pickled.

Jacob moved towards the kitchen, but Cinder cut him off and tossed him over the furniture, upending a sofa. She grabbed a chair as she approached him and began bludgeoning him with it.

I've got to hand it to you! You played by all the same rules!

It takes the truth to fool me, and now you've made me angry!

Jacob struggled to get back to his feet, but was unable to do so before Cinder forcibly picked him up and- pulled him into a tight, sobbing hug.

"Jaune, my boy! Jauney, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry!"

He opened his eyes and found Nichole had returned, weeping openly as she kept her arms around him, turning him around in some odd dance.

He blinked, and Cinder had returned- the hug was replaced by a forced, aggressive kiss. She bit furiously at his lips, his chin, his neck, her nails digging into his back as she moved her crotch hungrily against his. He kept screaming the whole time,

I can't decide whether you should live or die!

You'll probably go to Heaven, please don't hang your head and cry!

No wonder why-

My heart feels dead inside!

Cold and hard and petrified!

Lock the doors and close the blinds, we're going for a ride!

As they kept turning, and Jacob kept struggling, a battle for control seemed to be waged between Cinder and Nichole. When Nichole was in control, she pulled him in, sobbing into his chest in a tight hug. Then her hair turned dark, and she continued her digging, biting, and grinding. He fought with everything he had, but was unable to escape eitheer grasp.

Oh, I could throw you in the lake, or feed you poisoned birthday cake!

I won't deny I'm gonna miss you when you're gone!

Oh, I could bury you alive, but you might crawl out with a knife,

and kill me when I'm sleeping, that's why-

The grip moved to his shoulders, pushing him away slightly. He turned his tearstained face to see the form of Nichole Arc- still wearing the dark grin of Cinder.

"Nichole says... you're going back... TO ARGUS!"

Viciously, she smashed his head against the wall. Once. Twice. Thrice. And a fourth time for good measure.

Jacob Arc fell to the ground, and moved no more.

Cinder straightened up, and began cleaning up the room without a care in the world, absentmindedly humming along to the remainder of the song.

I can't decide whether you should live or die!

You'll probably go to Heaven, please don't hang your head and cry!

No wonder why-

My heart feels dead inside!

Cold and hard and petrified!

Lock the doors and close the blinds, we're going for a ride!

XXXX

The next morning dawned- Nicholas had been returned to his bed, the living room had been cleaned up, and Jacob's body had been stuffed into a duffel bag in the closet. Cinder broke out some golf clubs and began knocking them about the room. She was amused to see Sun and Pyrrha arive- she expertly gave them the runaround, driving them back out the door.

She picked up the duffle bag and loaded it into the back of Nichole's car, pulling out and making her way down the driveway.

She hadn't gotten too far when she began to feel fain. Nichole was coming back. Alright, she could handle a brief delay...

She resurfaced to find herself in the Austin Hotel, conversing with those meddlers, Ruby Rose and Yang Xiao Long. What distress had caused Nichole to lose control? Digging around a bit in her memories, she had just been informed that Corsac Albain had not killed her boy- rather, it had been Willow Schnee. Cinder fought down a smirk, taking a deep breath. "...The law will handle this."

"That we will," Xiao Long 'assured' her, clapping a hand on her shoulder.

"Thank you... for telling me," Cinder offered before making her way to the exit. The feelings of excitement and victory were so strong she had to hold out an arm to steady herself.

She grasped the golf club tightly in her hand as she entered the hallway. Her laughs might easily be mistaken for sobs to the oblivious onlooker- likely due to Nichole's genuine despair.

"Nichole?"

Cinder turned to find Ruby Rose, the queen meddler, standing there, looking concerned.

"Y-yes?" she asked, continuing her facade of pain.

"Do you remember anything odd about Willow around the time that Jaune died?"

"I... not right now." She hadn't been prepared for that question. Nevertheless, the more suspicious they found Willow... "But... don't worry. If I... remember anything... you'll be the first to know..."

"Thanks."

Ruby turned back and headed towards her sister. Cinder smirked, ensuring that she was on her own before beginning to dance with her club. Everything was going her way...

XXXX

Though, perhaps she should have been more cautious after all. In her excitement, she hadn't been paying attention to the usual rules and regulations of the road- not until she heard Rose and Xiao Long turn on their sirens. She sighed as she pulled over. She loathed having to play nice amongst these creatures, but what else could she do?

"Yang- Ms. Rose- I'm so sorry. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, we're fine," Xiao Long 'assured' her, "we were more concerned about you."

Fools. "Oh, I'm fine. Just fine. I was on my way to the golf course. I've been meaning to go all day, I just kept getting held up. I started thinking about Willow, and... lost my focus. I'm very sorry."

"No better time to practice some zen than when you're behind the wheel," Rose offered.

It took everything Cinder had not to say something biting back. "True- you're absolutely right." She took a moment to snap her fingers. "Oh! But it is a good thing I ran into you, Ms. Rose- I remembered something! About the night that... the night Jaune died! I was working late that night- with Jacques. He had to leave the room to take a call from Willow- I didn't hear most of it, but it causes some sort of distress between them. Their voices were raised- they were angry. All I could make out was... something about a... journey?"

"You mean journal?" Xiao Long speculated.

"That could be it," Cinder agreed.

Then, a godsend. Xiao Long had to take a call, leaving Cinder alone with the largest thorn in her side. She despised this girl. Perhaps this was her chance- kill her now, perhaps Xiao Long, too. It didn't matter if she got found out anymore- everything was ruined. It was already time to go back to the drawing board.

"So, Ms. Rose- do you play golf?"

"I've played a few rounds- can't say I'm too good at it."

"What do you say to playing a round or two with me some day?" Cinder 'offered,' climbing out of her car. "Here, I'll even show you my new clubs!"

"Er... sure," Ruby shrugged. Cinder's heart began to race in anticipation. She couldn't exactly pull out her scroll right now, but she could hum the song to herself.

I can't decide whether you should live or die!

You'll probably go to Heaven, please don't-

Just as she reached out for the trunk, Ruby spoke up again. "Nichole? You take care of a lot of the Schnees' affairs, right?"

Cinder groaned internally. Was there no end to this girl's annoyance? "That I do."

"Have they ever done a deal with... a woman named Sally?"

Cinder's heart stopped. Her eyes widened. She struggled not to appear too interested. "Sally? No... can't say I've ever met anyone like that."

This changed things- she couldn't kill Rose- not now. This was an opportunity she hadn't expected to encounter for another few years, at least...

Before she could turn Rose's interrogation around, Xiao Long ruined everything. "Ruby! They found Torchwick by the waterfall!"

"Right! Sorry, Nichole- I'll have to see the clubs another time!"

"Oh, of course." Cindre fought down her disappointment. "And of course, if there's anything I can do to help..."

XXXX

Dropping the corpse into the Haven River... putting up with that Wukong boy... getting cheated out of another victim... summoned to the Crow Bar... They found Willow guilty, only to throw her into the interrogation room instead...

XXXX

"N...Nichole?" Willow asked, her eyes wide as her lawyer- one of the few people out there whom she might grant the label of friend- seemed to transform into a beast, attacking the room's walls as if she had claws.

"No, that's not Nichole," Ruby grimaced.

"How did you know?" Winter demanded as Fox herded Willow away.

"Jaune told me... in a dream."

"That's all well and good," Winter scoffed, "but I think the courts will need a little more evidence than 'I dreamed it.'"

"How about a confession?" Ruby offered, crossing her arms.

XXXX

They waited for Nichole to tire herself out before entering- Fox quickly slapped some handcuffs on her and tied her to the chair. He straightened up and kept his gun pointed at her for the remainder of the interrogation.

Yang read her her rights. "You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you."

Nichole cackled in sick glee as they all stared at her. "I suppose you're gonna want to ask her some questions, huh?"

Ruby got right to the point. "Did you kill Jaune Arc?"

Nichole raised her head and screamed to the heavens- not in fear, pain, or suffering- it sounded more like... ecstasy. She then returned to a straight face. "That's yes."

"Jacob Arc and Ilia Amitola?"

"What do you think?"

"It doesn't matter what I think- I'm asking you."

"Well, ain't that a bummer? I guess I kinda did. Took hours to clean the blood off the walls. I used an axe for Ilia, though. Knives for Jaune- I like knives. Kinda reminds you of Hope's Peak, doesn't it, Rose?"

Ruby stepped back.

"Oh, Nichole," the woman in the chair sighed, glancing at her hands. "Nicky, Nicky, Nichole. I've enjoyed you- you're probably my favorite vessel yet. Unfortunately, you've grown weak... full of holes. It's about time I moved along, I think."

Ruby spoke up again. "So... Cinder... does Nichole know what you've done?"

"Nichole's a fool," Cinder laughed. "There's a large hole in her brain where her conscience used to be. When I go, I'll cut the last cord tethering her to life. You can watch her go... but not for long."

She raised her head to the skies and continued letting out those screams of ecstasy.

Yang took a deep breath. "Okay... I've heard enough."

She opened the door, and they filed out one by one.

XXXX

It was still raining when Neptune arrived at the police station, explaining the numerous umbrellas beneath which he was hiding. "Nora? I thought... you didn't want to see me anymore?"

Nora sighed. "Come with me, wouldja?"

He still seemed confused, but obeyed, following her into a conference room, where he sat next to Ren, Nora opposite them.

"Okay," she began. "Here's the deal- I'm keeping the baby."

"Are you s-" Neptune started, but Nora cut him off.

"WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT, NEPTUNE! THE BABY STAYS!"

Neptune raised his hands in instant surrender.

Ren had been on the verge of admonishing him, but decided Nora had done a good enough job on her own. Neptune reached into a pocket and pulled out a cigarette and a lighter- presumably to calm himself as Nora did the same.

"There's only one way to handle this," Nora continued. "A blood test to figure out the type of the father. Maybe Neptune... maybe Renny. They can't actually do the test until after the baby's born, so until then, I need you both to work with me."

"Of course," Ren nodded.

"Whatever you say," Neptune agreed. "I mean, it's your baby."

"Damn right!" Nora crossed her arms, looking proud of herself.

All three remained oblivious as the smoke from the cigarette wound its way towards the smoke alarms.

XXXX

"The answer was right there from the start!" Ruby raved outside the interrogation room. "All the clues were leading to this- even the midget! She danced in my dream- just like Nichole started dancing after the murder! Her hair was two colors, just like Nichole's hair changed color after Corsac's murder!"

"And the letters..." Winter nodded.

"Spelling out 'Cinder' backwards- a signature on a demon's self-portrait."

"Then... what's the motive?" Yang wondered. "Why kill Jaune?"

"He was writing about her in his journal. She knew he was onto her- that's why he ripped out so many pages. Nichole was the woman at Corsac's cabin- she took advantage of Jaune and Scarlet's weakened states to drag them to the train car. It was her blood we found, not Willow's."

"And Jacob?"

"...He reminded her of Jaune. Jacob had just announced he was going back home- Nichole couldn't stand it, Cinder wanted to relive the experience. Put 'em together, you've got a bad picture."

"Yeah... about 'Cinder,'" Yang pressed. "You said there is no Cinder, right? She can't actually exist- this is just a bad case of DID, right?"

Nichole's voice rang out from the room, drawing everyone's attention.

"THROUGH THE DARKNESS OF FUTURE PAST!

THE MAGICIAN LONGS TO SEE!

ONE CHANTS OUT BETWEEN TWO WORLDS-

FIRE! WALK WITH ME!

"I'LL CATCH YOU IN MY DEATH BAG! YOU MAY THINK I'VE GONE INSANE! PERHAPS I HAVE, BUT I PROMISE THIS! I WILL KILL AGAIN!"

"The hell she will," Yang muttered, leading everyone away.

They had yet to turn a corner when the smoke alarms went off, and right on cue, off went the sprinklers. Ruby looked around in surprise, as, from within the interrogation room, Nichole's screams turned from ecstasy to agony. Ruby looked through the window, and her eyes widened when she saw a woman in a red dress, burnt black hair, and amber eyes, screaming in pain as the water poured down on her.

"YANG!"

Before Yang could make it back, Cinder had torn the ropes binding her and rushed at the door, smacking her head against it again and again, holding nothing back.

"YANG, HURRY!"

"FOX, THE KEY!"

Fox arrived swiftly, but dropped the keys, fumbling to pick them back up.

"NICHOLE!" Ruby called out desperately. "Nichole, hang in there!"

Yang finally bent down and got the keys, going through them quickly in search for the real one, as Cinder continued smashing her head against the door.

Finally, the door swung open- Nichole lay on her back in the middle of the floor, her forehead dented and bloody- perfectly matching the blood on the door.

They all rushed in- Fox, Winter, and Yang watched as Ruby gently lifted Nichole's head and cradled it in her arms.

Water was beginning to build on the floor- she was kneeling in a clear inch of it, but paid no mind. "Fox, and ambulance!"

Fox nodded and dashed back out.

Nichole's eyes widened, and absolute horror was clear within them. "Oh, God! Jaune! I... I killed him! My God, I killed my precious boy! I didn't know! Jaune, please forgive me! Forgive me!"

Tears were leaking from Nichole's eyes, only to be swiftly washed away.

"Oh, God!"

"It's okay... it's alright."

"No! No, it's not! I was just a little girl- I saw her in my dreams! She said she wanted to play! She opened me up- I invited her in, and she came inside me! When she was inside... I didn't know! When she left, I couldn't remember! She made me do things- horrible things! She said she wanted lives- others! Others she could use the way she used me!" She broke down into sobs.

"And... she wanted Jaune?"

"Jaune- she wanted Jaune!" Nichole nodded heavily. "She wanted him so much, but he was strong! He fought her! Wouldn't let her in! Oh, God! She made me kill that girl, Ilia! And she said... she said... if I didn't give her Jaune, she'd make me kill him, too!"

"But he never let her in?"

"He said he'd die before he let her in... and she did! She made me kill him! God, have mercy on me! What have I done?! What have I done?! I loved him- oh, God, I loved him with all my heart! My angel, forgive me!"

"Nichole," Ruby whispered, rubbing her shoulders and lifting her head onto her lap, "It's time for you to seek the path. Your soul sets you face to face with a clear light, allowing you to experience it in reality, where all things are like the void and cloudless sky, and the naked, spotless soul is a transparent vacuum without circumference or center.

Yang and Winter watched- Yang was crying as well, while Winter kept her feelings within, only indicated by the glisten of her eyes.

"Nichole, in this moment, know yourself and abide in that state. Nichole... look to the light. Find the light."

Nichole nodded, panting. "I... I see it."

"Go to it, Nichole. Go into the light."

"I see... him! He's here!"

"Into the light," Ruby repeated, running her hand through Nichole's hair.

"I see him... my beautiful boy..."

"Into the light."

A smile spread across Nichole's face. "Jaune?"

"Don't be afraid."

Nichole took one last long breath, and lay still.

XXXX

Ruby, Yang, and Winter were all for more solemn than usual as they made their way along a path towards Haven Park. Along the way, they met up with Major Joseph Winchester, in full uniform, as always.

They paused, Yang sitting on a rock, Winter leaning against a tree. Ruby had a cookie in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other- it helped, if only a little.

"She was completely insane," Yang whispered.

"I want to say so," Winter agreed, "but... people saw Cinder. In visions- Jaune, Jacob, and Nicholas Arc."

Joseph slowly approached. "Ladies, there is more in Heaven and Earth than is dreamt of in our philosophy."

"Amen," Ruby nodded listlessly, drinking from her coffee.

"I mean... I've lived in these woods most of my life," Yang spoke up again, "but I've never seen something like that before. I'm having a tough time believing it."

"And it's easier to believe a woman would rape and murder her own son?" Ruby pointed out.

"...No."

Joseph sighed. "An evil that great, in this beautiful world... in the end, does it really matter why?"

"Of course it does," Ruby nodded firmly. "Because it's our job to stop it!"

"...Of course," Joseph conceded.

"Perhaps that's what Cinder really is," Winter suggested. "The evil that we all do. Maybe it doesn't matter what we actually call it."

"Maybe," Yang agreed, "but if Cinder was real, and was here... we had her trapped. And if she escaped... where is she now?"

Ruby wished she could answer.

That night, she dreamt again- she was soaring over the forest floor, through the trees, along a flowing river, and near a crashed car.

Her flight took her into a clearing populated only by a circle of white sycamore trees, in the center of which was a pool of some black, tarry substance. As she soared over it, she caught sight of herself- a large owl, moving towards a set of purple, velvet curtains.

XXXX

Thus concludes the story of asdlkfhapoisegjufpoigd fpaoJ DASZTZESPDIR AHSDEIO;T FAES;OTI SAD;TK AT EVCJHFLKAQWUJTREAYHITADOFIGRA'PJHGR'PaedjgoHIEJASDLFK;J a;ldksfj;lkdajsfa;kdjf;aldkshjfl;kasjf;lkaskdfljhla;kdsh;LKAHSDJFOI;EWPHJDS;KJU;KHLJLKDASFHPAOSIDH;lkdah

This isn't the way it's supposed to be. This is wrong... this isn't the way it's supposed to be.

The story is not yet over...