Darkness Falls - Chapter 2: Caroline Hinasaki

She looked like her grandmother. At least, that's what everyone told her. She never had seen a picture of her; she had been afraid of cameras.

Strands of auburn hair fell in front of her eyes, escaping from the small knot she had bound her hair into. With a flick of her gloved hand, she tucked the strand comfortable behind her ear, and stepped out of the car, her booted feet clicking on the asphalt. This is Hunters… it's so big…

"Careful Caroline." Jumping slightly, Caroline whirled around and stared at her mother with wide eyes. The exotic Japanese look of her mother, which she had thought made her look beautiful, scared her right now. Her eyes, her black eyes, seemed to peer into her soul, catching a glimpse of a fleeting doubt she shouldn't have been allowed to see, a hidden, twisting fear that was buried deep to keep from bubbling up. "Careful Caroline," she repeated again after a long pause. "This place is cursed… it would do you well to remember the stories."

All Caroline could do was nod in response.

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"Frankly, I'm still amazed he has a granddaughter," Zero said, leaning casually against a wall. Both he and X were waiting outside for the arrival of Caroline. To be precise, X was waiting for her, and Zero was waiting with him, using this as an opportunity to torture his best friend. "I mean… you have to have a kid first to have a grandkid, So unless he adopted, Cain actually got some."

"Zero!" X howled, glaring at the blond. "Really, I don't need that mental image. I really don't." Zero grinned his response.

"What, you don't need to see Cain screwing someone? 'Specially the old, wrinkly Cain we have now? I mean, I would assume his-"

"Just… shut up!"

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"Reploids in there. Child murderers." Her mother spat on the ground, an ugly expression marring her lovely face. Uneasy, Caroline would have taken a step or two away from her, but the bags were heavy, and she wasn't sure if she'd have the energy to move away.

"Remember that. They're soulless. I've yet to see one that has a soul. They're all empty inside.

Just twisted husks of metal. An abomination to nature. It makes me sick to believe that your father is related to the man that is the cause of all of this."

"They don't seem that bad," Caroline said softly, training her chocolate eyes on the asphalt beneath her feet. The scarf wrapped around her neck itched, and it was hot, too. The sun beat down on her from above, making her dizzy and tired…

Her mother snorted. "Of course they don't seem that bad. I suppose it's a good thing you don't understand what I mean." There was a touch of sadness to her voice. "I suppose it's good you can't see what I can… I thought it had gone away… but then-" She stopped, mid sentence, and shook her head. "It doesn't matter. You're only here to make the nightmares stop. You'll tell us the moment they do, right? So we can take you home?"

"Yes Mother."

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"Hey, I think that's her." Both reploids ended their argument at the sight of the two women, one old and one young, approaching. The younger one carried two suitcases, one in each hand, and wore knee-high boots and gloves, along with a simple blouse and skirt. Her gaze was trained onto the ground. The elder one was dressed in a simplified kimono, a statement of part of her heritage.

"Hi," X said in almost a nervous tone. Mentally he scowled himself; there was nothing to be nervous about. True, the elder one, her mother he assumed, looked like she was ready to bite his head off, but that was no reason to be scared of her. No, it was more the younger one, Caroline. She looked so sad, it was almost painful-

"Do not touch her." The harsh voice from the older woman interrupted his train of thought. "She is not yours, she is not like you, do not touch her. Take her to her grandfather and leave her alone after that."

Any retort X had to that died on his tongue as Caroline raised her head and looked at them. It was almost like staring at the living embodiment of pain; he couldn't understand this feeling. It hurt; he could feel his chest contracting. What had happened to her?

"Yes ma'am," Zero said. He extended his hand and offered to take the luggage from the girl, but Caroline shook her head and demurred, strands of hair falling down into her face.

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I know him, she thought, only slightly surprised. The blond man had seemed almost scared of her mother, but she didn't blame him. Most people were. And her mother liked that.

I know him… I was shown you by her. Why did she want me to meet you? Who are you? The questions filled her mind, but she bit down on her tongue and walked forward, staring at the ground again. A woman had appeared in her dreams a while ago… a beautiful woman with long brown hair. She had shown her this man, and begged her to find him.

But why Iris? Why do you want me to know