Chapter 27 That girl

The next day I went into the city, face covered, arms up my sleeves and piercing eyes searching for the right café. 'The Second Chapter' was the name I'd be searching for.

I searched half the city before finally finding it. While gazing over the terrace I spotted Callie and Marie having a drink and looking around.

Hesitating one last second before approaching them and sitting down across them, remaining as silent as the nights in a forest.

"So you actually came."

Marie said in a surprised yet cautious tone.

"I only did so since you would now truly need me. Your not going to try anything funny in times like these anyway."

Both Callie and Marie seemed disappointed by my simple steps in logic.

"And, why exactly do you think we need you?"

Callie asked me. I won't doubt she already knew my answer, so I allowed the chatter of others around to give her an answer.

"Elena, Sophia has given you the message no doubt."

Marie began.

"But ever since the fall of our cause, we have only been able to confirm four survivors among us. You, Sophia and the two of us."

"Are you actually planning on helping them? Or only hearing them out?"

"Well Callie, Marie. Give me one good reason why I should help you. One good reason why I should stay loyal to the knife that caused my scarred back."

The two remained silent, unable to give me a reason. Seeming like they felt guilt chaining them to the silence. But if it is about them not foreseeing the recent events, or something else, remains a mystery to me.

"We do have a common enemy."

Was the only answer I got from the two. After what had seemed like hours of silence.

"You know, a common enemy is a good reason to work together."

"A common enemy doesn't give me enough reason. I can rid myself of them without you, you just can't do it without me. That is why you want my help. Your desperate, scared, warry. But above all else, powerless."

The two looked at each other and nodded, knowing full well I was right.

"We can at least offer you a drink now if you want one."

Callie said with a slight smile. I accepted, but only not to raise their tension even more. Drinking it by putting the glass under my facemask.

"You know, we might be able to turn it all back if Marina can be found. She was working on a cure before this all happened. Even found a way to resurrect someone who is technically dead, but with a living body."

"So you claim that you can rid me of my horrid form? That you can change me back to the regular woman I once was?"

Callie nodded eagerly, must have thought that was the thing to get me on their side.

"I'll think about it. But let one thing be very clear. I won't be under your command and you will refrain from standing in my way. No matter the method, no matter the case. I'll clean up the mess you all made, you and the Octarians."

Callie's eyes light up like the stars on a clear summer night, as Marie appeared surprised.

"And one last condition to add. My name or origins wetter it remains a mystery or my known past, will remain out of the public until I say it can be released. Then, we have a deal."

Callie jumped up from her chair and hugged me. Remaining static in place, I allowed her to do so. Meanwhile looking at Callie, seeing her crack a smile of relief. I have never seen either of the two show me any emotions of sympathy before.

And to be fair, I don't expect them to ever do it again.

"So you are going to help them? How nice of you! I knew you had a softer side!"

"Thank you so much Elena, we might still stand a chance."

I couldn't help but feel my heart skip a beat, why did I now suddenly feel like I was doing something good. Knowing I am helping people who are not that much better than the criminals who kill mercilessly for a living.

And aside from knowing that, I had this gnawing feeling. That nerve wrecking feeling you get when you feel watched. But these two didn't seem to feel the same. So is an Agent of theirs watching me? Or is it someone else that they are ignoring?

"Well, at least we know we have a powerful ally."

Marie said, somehow hopeful in her situation.

"Aside from that! We also got a chance now!"

Callie shouted out.

"I am sure there is someone on the moon who didn't hear that Callie."

She then quickly put her hand to her mouth as everyone on the terrace looked at us. The two of them didn't really know what to say as everyone around us became a bit suspicious of us.

"Keep your eyes on your own plates, we are merely discussing strategies for next week's game."

With just that simple excuse, everyone looked away again.

"How often do you lie again?"

Marie sighed in relief as Callie seemed ashamed of herself, yet happy at the same time. I wonder how it comes I never saw this cheerful side of the two. Better yet, which side of them is the fake?

"I think you two should go on your way now, I'm sure you have a very busy agenda with upcoming events."

Marie nodded as they both stood up, took their jacket's and waked away.

I looked at where they were going, and as I turned back to look at my drink a pink haired inkling was sitting across me.

"Hey there!"

She said cheerfully. A broad smile across her face as she put her arms on the table, leaning slightly forward.

"Haven't seen you in a while."

She said as I inspected her clothes. A grey vest with a black shirt under it.

"Come now don't stay silent. Last time I saw you I already heard you were capable of speech, out with it! How are you feeling?"

"Yukimura Tensai, has indeed been while."

I reacted in a calm and neutral manner.

"Oh come now, why the serious tone? Aren't you happy to see me?"

She asked in a teasing manner.

"To be fair, it is nice to know someone out here sees me as a nice person."

"What do you mean?"

"Let's keep it to the fact that most people don't like how I conceal most of myself."

"So they do not like a mystery? Honestly, I like some mystery in the ones I like. Just like those curious cl-"

"Can we not talk about those out in the open please?"

"Why not? You seem to have made quite a reputation for yourself."

She giggled to herself before continuing.

"It was all over the news. A mysterious graffiti piece appearing out of nowhere, titled: 'angel of death'. With a depiction quite fitting to someone I know."

"Knowing you, you're trying to get a point across. What is it?"

"Well I can imagine people being curious about you, as am I! But I fear they were also people with bad intentions that are curious."

"Like?"

"There was this weird guy who was asking around if people have seen 'the real angel of death'. I am pretty sure he meant you. And by the looks of it, he wanted to remain incognito."

"So people who do not want to be seen, are trying to get an eye or maybe even a hand on me?"

"Maybe. But I can offer you a place to stay. I am still in your debt after all!"

"Doesn't mean you have to pay it off. Though the thought of sleeping with a roof over my head does sound tempting."

"Oh you can even sleep in my bed if you'd want to."

Yuki exclaimed with a wink.

"Look I appreciate the offer, but I am no vampire. So I'm not going to suck every last bit out of you until I have no more use in you."

"Oh stop being so sour!"

She said while pouting and trying to appear cute.

"After all, I wouldn't want to make my valued guest uncomfortable!"

I sighed while nodding and agreed to stay at her place for the night, it's rude to turn down an offer of someone so insistent.

But just the moment we got up to leave, someone grabbed my shoulder with a firm, large hand. And a deep voice behind me started speaking.

"Excuse me miss, you seem like the type to know a secret or two. Tell me, have you heard of this secret surrounding one 'angle of death'."

While turning to see whoever it was that grabbed my shoulder I couldn't help but notice Yuki's surprised. Big brown eyes, almost scared.

Through which she answered my only question I had, without even speaking.

"And who might you be?"

"Someone you could consider interested in this worlds many secrets m'lady."

"Well then you have the wrong lady. I am not one for secrets, just fashion statements."

"Ah quite, that could explain your choice of clothing. But I am afraid Ennea will not be happy to see me come back empty handed. After all, he is the one searching for this supposed fallen angle."

"Well wish him luck searching then. I can imagine it being difficult to search for someone whose existence itself is debated."

And with those words I turned around walking further. Not wishing to be interrupted by someone I don't really care for.

But come to think of it. Who is this Ennea? And if he is seemingly searching for me, why would he not look himself?

But just as I tried to string some more things together, Yuki tapped my shoulder.

"T-that was the person who asked around before. And who is Ennea?"

On the way to her home I explained all I could, from where the graffiti came from. To the mystery of who Ennea is.

"But Elena. Even after all this I didn't hear you say a thing about your hands."

"Does it truly matter? The process is irreversible, the damage done beyond repair. Why bother sulking about that which can't be changed?"

"If you want me to I can have a look at them! Maybe figure out a way how to reverse it anyway, see how they work. Anything you'd want."

"Look Yuki, I appreciate your offer that I can stay here for the night. But there is only so much a person can ask for."

As we walked in, and I saw all the equipment Yuki had in her 'home'. I couldn't help but feel uneasy.

"Well as you could see, I am not short on equipment. I can research you for free! To repay you!"

I wonder if she is ever not excited, or not happy.

"Fine… But I would like the 'results' to be kept between you and me. No outsiders, no matter who, will get to know them. Okay?"

"Sure! But can I keep them in case you need to see them again?"

I nodded to let her know that was fine before being guided to a weird steel-like bed. There I had to lay down and calm my mind.

First she walked up to me with a small syringe for a blood test, and then a 'simple scan' as she called it. Though it couldn't be any harder to lay still with a high pitches machine moving around my body.

Afterwards she told me to rest for a bit while she worked on the results.

I was allowed to lay in her bed but… Somehow it wasn't quite comfortable. I managed to fall asleep eventually, seeing how she had to wake me up for the results.

"And that is where I am now."

"Don't forget about me!"

"You can't go one conversation without at least one comment, can you?"

Yuki looked at me with a curious expression.

"Oh sorry, I appear to have a voice in my head. Calls themselves Gilgamesh and claims to be a demon that is stuck inside my… corpse."

"So uhm. Elena. The results I got are, rather unusual."

"What about me isn't?"

She didn't seem to be quite happy with that reaction, even scared to tell me. Or well, that's what her posture tells me.

"So? What did the results bring to the light?"

"Well uhm.."

She was stammering for a bit before finally getting it out.

"From what I was able to gather it appears you have been genetically and physically altered. DNA and RNA appear to be weirdly corrupted, yet functional. The altered DNA isn't damaged meaning something from inside had to be programmed to edit it.

Your veins aren't black because of your blood. Well at least that is what I suspected it would be. They appear to be burnt from the inside out. Due to extreme heat, since there is a complete lack of structural damage. So something must have heated up your body far enough.

What you said before about you actually being a wandering corpse might be completely correct even though scientifically impossible. You have no heartbeat or working digestive system at all. Which is odd, since you would need food to be able to move.

Not to mention your claws, as they would be called biologically. They aren't actual claws though. There is a strange fabric unknown to me woven into your muscle and skin. It heats up and cools down at a moment's notice, and is layered between every couple strands of muscle cells. So the friction must cause the warmth when moving, and static it cools down in an instant.

Aside from that your nerve system appears completely intact, which is a miracle. Your shattered irises are a mystery to me, as is how you are even still alive."

"I am not sure wetter you attempted to give me an explanation or a headache, but I guess I got both now."

"It is technically still possible for you to get a headache I suppose, but it is impossible that you are still alive."

"Then how come I still am either way."

"As I told you Elena. You aren't alive anymore."

"Gilgamesh I am not going to listen to someone who already lied earlier."

"What?"

"Feeding me lies about you being my claws and in my veins."

"Look I did that to convince you I am not just an imagination. How else would you explain being alive at this point?"

As much as I hate to admit it, Gilgamesh was right. I had no other possible way of still being alive.

"Uhm… Elena? One last thing to mention. Your heart was clear of being burnt, and so was the scar tissue at your left shoulder. But in my results the oddest thing has yet to be said."

"Not like it can get much stranger."

"Your muscles do show signs of processing glucose. Meaning something has transported it from somewhere into your muscles. But without a digestive system or a beating heart, I have no idea how it could even work."

This is only getting stranger and stranger.

"I am starting to think this is no longer science but some form of black magic."

"What you call magic is science to us, because we understand how it works"

"Thanks for the reassurance…"

Yuki didn't even react to it, already picking up that I was speaking to Gilgamesh.

"This must be quite some things to process for you. I'm sorry."

"Don't be, it was partially my fault after all. So no one to blame but myself."

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, just before being forced to exhale deeply. As the pink haired girl had wrapped her arms around me, pushed her chest into mine and placed her head next to mine.

"There is no need to blame yourself for it Elena. I doubt it was fully your choice after all."