Chapter 7: The Monster with a Heart
Murasaki Sakaki sit down in the roof of the tall building she was using as a hideout. She was looking at the city, destroyed, decaying. It's been almost two days since she saw the God Eaters near. She's been smelling them, they start frecuenting the area. Not only that, but she sees something far away in the distance. It looked like a city, but it was moving. She wanted to take a look, but she need to be very wary of it. She didn't know what to expect of it. Adam and Maria were inside while she stay in the roof. She need some time alone to think on her next move. She was seriously thinking about leaving, but for some reason she can't. She feels like that would be a huge mistake. She sense something surrounding the city, maybe the Hannibal is patrolling the area, waiting for her to leave the city to attack. She would do the same if she's the one with a grudge against someone else that might hide in the city. Murasaki knew that she couldn't stay there forever. She had Aragamis she could hunt and eat, but what about the kids with her? They can't eat what she eat. Who knows what will do to them? Murasaki sigh and go back inside. She saw Adam sleeping and Maria reading the book she always has. Issac, the little dog, is sleeping in a corner. Murasaki sit next to Maria. The silence didn't leave the room for at least a couple of minutes more. Murasaki then speak to Maria.
"We might've a problem here" She said and Maria look at her. "We need to leave this place, but I think we won't make it out without the possibility is one of us being left behind"
"Wh-What do you mean by that?" Maria ask in fear.
"Listen... There's no food for either of you here. You won't survive, not as long you stay here. I need to take you out of here, but the Aragami is wandering outside the city, waiting for me. If he see any of you, he will kill you without a second thought... I have an idea, but I need you to trust me on it"
"S-Sure. What is it?"
"Listen... Not so far away, there's a forest. As soon we take a step outside of the city, I want you to run right in the forest. You'll see it, it's not too far away. I'll take care of the Aragami and join you in the forest"
"Th-The forest?" Maria ask with fear. "A-Are you sure it's safe?"
"What do you mean?" Murasaki ask with concern and Maria look down.
"Remember when I told you we were with another group?" She asks and Murasaki nodded. "We were in the forest when it happen... when they ambush us and... kill them all"
"The thieves?"
"Y-Yes. They surround us, they had guns and... they shoot. Adam and I were lucky, we escape, but the others... I don't want to think about that. I... I... I was so scared that they would find us... I'm scared that they might still be there. What if they didn't leave that forest? What if they find us? What if-"
"Maria, calm down" Murasaki kneel in front of her and grab her hands. "Listen, I'll protect you, no matter what. If those guys appear again and try something, I'll get rid of them. Trust me, I'll protect you both from anything. We are all together in this mess"
"A-Are you sure you are gonna be okay?"
"... No... But now the only thing that matter is your safety and Adam's" Murasaki look at her hands. "You know... I've changed a lot since I leave the Branch... I... I don't really remember some things about myself, but I can tell that I used to be a funny person... How naive and stupid I must've been. This world, the outside world, can change you a lot. I may be a monster now, but I'm not powerless and you bet that anything that tries to stop me will die and if something tries to hurt any of you, will end up as nothing more than a puddle of blood. Don't worry about me, I'm fine... Still, Don't be too comfortable. I'm not going to stay forever, you should know that. I may look like an unstoppable monster, but I'm not. Eventually... We all die" Murasaki stand up. "Keep that in mind... But as long as you two are with me, I'll keep you both safe. That's a promise I will not break"
"That's nice coming from you" Murasaki turn to see Adam. He woke up just in time to hear her conversation with Maria.
"I can be nice from time to time, you know"
"Yeah, keep lying to yourself. Could you at least not eat your food with your mouth open? It's really gross"
"Very funny... I'll stop when you stop... doing... I don't know, I'll find a flaw on you soon enough"
"Hehe, I'll wait until you point it out"
Later that day, Murasaki talk with the kids and ask them about what they think about her plan to get them out of the city. Both Adam and Maria weren't so sure about the plan, but it was better than staying in a place where there's no food for them. They'll eventually starve to death, that if they don't get eating be the Aragami. For a moment, Murasaki thought on the possibility of going back to the Branch and leave them there. It was a possibility, but she didn't want to get near that place again. She can't see Soma again after what happened, she doesn't know what to say or do if she gets to see him again. She doesn't want them to see her in this state and much less going back, fearing that she might lose her mind and attack them. There was a possibility of that happening and she didn't want to take the risk. The three of them were walking slowly toward the limits of the city. Murasaki was carrying Issac in her arms, the small puppy looks at her, oblivious as to what is going to happen. Maria was holding Adam's hand while carrying her book. Murasaki looks up, the sun was slowly going down. In a couple of hours, it will get dark and they want to avoid staying in the open when it does.
"So, are you sure about this?" Adam asks. "Are you going to keep it busy long enough for us to run away?"
"Trust me, I will. I need you to run to the forest, that's all. When I'm done with it, I'll join you there. Just wait for me..." Murasaki sigh. "But... If I don't appear by night, leave without me"
"But you said-"
"That I'll keep you safe, that's what I'm going to do. If I die doing so then I won't break my promise!" Murasaki yells at Maria. "Just... Do it, okay? And take care of the little one. He's gonna need someone to take care of him if I'm not around" Murasaki give Isaac to Adam. "We are getting closer... As soon I attack the bastard, you run, alright?"
"..." Both Adam and Maria didn't answer her.
"Alright?" She asks again, demanding the answer.
"Yes, we understand" Said Adam.
"Good" Murasaki was the first in stepping outside the city.
There were only sand and dry landscapes as far as she can see, except for the forest. She saw it near the city. Not so near, but at a relatively close distance. Murasaki shake her hands and stretch her arms. She feels the ground shaking a little, she knew he was coming for her. Murasaki looks at the kids behind her, she smiles at them and points at the forest.
"This is your chance, go!" She yells and they run away. "... I want this to be the last time I get to fight this bastard" As soon she said that, the Green Hannibal appear from beneath the sand. The huge monster roars at her and prepares to attack. "This is the end, Bitch! Only one of us is getting out of this alive! Come on!"
The Green Hannibal jump at her. Murasaki let out her wings and use them as a shield. She withstands the Hannibal's claws and barely moves her from the place. Murasaki then uses her wings to stab the Hannibal right in the eyes, leaving it temporarily blind. She didn't stop there, she grabs it by the head and with all her strength rip its lower jaw. The Hannibal spit acid at her, but she dodged it by jumping right on it's back, she then closes her fist and with all her strength she punches the Hannibal. Her fist went inside the monster, she then proceeds to rip its skin away. The Hannibal try to shake her off, but Murasaki use her wings to stay on top of the Hannibal, she stabs them on its back so deeply that it almost looks like she was hugging it. Murasaki sank her hand deeper inside the Aragami and reach its core. She smiles and grabs it, she then pull it out, making the Hannibal fall to the ground. She grab the core with both hands and eat it savagely. She knew that another core will appear soon so she eat as fast as she could and again sink her hands inside the Aragami, this time she went deeper and her hands reach something, a solid organ. She then could feel the new core forming right next to it. Murasaki grabs the solid organ and pull it out of the body. She had in her hands what appear to be a human skull with what appears to be a heart coming out of the back. The organ was still attached to the Hannibal so she cut the veins and the core inside the Hannibal stop regenerating, instead, it rots away, just like the rest of the body. Murasaki jumps down from the monster and sigh.
"Well... That was easier than I was expecting" She sigh. "Almost anticlimactic... I guess he got careless, what a dumbass" She looked down at the skull and smells it. "It smells weird... but it's still something" Murasaki break the skull and leave the organ exposed. She eats it without a second thought or even wondering what was doing an organ inside a skull, inside an Aragami. She knew that this organ was the reason why the Hannibal could regenerate the core, but she didn't stop to even think why or how it works. All she could think about was about the prize of eating the loser, or what was left of it.
Murasaki then felt something different. She felt her body burning and sore. She falls to her knees and felt a pain coming from her stomach, going all the way to her head and then her whole body. Murasaki closes her eyes in pain and start screaming in pain. Her body was hot, burning and her insides were twisting. She experiences something incredibly painful and there was nobody around to help her. Murasaki begs for it to end, but there was no sign of the pain ending. Murasaki tries to stand up but fall again, she felt something changing inside of her. She couldn't withstand the pain so she pass out...
It was already dark, the sun was slowly hiding in the distance. In a matter of minutes, there will be only darkness. Adam and Maria stand next to the forest, waiting for Murasaki to come back but since she told them to run, they didn't stop, not even when they hear her yelling. They kept running until they reach the forest. While Maria looks at the city, Adam tries to start a fire with very little success. After a while, Adam got frustrated and stop.
"We should keep going. It's too dark already" He said.
"Yes... we should" Said Maria, looking at the distance. "Is she really...?" Maria didn't want to say it or even thinking about it, but said it nonetheless. "... Dead?
"I don't know, but we should run for now. We need a safe place. For now, the trees are a good choice, we only have to climb"
"Y-Yes" Maria didn't oppose to the idea.
They get deeper into the forest and the sun finally disappears in the distance, the dark night sky arrives and the only thing shining in the sky are the stars. Adam finds a tree that might be a good hiding spot, not too tall for them to try climbing it and not too small for the Aragami to find them. He tries to climb it, but he fall soon after. He wasn't used to climbing trees, he got really cocky.
"Dammit!" He yells. "We have to climb or else..." Maria get closer to Adam, hiding behind him
"Adam... I see a light" She points past the tree, there was, in fact, a light.
They get closer and notice a fire, but they stop as soon they saw three people surrounding the fire, they were armed and had blood in them. Maria and Adam recognize them immediately, they were the group that attacks them before. They take a few steps backward. They try to leave quietly, but they fail to notice another man right behind them. He grabs them both from the arms and throws them right in front of the fire, making the rest of the group jump in surprise.
"Hey! Look what I found!" He yells and kicks Adam. "The two puppies that run away the other day!" The entire group stand up and surround the two kids.
"Well, take a look at this" Said the tallest man, who appears to be the leader of the group. "We thought you two were eating by the Aragami, but look at you... Surviving, I'm kinda proud"
"Shut up!" Adam yell. He stands up, but the man hit him right in the face, making him bleed.
"No, you shut up" He claps. "Alright kids, here's what it's going to happen. We have... needs. Between those, we need food. As you can see, there's nothing left in this left to rot world so... you two will be enough"
"W-W-Wait!" Maria yell. "What happened to the others? What did you do to them?!"
"Can't you guess?" He asks. "They were our last week's food. Now is your turn... although. I think the kid and that puppy should be enough. We'll keep the girl for a while. Bring the kid!"
"What?! No!" Adam yell. The entire group hold him down and drag him to the fire. Maria was held against a tree by the man that found them. One of the men grab Isaac and throw him against the ground. The little dog whined. Maria manages to shake the man off and run to the dog, but the men that throw it... step on his head before Maria could reach it. Maria stop as soon the blood splashed in her face. There was a dead silence surrounding the place, Maria's eyes focus at the broken head of the little dog, blood coming out of it and part of its brains was scattered in the ground. She then look at the man, she grab her book and throw at him in rage. She wanted to hurt him, but the man punch her, making her fall to the ground, right next to the dead dog. Maria try to stand up, but the man kick her and grab her by the hair so hard he tore a little of her hair.
"You bastards! You are gonna pay for that!" Adam yells, but the leader kicks him in the stomach, making him throw up.
"Shut up. You are too loud. Take the girl away, we'll deal with her later" He then takes out a knife and grab Adam by the hair. "Any last words?"
The man holding down Maria, grab her by the hair and drag her away, but suddenly the man let go of her... as he was grabbed by the foot by something and dragged into the forest, into the endless darkness of the forest. Everyone stop and stare speechlessly where the man was being dragged. Nobody said a word, nobody move, they just look. Then they hear a scream that ended suddenly, followed by the sound of bones breaking a twisting that echoed through the forest. Seconds later, another man was taken, in the same way, but this time much faster than the first time. The leader grabbed Adam by the hair and pull him close while pointing at him with the knife. The last remaining man was about to take Maria but was attacked, this time from the front. A figure, too fast to even describe, grab the man and drag him into the forest with it... Now only the leader of the group remains standing. He starts shaking and looking around him, trying to predict where the attack will come. Maria and Adam were more scared than the man by the sudden attack and don't know what to expect. Maria then looks up at the trees and her eyes widen. From above the man, a huge, long tail move slowly. When the man noticed it, it was too late for him. The tail wraps around his neck and takes him up. Adam took that chance to break free from the man, he fall to the ground as he saw the man disappearing in the branches of the trees. There was silence for a brief moment before the man fall from the tree, still alive, but gasping for air. Adam and Maria then saw their savior, landing in the ground gracefully and revealing herself.
"Murasaki!" Scream Maria with joy and run to hug her. Murasaki kneels and hugs her back. Adam stood up and went to hug her too but notice something weird on Murasaki, she had now a tail, a really long tail and she now had two horns instead of one. Murasaki let go of Maria and check on Adam.
"Are you alright?" She asks. Adam nodded, not saying another word, for some reason he found her more intimidating. She then walks to the man that was about to kill Adam. Murasaki's eyes wander around the place and they focus on the dead dog. She then looks at the man with anger. The man, still coughing and trying to breathe, look at Murasaki with fear and confusion.
"Wh-Wh-What are you?!"
"I'm your worst nightmare" She replied and grab the man. She lifted him and push him against a tree. "What were you going to do with them?! Were you planning on eating them?! Were your planning on abusing her? You sick bastard! She's just a little girl! And that dog... It didn't deserve that. It was just a puppy..." Murasaki was about to cry but her anger was overtaking her sorrow. The man didn't answer to her questions, he refuses to answer. "Well... Guess what... Someone here is going to become someone else' food... And I'm not talking about the kids" Murasaki smirk and the man start shaking. He try to break free from her grasp, but it was useless. "Kids... Turn around for a moment... Trust me. Don't look until I say so" She said, Maria and Adam turn around, Maria was the only one to cover her ears. She didn't want to even hear the screams.
"Co-Co-Come on. We-We can talk about this. Pl-Please!" The man begs for his life, which makes Murasaki's grin grow wider. She was enjoying it. "No! Let me go!"
"Food don't talk," She said, push the man harder against the tree and open her mouth, only to reveal a hidden sharp row of teeth. She then, without mercy, bite the man in the neck so savagely and with such strength that breaks the neck in the process, killing him almost immediately. She didn't stop there, she took off most of the neck and swallow it whole. The man's head fall to the ground, alongside the body. Murasaki fall to her knees and start devouring the body, Adam hear the sound of bones crushing and breaking, Maria could hear them too but she did her best to ignore it. In less than a minute, Murasaki eats the man whole, leaving behind the clothes and some bones. She gulps, swallowing what was left of him and lick her fingers that got tainted with blood. She wasn't proud of what she just did, but she didn't want to just kill him, she wants him to disappear. "It's over, Kids," She said and they turn around. They quickly look away at what was left of the man. They were disgusted and scared.
"Y-You... eat him," Said Adam. "You actually... Eat him whole"
"..." Murasaki looks down, ashamed. "Sorry"
"No, it's fine, I... it doesn't matter, I guess." Adam tries to calm himself but seeing Murasaki's mouth full of blood makes him more scare of her. She looked like a true monster.
"I'm sorry I didn't arrive sooner"
"It's fine..." Said Maria with tears in her eyes, she then walks to Murasaki with fear, but that didn't stop her to hug her. She, like Adam, was scared but grateful that she appear and save them. "You came back to us. That's what matter" Murasaki kneel and hug Maria back.
"I wish I could've come sooner... I'm sorry you had to see this side of me too. It's disgusting, I know" Murasaki let go of her and walk to the body of the puppy and pick it up, carefully. She took it to a corner and dig a little grave. "I'm so sorry" She whispers as she put the body inside the grave. "I..." Maria hugs her from behind. Adam gets closer and hugs her too. Murasaki didn't know why, but she was feeling really bad. It wasn't that long since she found the dog and she didn't have the time to get attached to it, but for some reason, she feels like she already had some kind of connection to it and seeing it dead in her hands hurt her. It really hurt her. She starts crying quietly while Adam and Maria hug her.
"Everything is fine now..." Said Adam to make her feel better. "Everything... should be fine... As long we are together"
An hour has passed after Murasaki save Adam and Maria. The three of them were next to the fire, Adam and Maria were sleeping while Murasaki checks one of the men's backpack. She found a couple of useful items, like a bag full of flash grenades and a map of what appears to be a very complex subway map that goes from city to city. It was even marked which tunnels are intact and which aren't. She also finds a diary. She takes a quick look in it and something interesting caught her eyes. She read it in silence.
"No matter what we do, we can't get closer to the Satellite Base near Fenrir's Far East Branch. We are in their blacklist. We try to steal their supplies, but they are well guarded, we need a plan if we want to survive here... That Satellite Base must be a paradise compared to this shitty place... Next week we'll try to attack a vehicle that transport supplies from the Far East Branch to the Satellite Base. We know the way it will take, we only need guns..."
Next to that information was a little map drawn by hand. Murasaki take a quick look and almost immediately recognize the place. The Base was really near the Branch and the Plains were right in the middle. For a moment, Murasaki thought of stealing the supplies but then a better idea comes to mind... Going to the Base and leave the children there. She didn't know too much about the Satellite Bases, but it was worth trying. She knows she can't protect them forever and she knows that they might be in more danger with her rather than being in a place protected by Fenrir. Murasaki thinks about it for a while, taking into consideration what might happen if she has the kids around. They might not last that long, mainly if she starts changing into a more monstrous form. She's slowly changing physically and she might turn into an Aragami in a couple of years at this rate. Murasaki knew that... and yet... She don't want to give them away. If they are gone, then she will be alone again. She manages to be on her own for a long time, but she is starting to miss the company, people around her... Someone to talk to.
"... If I do that... Will I keep them safe?" Murasaki looks at both kids sleeping next to her and then at the little grave she made for the dog that will never see again. She then looks at her blood tainted hands and that's when she decided for the first time what she wanted to do. What was her objective, besides surviving in this brutal, unforgiving world. "I will protect them... and hold on to what's left of my humanity..."