Chapter 132: Teasing
The rest of the school day seemed to go on as normal. However, Rana kept a watchful eye out for the two red-eye pilots. Suspicious of them, she decided to stick closer to Shinji throughout the rest of the day. In response to that, both of them seemed to have different reactions. Ayanami was giving off an irritated aura despite keeping an impassive face. Kaworu seemed ambivalent toward her actions.
When the lunch break started, she quickly asked the Third Child to accompany her to something alone. Without letting him answer, she pulled him along and out of the classroom. Oddly, Shinji did not resist or ask her questions as he kept his normal expression. By the time they reached to the middle of courtyard, Rana glanced back at him.
"…!?" she said. Despite Shinji looking at her stoically, the First and Sixth Child were outside as well. Each other them was at either entrance of the classroom staring in their direction.
"Miss Rana…is something the matter?" Shinji asked.
"N-No…I just felt like going somewhere different today!" she answered smiling back at him.
"I see," he said blinking and following. After a walking a bit, she stopped and looked around.
"…" the Third Child commented. Looking at the area they were in, it was the school staff parking lot. There weren't very many benches or places to sit. There was a high retaining wall outlining the entire space while a lower one went alongside the pathway into the campus ground.
"Let's eat over there," she stated pointing at the low wall.
"Very well," the Third Child responded with a head nod.
Sitting down, both began to eat their lunches. As time went by, he noticed that Rana kept glancing around them and seemed edgy. About to open his mouth, the dark clone's laughter was heard in two places. Strangely, one was close by while the other was up higher. Taking a glance to his left, a hand was immediately placed on his shoulder.
"Hey Shinji," Rana stated. Watching his head slowly turn toward her, he blinked slowly.
"Yes Miss Rana?"
"Do you feel that Ayanami and Nagisa seem to act different than before?"
"In what perspective?"
"Their behavior since the last time talking to them yesterday."
"…" he answered blinking at her then looked down at the ground. Thinking about it, one seemed to have while the other seemed marginal.
"Possibly Miss Rana. Both did become unconscious during the Angel battle."
"…" she reacted with a slight tense face. Glancing quickly at the two spots, she felt eyes peering at them. One was getting closer and closer while the other stayed away.
"That's true…do you think the Angel may have hardwire them?"
"That is possible given the mind merge the Angel did."
"So we can say those affected by the mind merge are not acting normally, right?"
"…" Shinji replied blinking slowly and looking back at her. "Yes."
"…ah…" Rana said looking back at him and blinking. Closing her mouth, she watched him going back to eating his lunch.
"I…I didn't mean…"
"Your deduction is logical Miss Rana…a mind merge with a foreign entity would cause a number of possible outcomes."
"…true…what I was—" she started to say. Stopping, both heard heel footsteps near where they were. Turning to see who it was, Ayanami stopped and looked at them. Nodding his head toward her, he blinked.
"Greetings Miss Ayanami. How are you?"
"I am," Rei started to say. Shifting her eyes slightly to look at the female twin, she blinked.
"…adequate…may I join you two?"
"…sure…" Rana answered putting up a tight smile.
Shinji nodded his head and gestured to the space next to him. The female twin watched carefully as the First Child sat next to the Third Child. There was a space between them which made her less edgy. The three sat in awkward silence. Rana kept glancing back and forth between her and where the Sixth Child was.
"Are you hungry Miss Ayanami?" Shinji asked.
"I am fine Ikari…thank you for asking."
"I see."
"I take it that both you and Nagisa slept well last night?" Rana asked taking a bite of her lunch.
"…" Rei responded glancing at the male pilot. Remembering what she dreamed about, she looked back at the ground.
"Relatively speaking…yes."
"That's good," the female twin said. The awkwardness between them was still there as the lunch break continued. When the warning bell sounded, the three stood up. Returning back to their home room, they saw Kaworu was in his seat resting his head on his desk. Going toward their seats, he kept his head down but opened in his eyes.
"…hmm…I think I will try that next time," he said to himself and closed his eyes again. Students filled in the classroom before the final lunch bell. The next classes resumed as normal.
When school ended, students left the classroom. With the remainders left, Shinji stood up and left the classroom without taking his stuff. Instead of going down the stairs, he was heading further down the walkway. Ayanami stood up and started to rearrange the desks against the back wall. The other students in the classroom were the Class Rep, Rana, and Kaworu.
'Strange…are they cleaning?' the Sixth Child pondered. Standing up, he headed towards where Rana was. She had gathered all of her things and moved it toward the teacher's desk. Turning around, she blinked in surprise from seeing him standing at her desk.
"Yes?"
"What is going on?" he asked curious.
"Rotating cleaning duty," Hikari stated standing up from her desk. She had gathered her school items and put them in her bag.
"At the end of every school day, two students from class stay and clean up. Everyone is part of the rotating list. Given you are still new, you'll be partnering with another student later on."
"I see," he said with a small smile. "May I stay to observe and help out?"
"You don't have to since it isn't your turn. But, Ikari, Ayanami, and Rana are probably the best ones to learn from," she mentioned picking up her bag. "I'm surprise you all stick together most of the time."
"It is comforting to form friendships with co-workers," Kaworu commented with a friendly smile.
"…" Rei said continuing to move desks.
"…" Rana said moving Shinji's belongings to the teacher's desk.
"I am assuming that Ikari went to retrieve cleaning supplies?"
"Yes. He can point where that is if you ask him."
Nodding his head, he placed his belongings on the teacher's desk. Following Rana's instruction, both assisted with moving the desks were Ayanami was stacking them. After a few moments, Shinji came in with towels, cleaners, a mop and roller bucket of hot water.
"Hey Ikari. Could you show Nagisa were the clearer closet is after finishing up?" the Class Rep asked turning toward him.
"Very well Miss Horaki," he replied with a head nod.
"Thank you. Thank you for helping out Rana and Nagisa," she mentioned turning toward them smiling. "See you all tomorrow."
"Good day," Shinji stated with a small bow then proceeded into the classroom.
As the four cleaned together, there was a small amount of tension in the air. Though all communicated with each other in normal terms, there was something in the atmosphere that unsettled them. The Third Child knew who it was and did not voice anything. The dark clone made an impossibly wide grin as it released an orgasmic breath of air.
"…" the Third Child reacted blinking. Despite having a small wonder of why it did that, he had an assumption that it was something related to the nosebleed incident.
'It…SmElLsssssssss#%$...s...o...f...r...e...s...h...$,' Sid whispered into his mind.
'Indeed it would sir,' he thought. He ringed out the wet mop then placed on the floor. As he began to mop the floor, the dark clone continued.
'WhEnWaStHeLaStTiMeYoUtAsTeDtHiS?'
'Physically was recent sir. Psychologically…it was before trading places with Miss Ikari in Unit-01.'
' #$#AAAHHHHHHH#$#$yyYYYeeess-s-s-s-s…s…s'
'Is there something else I can do for you sir?'
' #$#$#$%#$dOyOu-YoUdO-DoYoU-YOUDOKNOW!?'
'…' Shinji stated mentally. Picking up the mop, he putting it in the bucket. Dunking the head a couple of times, he ringed out the excess water before continuing.
'When do you wish for me to depart sir?'
'#$#$heeeee!#$%#$eeeeeeee#$%# ' it stated in his mind while fading away into nothing.
"…" the Third Child responded as he finished mopping half of the room. Moving the mobile bucket over, he started mopping the other side.
Back at NERV HQ, Ritsuko was walking around in circles in her cell. Unable to write anything down and having no utensil to write either, she kept hashing things over in her mind. Field notes, analysis data, recordings, observations, developments, and MAGI reports kept going over and over in her head. She lost track of time after leaving the Commander's office. The total isolation did not affect her. Ever since the visit from the dark figure, she was afraid of sleeping. After much time passed, the cell doors opened. Two security personnel came in.
"Dr. Akagi. There are representatives here to see you and escort you."
"Representatives?"
"SEELE operatives."
'…interrogation...' she thought with a sigh and stood up.
Exiting out of her cell and the custody sector, security escorted her to the parking garage. Getting into a security marked vehicle, they went to the car escalator. Reaching to the surface, there was an unmarked black van waiting beyond the NERV security drop gate. Stepping out of the vehicle and walking to the other automobile, she got into the back of the van. From there, they drove down the highway out of NERV.
'Blacked out windows,' she thought. Unable to see outside, she did not have much of an idea of where they were going or heading to. After what seemed like an hour of driving, the terrain started changing.
'Misato did mention that there was a facility on the West outskirts of the city…it is possible I will be taken there,' the scientist thought.
Still unable to see anything outside of the van, she continued to remain in her seat. The rough terrain continued for a few minutes until it became smooth again. Feeling a slight descent, a small tension started building inside of her. Trying to not focus on that, the fact of not knowing what she will be interrogated about gave her anxiety. Feeling the vehicle stopping, both operatives got out. Heading toward the back of the van and opening the doors, she could see that they were in an underground parking lot.
Getting out of the back and stepping onto the asphalt, she followed the leading SEELE agent toward a wall with a panel. After inputting his code, a drop door opened up. Continuing forward, they went through a couple of security screenings. Clearing them and walking down a hallway, they reached an unmarked door. Being escorted in, the cell didn't look much different than NERV's. Turning around, one of the agents stepped forward.
"We will come back when the committee members are ready for you," he stated. He removed her handcuffs and left the room with the other one. With the cell door closed and locked, she was alone again. Going to the bunk bed that was in the room, she lied down and waited.
"…with that, we are done," Rana said as the last desk got placed back in its spot. With the floor, desks, chairs, and chalkboard cleaned, they completed the after school cleaning task.
"Seems simple enough," Kaworu mentioned giving a small smile to her.
"I will go place these back," Shinji commemted collecting all the cleaners, towels, mop, and mobile bucket.
"Can I tag along to see where it is?" the Sixth Child asked smiling at him.
"…!?" Rana reacted blinking. Stepping forward and grabbing the mop, she gave a nervous smile at them.
"I-I'll show him where it is Shinji. Just make sure to clean yourself in the bathroom."
"…?" he replied blinking and looked at his hands. They didn't look very dirty at all. Feeling a pseudo grin on his face, he wondered how Rana knew. Shaking his head internally, he nodded his head.
"Very well Miss Rana. I will go wash up then."
"May I accompany you Ikari? I will need to wash up as well."
'Damn it!' the female twin thought as she lead Kaworu out to where the cleaning closet was.
"If you wish to Miss Ayanami, I do not mind."
As both walked out of the classroom and down the stairs, they turned around. The restroom's was on the ground level and nearby the stairs. While heading toward their gender restrooms, he felt a tug on his shirt sleeve. Stopping and turning around, Ayanami stood in front of him.
"Yes Miss Ayanami?"
"…" she said staring at him then seemed embarrassed all of the sudden. "…there…is something…I am curious about."
"What may that be Miss Ayanami?"
"…" the First Child answered as the images from the mind merge came back. Her cheeks slowly blushed as she shook her head softly.
"…no…never mind."
"…" he said blinking and tilting his head. "I see. When you feel ready Miss Ayanami, you may ask me at anytime."
"…" Rei responded blinking and looking at him. Feeling the visions trying to influence her more, she resisted. Nodding her head, she stepped forward and gave him hug.
"…thank you…" she whispered smiling and closing her eyes from holding him. Feeling him gently hug her back, it helped her calm down and feel less antsy. Letting go, she walked into the restroom. Heading into the men's room and closing the door, he saw a dark silhouette standing in front of him.
' #$%#$hOw#$#aLtR$#$uIsT-t-t-t-t-tiiiiccccc%#$' it stated and started to take shape.
'If you say so sir. Am I to depart now sir?'
'!ALWAYS!#$#tHiNkInG$%#$…aHead…don'T you…my seed?' the dark clone stated as his voice slowly got closer and closer to that of Shinji's. His body morphed into looking similar to the Third Child's.
'It is one part of my tasks…Mr. Sid,' Shinji thought feeling warmth behind his eyes.
'Not…quite,' Sid thought. His morphing was completed and looked identical to the male pilot. Opening his eyes showed dark magenta.
"I would be…Shinji now…yeessssss?" it muttered. With a wicked grin, it narrowed its eyes at him sadistically.
'…' the Third Child thought. Closing his eyes, blood tears came out quickly. Opening them slowly, his vision became gritty and tinted with red. Looking with his eyes at a mirror above the bathroom sinks, black-red eyes stared back at him. Blinking, he glanced back at the dark clone.
"Indeed sir."
After finishing up and exiting, the First Child was waiting nearby. Nodding to her, both headed back up to the classroom. Both Rana and Kaworu were standing near each other talking when they came in.
"Shall we all walk home together?" Shinji asked blinking at them.
Nodding, the group of four gathered their things and walked home together. Oddly, the tension from the classroom never left them and seemed to follow them. Rana and Kaworu walked in front where Shinji and Rei followed behind them. Despite still having suspicious aspects to both red eye pilots, the Sixth Child was exchanging small talk with her freely. It was a good distraction as it seemed to lessen her tension toward them.
"The after school cleaning went a lot faster with four people," Ayanami mentioned.
"Indeed. Might be a suggestion to Miss Horaki," the Third Child agreed after nodding. Hearing nostalgic sounds of metal being dragged on the ground, he glanced to his right down an alleyway. Blinking and seeing the imagery vanish, he looked back forward. Seeing a shop coming up, an impulse came to him. Thinking about it, he waited till the group was nearby it and an opening to speak.
"Excuse me for interjecting…may I treat all of you here?" Shinji asked and gave an open hand gesture. The group stopped and looked to see that they were next to an ice cream parlor. Looking back at him, his expression remained stoic as he only blinked.
"Why?" Kaworu asked blinking in mild surprise and curiosity.
"I wanted to say thank you for helping make the cleaning faster and…" he said then scratched the side of his head. He looked a tad guilty at them.
"...kind of have a craving for a frozen treat…if that is acceptable?"
"…" both Ayanami and Kaworu responded blinking in surprise to see him give a change of expression. About to process and proceed forward, the female twin spoke first.
"Sure!" she replied pleasantly with a smile. Interlacing her arms with both pale skin pilots' arms, she caught both off guard.
"Thank you," the Third Child said with a bow. Turning and opening the door, he gestured all to enter. The worker behind the counter greeted them and told them to ask her if there was any they were interested in sampling. When Shinji was the last person to close the door, Ayanami felt the tension that was following them increase more.
'…this feels…familiar…' she thought feeling nervous. Seeing someone in her peripheral vision, it was the Third Child. About to contemplate further, she became distracted.
"Does Ikari do this normally?" Kaworu whispered. He was standing next to her while looking at all the selections.
"Normally…no," she replied. Both watched Rana walk to where her twin was with a smile on her face. Oddly, the expression on Shinji's face seemed slightly different. It was a lesser degree of being stoic and seemed able to show more expressions.
"Should it cause concern?"
"…no…" Ayanami answered blinking and stepping to the display glass. "Showing of appreciation has many forms."
"Appreciation…how curious of a development," the Sixth Child muttered.
Going up to the counter, he asked the worker what all the differences were of the frozen treats. As the employee explained, the First Child looked at the Third Child again. Blinking in confusion, the differences she saw were not there anymore. His expression was back to normal. Thinking about the stressed atmosphere, it was gone now.
'…something…is not right,' Ayanami thought. Remembrance of flashbacks came when the Third Child was schizophrenic. Recalling the visions that she seemed to be able to see, she tried looking for something.
'If I am able to find a fault in the vision, I will be able to know what is really occurring.'
Making their selections and Shinji paying for them, they went to a table with four chairs. Sitting down, the twins sat on one side with the red-eye pilots on the other side.
"Mmm-mmm!" Rana said joyously after a bite. "So good!"
"Which one did you get?" Kaworu asked. He felt a pleasant sensation go through him from seeing her expression change to a smiling and friendlier one.
"Japanese Berry and Chocolate. What about yours?"
"The worker recommended the vanilla-chocolate swirl with drizzled caramel. It is sweet."
"Sounds like it is. What did you two get?" Rana asked looking over.
"Vanilla made with soy-milk" Ayanami said enjoying the frozen treat's taste.
"Strawberry with a vanilla cone," Shinji said then licked the ice cream.
'…Ikari…never stated that he favors foods…why is he doing so now?' Rei thought.
Still trying to figure out if what she was seeing was real or not, she focused harder on him. In watching him, something about his action seemed to cause a mild sensation. Examining the sensation more, it brought back imagery during the mind merge. The licking that he was doing made it harder to concentrate as the scenes came back into her mind. It made her press her thighs together feeling warm down there.
"…" Rana commented watching him. Looking back at her ice cream, she was about to take a bite then stopped. Looking away and out the window, she licked her ice cream. A look of mild embarrassment came to her face as she stared at something.
'…strange…' Kaworu thought seeing how the two female pilots were reacting. 'Isn't that the normal way of consuming this?'
'However…something about watching him is alluring,' he pondered and stared at him. Visions flashed by that changed what the Third Child was doing. It caused a physiological reaction in him. Blinking in surprise, he looked down.
'This response…but why would it? They are just imaginary…yet…it generates a strong sensation. Almost a wanting impulse…is this what Ayanami experiences?'
As the four continued to consume their frozen treats in awkward tension and silence, they failed to hear an innocent girlish giggle in the background.
' #$%#$yyyyeeeesssss#$%#$%' the dark clone thought. Cutting himself deeply, it moaned pleasurably feeling black and red blood flow freely from its body.
'THELUST!'
'THEIMPULSES!'
'THEDESIRES!'
'THEBURNINGNEEDS!'
'THEWANTS!'
'THEGUILTYPLEASURES!'
'SHOWTHEMALLTOME!,' it screamed in distortion.
It caused the corners of Shinji's mouth to curl up a little. Sounds of skin ripping apart and cracking emitted loudly from the small change. Licking the ice cream again, his expression reset to his stoic one. Knowing that the three were looking at him, he continued to lick the ice cream. He restrained himself many times from grinning widely.
In the underground SEELE facility, Ritsuko continued to lie down on the bed. Several minutes passed by as she was not summoned. Contemplating on the possible questions that the committee members would ask, a part of her knew that she would be scrutinized to no end.
'Given all the irregular events and results from the Angel battles, they probably see NERV as a threat than anything else,' she thought staring up at the unfamiliar ceiling. More minutes passed by in anxious suspension. Feeling more time pass, a electronic and mechanical lock sounded. Opening her eyes and sitting up, the cell door opened. Two SEELE operatives stepped through with one holding onto a rifle.
"Dr. Akagi, the committee members have summoned you. We will escort you to them," one said flatly.
"Okay," she said getting off the bed and standing up. Only taking one step forward, the two operatives did not move. Stopping and blinking at them, the one without a weapon pulled out a piece of paper.
"What's this?" she asked as he handed it to her.
"Terms and conditions of meeting with the SEELE committee."
"…" she said scanning through the document. Seeing the details, her eyes widen.
"WHAT!?" she stated loudly in shock, irritation, and appalled. The click from the operative's rifle kept her from lashing out more.
"Based on the terms and conditions that the NERV Commander consented to, you are required to be bare during the committee meeting."
'That damn bastard!' the scientist thought clenching her teeth and forming her hands into fists.
"Now Dr. Akagi," the SEELE agent stated. He pulled out his pistol and cocked the hammer back. Feeling beyond irritated and looking peeved at them, she straightened herself. Removing her lab coat, she dropped it on the bunk bed. Still wearing the same outfit she had when in custody at NERV HQ, she placed her hands on the zipper for her skirt.
'God damn bastard! I will kill him!' she thought angrily.
About to zip down her skirt, the ceiling lights in the room started to flicker in and out. Stopping and looking up, the lights stopped; however, a presence was slowly crawling into the holding room. Ritsuko froze with eyes widening from recognizing it.
"…no…" she whispered not moving an inch.
"If you are unable to comply Dr. Akagi, you have two options. Either be held in this cell for contempt or remove your clothes. What is your decision?" the lead agent stated flatly. He wasn't aware of what was happening behind him; however, he did notice that a vile iron smell was increasing in the room.
"…!?" Ritsuko reacted. Seeing something leak into the room, she moved her head slowly back with fear on her face.
"What are you doing-!?" the agent said before stopping. Suddenly, something sharp and wet went through him. Blinking in surprise, he looked down at his ribs. There was a sharp black-red tentacle coated with his blood and organs. It smelled and looked grotesque.
'…its…iiiiiittttssss…TiMe#$#$!TIME!TTTIIIMMMEEEE!' a deep monstrous voice boomed from behind.
Without warning, the operatives felt repetitive thrusts through their back and torso. Through their gasps of pain, a distorted innocent humming of a child was heard near them. It sounded like a deranged lullaby that slowly went out of tune as it kept getting more static and glitch sounding.
'…oh god no…' Dr.Akgi thought. Taking quick steps back, she felt she was in a corner of the room. Blinking, her back slammed into the wall from something materializing in front of her.
"…!?" she said.
The evil candid figure was in front of her terrified face. She couldn't describe the shape of it. Too many monstrous and disfigured proportions of skin and limbs cover its body. The amount of gore that was splattered on it and pooling on the ground was beyond grotesque. Shaking with immense fear, it breathed out at her making her gag harshly. Feeling her stomach instantly turn, she threw up in the being's face.
"…a-a-a-a-a-hhhhhh…Dr. Akagi…it is-is-is-is#$%#$!" the corrupted being said calmly at first before shouting at her.
She cringed watching a crude mouth split open. slowly, a ragged and cut up black tongue came out. Holding a hand over her mouth, her lips quivered in disgust watching it lick her bile off its face. The tongue extended itself all the way to the floor to lick the remaining vomit off the floor.
"…C…o…N…t…I…n…U…e…" it whispered retracting its tongue into its mouth. Her stomach turned a little hearing a loud swallow from the insane being in front of her.
"…con…continue?" she asked quietly.
"…yyyyyeeeessssss…" it replied in slow motion while part of its face twitched.
Suddenly, there was a sound of a gun hammer being cocked back. Blinking, the morbid figure vanished from her face. Looking in front of her, the two agents were lying on the floor. Both were cringing in pain, but did not have multiple stab wounds or blood in their torsos. A person stepped into the room in which she flinched from recognizing him. Watching as he closed the door, the person's eyes slowly moved toward her while his body remained still.
"..." he said staring at her.
Feeling her insides instantly tighten, he blinked slowly at her before moving his eyes back at the operatives. Feeling her voice lost in her throat, Shinji lifted the weapon that was in his hands. Without stopping or moving quickly, he pointed the shotgun at one of the operatives' face and pulled the trigger. Sounding like a cannon going off in an enclosed room, the person's head exploded like a bursting watermelon. Instantly, she turned around and plugged her ears.
Despite feeling the splatter from the head exploding, she heard him pump the gun. Despite anticipating the second shot, she jumped from hearing the gun go off again. Though muffled, the sound of a person's head exploding shook her hard. A few seconds of silence went by as the room slowly smelled like gunpowder and blood.
"…Dr…Akagi…?…" a muffled voice called to her.
"…!?" she reacted.
Opening her eyes and pressing her lips together in fright, she slowly turned around. The Third Child was standing between the two headless operatives. He was in his school clothes covered with blood splatter. His hands had become half coated with crimson as some dripped off his fingers. Watching him slowly blink, his black-red eyes bore at her. Her mouth opened from hearing his voice.
"Are you alright Dr. Akagi?" he asked.
"…Ikari…" Ritsuko spoke quietly. Forcing herself to breathe deeply, she didn't move from where she was.
"…what…how…why…are you here?"
"I was asked to," he began tilting his neck. A loud sickening crunch sounded from his neck that made her flinch.
"Liberate you."
'That's what that thing said,' she thought blinking a couple of times. 'Is that what it meant? If so, how did it know I would be imprisoned and here?'
"…what do you mean…liberate...if...you don't mind me asking."
"Based on my assumptions#$%#$it is to free you from here. Unless you wish#$%#$to be held and interrogated by SEELE#$%#$I will apologize and will leave," he answered tilting his head back up without any pops or snaps.
"…who…who asked you?"
"Dr. Akagi."
"…!?" Ritsuko said with her eyes widening. Recalling the conversation of the evil version of the Third Child, her vague unbelievable thought before became surreal.
"…mother…but…she is…"
'#$%#SHE#$#$#$!?'
"…!?" she said. Jumping from hearing the malicious voice shout loudly at her from behind, she immediately went to Shinji. Ignoring the bloodbath, the headless agents, his eyes, and the voice he currently had, she held onto him and shook.
"…?" the male pilot said from feeling bear hugged by the scientist. Hearing the dark clone giggle innocently, he moved the shotgun and aimed at the door.
"Excuse me Dr. Akagi," he said as the door open.
Lifting up and pulling the trigger, another Agent got shot in the face. The gun blast echoed down the hallway causing a delayed and echoing sound of the gunfire. Despite hearing the operative fall lifelessly to the ground with a sickening thud, Ritsuko held him firmer.
"DerrAkaa…iiiconbreeee," he said muffled into her chest. Feeling her loosen up a little, he blinked and was about to speak again. She placed her hands on his cheeks and lifting his face up. Putting her face in front of his, she willed herself to not look away from his unnatural eyes.
"…w-w-what's…h-happening…" Ritsuko asked with a stutter. She looked beyond scared and confused.
"…" the Third Child replied blinking. Hearing no response in his head, he answered the question.
"I believe security will be coming soon."
"Please…" she said with fear in her voice. She moved her face closer so their foreheads were touching. He could feel her trembling as she stared hard into his eyes.
"…I…I don't know…what's going on..."
'#$%#$CuRiOuS#$%#YYYEeeesssssSSSS?$%%' it said behind her.
"…!?" Ritsuko reacted inhaling sharply. She felt a vile breath on the back of her neck, bare shoulders, and the back of her legs. Goosebumps flared as she instantly went around the Third Child. Closing her eyes, her legs gave out as she bear hugged him. Feeling him not be pulled or pushed down, he stood there while she buried her head in his back.
"…?" Shinji said blinking.
Tilting his head again, he saw the dark clone in front of him. It smiled wickedly at him as a vertical line went down the middle of it. Its right side ripped open and unleashed massive black-crimson tentacles that fell on the floor. They slithered up the wall of the holding room. Still grinning cruelly at the Third Child, the male pilot gave a small bow.
'Very well sir.'