Death of a Child

by Amorphous In Black

A retelling of the Evangelion story with a dark-psychological twisted theme. Everything up to Shinji's abandonment remains the same...but, he is altered. With a past shrouded in mystery, what occurred during his eleven year disappearance? What unforeseen horror will the staff at NERV uncover when they discover the boy's upbringing?

109. Spreading

Chapter 109: Spreading

"…!?" Rei said seeing blood tearing from his eyes.

Strangely, it wasn't accompanied with the aura change. It was still the Third Child's murky aura. When the red tears came down, he leaned back and moved his head up. It gave the appearance that he was resting. Without saying anything, he got out tissues and rubbed his face.

"…" she said looking at him then looked forward. Glancing at the others, Asuka and Rayne were still continuing on with their conversation topic. Toji looked a little bored as the subject matter went outside of his interests. Rana was still adding back and forth to the conversation between the female pilots.

'…strange…' Ayanami thought. Looking at the female twin and seeing that she didn't seem to notice, the First Child looked at the cabin floor.

'It seems as if the connection between her and Ikari…are not as strong as they once were.'

'…but they are twins…shouldn't she be able to sense that Ikari is having a reaction?' she pondered looking back at the Third Child.

'It is as if there is a cut off between their link.'

"…" Shinji said rubbing his left side one more time. Moving his head forward, he didn't feel any more blood drip out of his eyes. Turning his head a little with his eyes closed still, he could sense the First Child had turned her head to him and was staring.

"Are you alright Ikari?"

"I believe so Miss Ayanami. My apology for causing you concern," he answered with a small nod and opened his eyes slowly. Instead of seeing everything as a rue of red, there was a highlighted red shade in his peripheral vision. Everything staring forward seemed normal to him. The tank vision was different, but didn't know if it changed his eye color or not. Looking at the First Child, she did not react.

"…you eyes have not changed?" she asked blinking and tilting her head.

"…how…strange…" he replied blinking a couple of times. Oddly without cleaning his eyes out, the redness went away. About to look closer at him, Asuka's voice stopped her.

"Listen Third, I'm only going to say this once…no creeper mode. Got it?"

"…creeper mode Miss Souryu?"

"The place we are going to is super high-class. Unless you are wealthy and have a lot of connections, no commoner gets into there. It would be like peasants getting to eat with the King and Queen on a holiday feast. What that means is a lot of high status and important people are there. That can be the ticket to bigger and better things if they take notice of you. If even one gives you contact information, your reputation and career get golden. So many open doors can open up," Asuka said with an anxious and excited face.

"…I see…" Shinji replied nodding a little and turning his head toward her.

"I will vouch for Asuka on this," Rayne commented leaning forward a little. "This is like the ultimate job fair of interviews. I know a few people with the force that got the opportunity to go to the Sakura Palace. Of the ones that got lucky, they left the force and got a job that out paid what they were making hands down."

"Dang…that's a lot of pressure," Toji mentioned while listening in. "Probably have to serve everyone there a golden spoon or something."

"They do," the Second Child stated with short nod.

"Kind of makes it hard to enjoy a dinner when surrounded by those types of people," Rana said noticing that Shinji's face looked a little pale.

"…" he reacted as his insides tensed.

The feeling of pins and needles were felt as flashbacks came. Just as they rained down, they were subsiding. As they were reducing, one of them kept repeating until it was the last one. One of the persons in it had a lab coat. Seemingly a doctor, or equivalent, mentioned about the place the group was going to. Studying his face, no recollection came of who the man was.

'#$%#$iT's# $%# %$AdEaR #$! $!#fRiEnDoFoUrS%$' the dark clone voiced softly. It was accompanied with much static in the background.

'…very well sir,' he thought with an internal bow.

"I will refrain from my usual behavior Miss Souryu," the Third Child answered closing his eyes again.

"You better. This is a chance of a lifetime. Don't blow it for me or anybody else here," Asuka stated leaning forward.

As the limo continued down the road, the group could see they were closer. The high-end restaurant was seen from a distance. After a bit of a drive, they turned onto the street that the Sakura Palace was on. The group saw all the high end shops and outlets on either side of the road. In awe, Asuka stared and stated all the different brands including the ones that were European. Even Toji was mentioning how some of the professional sports players wore brands that they were passing by.

Slowing down to a gated parking lot, there was a tenant in a post box that came out. After a short talk with the Section-2 driver, they were ushered in. Getting closer, the front entrance was that of a four story extravagant hotel. The parking lot was filled with expensive, luxury, and exotic cars. Various people were walking to and from the entrance wearing high end dresses and suits. Various people from different ethnicities could be seen as each gave an aura of wealth and power. Pulling into the covered driveway with high arches above, an usher at the curb approached the back passenger door and opened it.

"Welcome to the Sakura Palace. My colleague at the door will escort you all inside," the man said dressed in a tuxedo. Watching the group come out of the limo, he was mildly surprised to see that the teenagers were the Eva pilots including the older one. The last one to climb out of the vehicle was a male teen with a scar up his neck to the underside of his chin. With the slick back hair and stoic expression, he had the look of a mobster.

"Thank you sir," Shinji said with a small bow and followed the rest of the group.

"My pleasure. Enjoy your visit," the usher said closing the door. Watching the limo drive away, he looked back to see the small group enter through the front doors.

Catching up with the other pilots inside, all of them were looking around in the lobby area. It showed a dazzling display of interior design and architecture. From the Roman style pillars and columns, to the polished marble flooring, and to the high-end furniture, everything inside was like going into a king's mansion. Following the escort to the front desk that was open in the large lobby space, there were a couple of attendants stationed.

"These are the remaining members for the NERV party."

"NERV party…yes. Dr. Ikari has already arrive and been shown to their table. Please escort our guests to their table," the clerk stated handing the attendant the booth number. Following the escort again, the group entered what appeared to be a lift elevator dressed up to look like it was a part of the high-end design. Going up a couple of floors, the elevator door on the other side rolled up to reveal the main dining space.

Matching the same theme and décor of the lobby, the group entered and looked around in awe. The lighting was enough to see everything, but not too bright. Noticing a large staircase near the elevator entrance, it lead to the second level. Staying on the main floor, it was about the size of a large ball room. All around the perimeter of the space had table booths with drapes to create closure for the dining experience.

In the middle was an intricate structure of the bar. A large ring shaped table enclosed the area where the bartenders served the drinks. The range of alcohol was vast being shelved in a porous glass column. When a specified drink was requested, a robotic arm would go to a specific lit location and retrieve it. Outside of the bar area was an orchestra playing soft sounding music. To the left on the same side wall of the lift, the kitchen area could be seen. With two double doors, waiters were going in and out either to give out drinks, food, pick up dirty tables, or other aspects.

"The second level is usually held for our VIP guests, internationals, and executive businessmen and businesswomen," the escort mentioned. He lead them to one of the booths on the opposite side of the dining room.

"There is also a bar up there that is similar to the one on the main floor. Instead of porous glass, it is a live cherry blossom tree. The walls surrounding the second floor are all glass to give our special guests a more grand view of their surroundings. Guests on this floor are free to go up to the 2nd level to look around if they wish. We just ask you do not disturb the others while they enjoy their dining experience. Please, this way."

Passing by the staircase, a cold shiver went through the Third Child's spine. With the range of visual and audible noise around them, no one saw him tremble a little. Blinking and shaking his head a little, the chill sensation in his body would not go away. The image of the older man's face kept appearing in his mind. After a short walk passing a many table booths, the escort stopped at one that had 'NERV party' on the outside of it.

"Here is your table. Please be seated and a server will come by shortly," the escort said gesturing them to the table. The one occupant sitting at the table stood up wearing a black sheath dress with black heels. Wearing pearl earrings and a simple necklace, Yui walked over to the teenage group.

"Hi everyone," she said smiling seeing a mixture of expressions on their faces. "I'm glad you all could make this little outing on short notice."

"This is so exciting!" Asuka stated happily smiling at her. "Thank you for inviting us!"

"It is an honor to be in this high-class joint," Toji said smiling.

"Yes. Thank you for the rare opportunity Dr. Ikari," Rayne said with a pleasant smile. "I've only heard stories about this place. Actually being here is a bit of a thrill."

"I'm glad to hear it. I've only been here once before during my years in college," Yui said smiling at them. Looking at the other three, all of them held stoic faces. Not taken a back from their expressions, she kind of felt that this would be overwhelming to them. Despite sympathizing, she decided to be more engaging to help them relax.

"All of you look so nice. It feels like I'm a parent chaperon for prom. Come come, sit please."

As the group went to sit down, Shinji looked up to see that the ceiling above the booth was solid. However looking toward the middle area of the dining space, the ceiling was glass. Hearing his name being called, he looked forward and up to see the scientist was in front of him. Blinking, he bowed a little.

"Thank you for inviting us Dr…mother," he said standing up to see her give him a small smile.

"You look so handsome," she said giving him a small hug then stepping back to look at him. "Gendo never combed his hair back…this does give a new look for you."

"More like a mobster if you ask me," Asuka stated turning around and looking at them.

"…yes…the scar does do that. But still, I'm happy regardless. Come sit next to me Shinji."

"Very well…mother," he said with a short pause.

Sitting around a lavish table, the seven chairs equaled the quality and design of the table. Sitting down next to the scientist, Rana, Rei, Asuka, Toji, and Rayne took their spots in that order. The server came by shortly and passed out menus. Taking everyone's drink order along with an appetizer, the attendant walked away and closed the drape.

"Dr. Ikari. How did you get this outing passed by the Commander?" Asuka asked.

"Oh you know…be a little persuasive with a little arm twisting," Yui said with a smirk after taking a sip of her beverage. "Under normal circumstances, Gendo wouldn't even consider going back to this place."

"He has gone here before too?"

"Yes. He and I were part of a science project group that had an entrepreneur aspect to it. One year we won a challenge and got to go here for the first time. Despite a few changes, it has really become more amazing since that time."

"I bet he was a wall flower," the Second Child said with a smirk.

"Hee hee. Yes, he was a bit of one," Yui said giggling a little. Looking at the three to her right, the humor from that memory dissipated slowly. Shinji and Rana were staring and not looking at anything in particular. Rei had a tense face though kept her usual expression as she looked at the table. Hearing the music in the background, it brought up a change of topic.

"Excuse my nosiness, but do any of you play an instrument?"

"Other than music class during school, no," Rayne said.

"Ditto with me," Toji said.

"When I was little I played violin, but it didn't last long," Asuka stated.

"I do not nor have I tried playing one," Rei said looking up.

"I played around with Shinji's cello a little bit. But that is about it," Rana stated.

"I have practiced playing the cello for a couple of years on my own," the Third Child said looking at the group then to the scientist.

"Could you indulge me and let me hear you play?" Dr. Ikari asked with her hands pressed together and closing one eye.

"If you wish me to and there is a cello available, I will comply," he said with a blink.

"Really?!" Yui said giving a bright smile. The group watched her get up and turn around to a wall section of the both. There was a small panel with a header indicating if a server was to be called. After pressing the button, the same server came back with drinks and the appetizer.

"What a coincidence. You rang just as I was leaving to give you your drinks. Were you all ready to order or was something else in mind?" he said passing out the stuff he brought.

"Could we have a cello at our booth?"

"A cello player or the instrument?"

"The instrument."

"Very well. I will be back shortly with one."

"…?" the group reacted with surprise. They watched the server leave then turned toward the scientist.

"I forgot to mention. This is only one of many services offered for being in this place. From what I remember: alcohol is free excluding premium brands, spa and massage treatment, various entertainment activities, instrument rental, and a few others."

"Spa and massage!?" Rayne and Asuka repeated with surprise. Even Rana was blinking in surprise. Rei seemed a little interested.

"I'll have to look into those entertainment activities. For a place like this, it has got to be mind blowing," Toji said excited. As the group continued discussing in wonder of what other perks were available, the Third Child stared at the table. A sensation of a burning needle repetitively inserting into the back of his head was causing him to clench his hands together to fight back the pain.

' #$% #$ENTERTAINMENT #$% #hOwGrAnD$!#$% #' the evil voice spoke into his mind. Half of Shinji's head felt clammy as if the dark clone whispered and slithered underneath his skin.

'Is it something I am capable of playing sir?' he thought with his eyes winching a little. A vein on his temple was twitching as the needle stabbing became a little faster.

'…o…h…y…E…s…sssssssssssssssssssss# $%#$…I…w…i…l…l…g…u…i…d…e' it hissed while making chomping sounds with its mouths.

'Very well Mr. Sid,' the male pilot said with a slow blink.

'#$% #$HAVEYOUFIGUREDOUTTHENAME!? HAVE YOU!?# $% #' the evil voice shouted monstrously.

'…I believe so sir…is it-'

"Here we are," the server stated entering the booth with a couple of items on a roller cart.

The members at the table turned to see the person pull off the cart a stool, cello, and bow. Turning toward the Third Child, he blinked and stood up. Walking to the instrument, the group did not hear the maniacal cackling and various choruses of yelling in his head. The vicious roars of excitement and sadistic pleasure made Shinji feel his skin move on its own. Grabbing the stool and placing it on the ground, he adjusted the height. Once set, he turned toward the server.

"Thank you sir. May I borrow them?"

"Of course," the attendant replied handing the cello first then the bow. "It has been tuned in case you are wondering."

"…" Shinji said sitting down. Placing the instrument at an angle, he leaned the neck onto his left shoulder.

Placing his left fingers on the fingerboard and gripping the bow with his right hand, he started playing long and slow notes. It eventually changed to harmonics in which the group saw him adjust the pegs on each string a tiny bit in different directions. Playing the harmonics again, there was a stronger ring to them. Going back to the long slow notes again, each one sounded with more body and resonance as the sound carried a bit outside of the booth. A couple of people passing by stopped and came to the opening of the booth to listen.

"It was tuned well sir, thank you," the male pilot said turning his head and nodding to the server. The male smiled and nodded his head.

"Why not show us what you can do Third?" Asuka said with a smirk.

"…" he said turning his head towards her while feeling the skin on his hands and arms tightening greatly. The demented voice was grinning all of its mouths and stretching its skin. Continuing to ignore the burning needle stabbing, it suddenly stopped.

"Very well…Miss Rana?"

"…?" the female twin said blinking and looking at him.

"Would you accompany me as I play?" he asked. He played a little phrase that gave the impression that he was calling her through the instrument.

"…a-accompany?" she asked a little startled. "But…I can't play as well as you."

"I believe," the Third Child stated while playing a bending note. "Your voice will suffice."

"…" Rana said looking around seeing that everyone at the table was giving both of them their full attention.

The little call and answer that Shinji was doing was causing smiles around the table as well as people standing at the booth entrance. Looking back at him, he stared at her while going back and forth between two half steps creating a sustained running tension. Swallowing, she nodded her head slowly and stood up. Walking towards him, he quieted his tension run to nothing. Without saying anything, Rana stood behind his right shoulder. Placing her left hand on it, she felt an instant deathly chill.

'GrEeTiNgSmYsPaReDsEeD,'the dark clone hissed. With quick viciousness, a phantom slithering went through her hand and up her arm.

"…!?" the female twin responded with shock. Suppressing a tremor, she tried controlling the fear that instantly coursed through her.

' #$%#$DON'T# $%#WORRY! #$% #I# $% WILL #$% #$ #$GUIDE% #HEEEEEEEEEEEE$%' it screeched in her mind as she felt her skin around her neck become clammy and tense.

'…o-o-ok-kay…' she thought using all her willpower to not react physically.

As if she could feel its morbid grin across her face, Shinji began playing chords softly. Opening her mouth, she began singing a soft tune. The people listening looked at her with awe hearing how her voice sounded. While everyone was smiling, a bit more people from neighboring booths walked toward the booth to listen. Rei and Asuka were staring at her with surprise.

'She never told me that she could sing,' the redhead thought blinking. About to think about it further, she shrugged her shoulders enjoying how the two sounded.

'…?' Ayanami thought feeling herself relaxing from hearing both of them playing.

Despite knowing where the female twin came from and contemplating how did she develop the talent to sing in a void, the music made her not focus hard on it. Instead, she closed her eyes and let the sounds ease her. After a couple of more phrases, Shinji opened his mouth and added his voice. It caused another pleasant surprise as his voice sounded lower, but had the same quality as Rana's voice.

Listening to them, it sounded as if three different parts were being played at once. Melody, harmony, and rhythm sounding together with its major, minor, sustain, and augmented passages. When a minute or two passed, the twins ended on a layered chord that had a resonating affect on the people listening. When the sound died to nothing, there was an immediate applause.

"…" both Shinji and Rana opened their eyes.

Looking all around, everyone was clapping at them. More and more people had gathered at the booth entrance ranging from other table booths and more servers. Looking at their table group, all of them were clapping. Everyone had a different smile on their face though they all looked pleased and impressed. The female twin felt a rush from seeing all the appreciation around her. Giving a small embarrassed smile, she gripped his shoulder firmer feeling her skin crawl.

'…m…O…r…E…' it said in a dark husky voice.

"Miss Rana," Shinji whispered as the applause was starting to die down.

'…M…O… #$%…R…E…' the evil voice said again with more white noise cutting in and out with intensity.

"…y-yes?" she whispered back. Her legs wanted to squirm from feeling more than creeped out.

' #$% #mmmoooooorrrreeeee# $% #'

"Please do not open your eyes until the next piece is over," he said softly looking down at the fingerboard and placing his fingers back on it.

'MoRe# $% mOrE #$ #^MORE'

"…o…k…a…y…" she said with a shiver in her voice. Closing her eyes, the clapping faded to nothing as they saw the two about to play again. Gripping his shoulder more, both heard it screaming in deafening volumes. It was accompanied with teeth and nails scratching down chalkboards.

'MORE!# $! #%$^ #MMOOORREEE!#$% #$!'

Both of them started singing with Rana doing runs and Shinji holding different root notes. After a couple of phrases, he started playing fast runs on the low end of the cello. To the trained ear, it was segmented scale runs that would repeat. However, it didn't end on the same key. It kept alternating while both continued to sing their own separate parts of the music. Again, it sounded as if three parts were playing at once. Unlike the pleasant sounding of the last tune, this version sounded more tense, aggressive, gothic, and diminished.

Breaking off of from the scale segments, Shinji double his bowing speed on falling high notes. Both he and Rana changed from harmonizing, to holding different notes of a chord. With fast repetition of notes falling and their sustaining vocal notes, it created suspension and tension. More and more people were quietly entering the booth to listen to the two play. A couple members of the crowd were getting goosebumps as if they were watching a tense scene from a scary movie.

While most of the crowd was captivated, Rei and Rayne noticed something that didn't seem right. It was the female twin's hand on his shoulder. Despite both looking deep and lost in their playing, her fingers were digging into his shoulder. Not only that, her hand was trembling.

'…this feels…familiar,' Ayanami thought seeing that both of their eyes were closed. Recollecting something very vague, apprehension shot through her rapidly. Immediately closing her eyes, she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end quickly.

'TrYiNgTo# $% #$hhhiiiiiddddeeee…d…e…a…r…?' the dark clone whispered faintly in the First Child's head. Flinching in her seat, she heard it mentally chuckle at her in slow motion before fading away.

'…strange…' Rayne said feeling alert and trepidation.

Only looking with her eyes, nothing seemed wrong. There weren't people cowering away in fear. Instead, the entire audience seemed engrossed from listening to the duet continue to play. Turning back to the two players, there was nothing wrong with them. Seeing something in her peripheral, she saw the blue haired teen with her eyes closed.

'She had them closed before on the first piece,' Rayne thought looking back at the two and mentally sighing. 'Just spooking myself again I guess.'

'# $% #$yyyyeeeeeessssssss#$% #$^' the evil voice hissed in her mind making her eyes widened greatly. Looking around while remaining frozen, no figure was around to match the sound. Blinking, the twins changed toward more of the fast segmented runs with their voices harmonizing. Their music took an even more aggressive tone as the cello's low strings were being used heavily with repeated riffs and variations.

'…that sounds like that metal stuff the goth gang listens to at school,' Toji thought recognizing the runs a little.

Doing a short build up, Shinji went on a solo run. While he played, the audience blinked watching his left hand. It moved very quickly and what seemed like impossible finger stretches and positions. With spider leg appearance, his digits moved unexpectedly swift and precise. The oddity from watching him was that both he and his female twin continued to accompany the solo by holding major and minor chord tones. How his hands and arms moved seemed separate from how still his body was.

As the solo continued to get more complex with added vocal chords, the two continued to hold their voicing. With each new phrase, the two would raise their pitch; however, both didn't take a breath. The playing got even faster and the twins continued to hold without one stopping to take a breath. The entrance and half of the booth was jammed packed with listeners. Players from the orchestra band had come over to listen. Even the people from the second floor were looking down through the glass floor to stare at them at an angle. They could hear the playing clearly from their tables.

'…when are they going to breathe?' Yui thought.

She saw that both went through three tempo and phrase changes and still haven't inhaled once. As impressive as it looked and sounded, she was worrying that both of them would pass out. But neither of them was getting blue in the face. Both looked fine as they bend their voices to a higher pitch. Ending the solo with a run going to the higher range, Shinji transitioned to playing chords. Using all four strings and playing softer, he produced resonating chords. Each one would create a voicing of tension and suspension as they slowly got lower and lower in pitch from going up the fingerboard.

The twins increased their pitch one more time and held a sustained interval. Once at the top end of the fingerboard, the Third Child played forceful low chords across the four strings. As the two continued to hold their vocal notes, the chord would play again then stopped. Playing the chord one last time, he slid his left fingers down the neck changing and bending the chord slightly while it increased in pitch. It created a sliding sound that made the audience tense up waiting for the release.

When he got to the other end of the fingerboard, he stopped and released causing a harmonic sound to echo through the instrument. Both of them stopped their vocal notes at the same time. Slowly closing their mouths, the crowd could faintly hear them inhale calmly and breathe out with an airy shutter. Slowly opening their eyes, the crowd saw dark magenta and red-blue eyes staring back at them. The crowd at the booth entrance immediately started clapping as a domino effect occurred.

"Bravo!"

"Truly grand!"

"Simply marvelous!"

"Excellent musicianship!"

As the people continued their praise, their group stood up and was applauding them as well. Asuka was too impressed and amazed to feel a need to be competitive. Toji saw a new appreciation for classical instruments for how Shinji made it sound. Rayne was astonished that both could hold their breath for that long. More than a minute had passed with them continuing to hold their notes and sound strong. Yui was more than impressed and pleased as she smiled brightly at both of them.

"…" Rei said giving a small smile while clapping. Despite hearing the corrupted and odd voice in her head, nothing seemed to happen. In the midst of the solo playing, she opened her eyes to watch his hands move. Seeing how quickly his fingers moved captivated her and intrigued her.

"…" both Rana and Shinji said as he slowly stood up.

He held his stoic expression while the female twin looked embarrassed with a smile. Moving the bow to his other hand, he gently grabbed her trembling hand. It made her calm down a little despite how she felt on the inside. Following his lead, he bowed a little while she did a small curtsey. As the applause continued to roar, they repeated their action one more time. When the wave of clapping died down, the crowd began to thin out one by one. Each guest was going back to their table talking about the duet performance. The server for the NERV group stayed and saw the Third Child hand back the instrument.

"That was…beyond sensational!" he said amazed.

"Thank you sir," Shinji said bowing to him. "The instrument felt nice to play."

"Would you be interested in having this cello?"

"I am honored sir. But, I have one at home that I am satisfied playing with."

"That is quite alright. Let me put these items away and come back to take your order," he said taking the instrument and accessories back. Leaving, Rana let out an exhausting sigh and gripped his hand more to not fall over.

"Are you alright Miss Rana?"

"I'm…adjusting," she said slowly walking to her seat. Guiding her to her chair, she sat down and breathed slowly. Looking at the ice water, she let go of his hand. Grabbing it with both hands, she drank it slowly.

About to go to his seat and sit down, a phantom sharp stab was felt above and to the right of his right eye. Glancing up to the direction of the sensation, a red outline silhouette was shown in the midst of the middle section of the glass ceiling.

' #$% FOUND #$%#$YOU# $% #$%' Sid murderously growled with all of its mouths grinning and ripping its skin twofold. The tentacles snaked across Shinji's vision and slithered toward the silhouette.

"…" Shinji said blinking seeing the black-red tentacles vanish along with the blood that dripped from them. Turning back to his seat and sitting down, the stabbing sensation moved to the back of his head pointing in the same direction of the silhouette. Not moving, the repetitive phantom stabbing began to start again.