A/N: It's drawing to the conclusion, and nothing will be as it seems. A bit of remembering of some AxI that occured in a previous chapter.
James Hunter leapt across the room, the bullets tracking after him. He felt one pass through his leg, the rail of fire as nerves and skin were torn apart, the cold ice sensation as they began to mend themselves. He hit the ground on the far side and rolled, coming up in a crouch and rolling the small sphere towards them. He used his momentum to carry him into another roll, coming to a stop behind a small support girder. The resonant charge detonated, the shock wave rattling a few pebbles free of the ceiling. He looked back.
They wouldn't be bothering anyone anytime soon.
He pulled his pistols and made sure the pack was still on his back. He continued forward, eyes and ears alert. He had left Heinkel Wolfe and Yumiko Takagi with Seras Victoria, Amon, and Robin Sena for added firepower. He asked them to get to the control room and see what it would take to rig it to blow. He continued on, knowing that Rai-Dei was still out there, and it would take an assassin to kill an assassin, and he didn't want to worry about their wellbeing when he fought the man.
He just hoped that he would be the one that walked away.
He heard the swish a nanosecond before he bent at the hip, and he saw the line carved into the rock at the height of his neck. He kicked straight backwards, connecting with a solid mass and heard a grunt as it gave slightly. He spun, looking on as the Japanese assassin caught his breath quickly. The pale colour of the man's robes seemed in opposition to the violent occupation he had chosen, perhaps as a form of camouflage.
"Rai-Dei the Blade," Hunter said, bowing out of respect.
"James Hunter, once Robin Valar, of old the Asesino de los asesinos. You are a worthy opponent." He held his sword in a light grip, showing the intimacy with which he was associated with the weapon. "For one of us, this will be a good day to die."
At least he isn't completely philosophical like Goemon was, he thought as he set himself. He pulled the asp out and flicked it to its full length, knowing that the metal rod would stand up to the harsh clash against the steel of the other man's sword.
As he began to defend himself, he allowed a small corner of his mind to flash back on the one caper he had partaken in with Arsene Lupin III. He wondered what the man was doing now.
"Fujiko, would you just stop for a second and let me explain?" the slim man called out.
The woman kept walking, not willing to let him sweet talk her this time. She looked at the man sitting in a serene pose on the couch. "What do you think, Goemon?"
The man shrugged, his shoulders barely moving. "This is not my battle."
The slim man turned to the other man in the room. "Jigen, help me out here."
"Forget it, Lupin. You know my stance on women." He left the particularly that one off out of some sense of decency.
The slim man ran a hand though his hair, ruining the usually smooth bowl cut. "So I took the necklace. I am a thief, after all."
"It was my grandmother's!"
"And your mother wouldn't give it to you despite the fact you asked her nicely. I thought it would be a nice Christmas gift."
"It's the middle of August!"
"Birthday?"
"Is in March," she said, glowering at him. How dare he try that tactic!
"Obsessive-compulsive kleptomaniac?"
"Obviously," she remarked.
"I love you?"
"Forget it, Arsene. You're on the couch tonight."
The man sighed as the door to the bedroom slammed.
"Just as well. At least I won't have her sticking her cold feet into my back in the middle of the night."
Integra Wingates Hellsing levelled the shotgun at the door and pulled the trigger. She passed through the entryway and gazed around, reaching up and pulling down the Holy Writ that was posed over the door, tearing it in half.
Alucard entered the room now followed by Alexander Anderson, his gaze sweeping across the various tables and benches in the room. Several of the worktables held racks bearing large quantities of test tubes.
And in each test tube was a bit of silicone.
FREAK chips. Hundreds of them.
The largest concentration of the damned things she had ever seen.
"So this is where the Millennium group moved their supplies to after we raided them," she said as she looked about the room.
"Apparently," drawled the priest as he came in, glowering at the abominations of science. He hated the fact that these things created monsters, hated the fact that the group he served loyally had aided in the construction. He brought a bayonet up to sweep through a rack when Integra placed a hand on his arm.
"Shh," she said, her head cocked as though listening.
The Scotsman listened. "I dinnea hear anything."
The vampire was turning his head this way and that as well. "No, I heard it too, then silence. I don't know what it could be," he cut off suddenly, his eyes darting to a corner of the room. It was rotating.
Three guns and two pairs of knives were already coming about to aim at the spot. A large man stepped out, his long hair and aristocratic features identifying him at once.
"Erik Valar, I assume," Alucard said, holding his weapons steady.
"You would be correct," the man said in a suave, silky voice. He bore no weapon and stood with one hand gripping the opposite wrist, his hands dangling about his hips. He was in no way making a threatening move or even seeming a threat. Something was very wrong.
Integra tightened her grip on her shotgun. She knew something was going to happen and soon. He wouldn't have shown himself otherwise. She found herself raising the weapon slightly to point at his chest.
"Miss Hellsing," Valar said. "So nice to see you once again. And you as well, Father Anderson. I trust you both have been well since we parted last?"
The gleam of silver flickered in the light of the room as the bayonet slammed into the wall to the vampire's side. Alucard grinned. He knew the priest hadn't missed so much as Valar had stepped to the side just before it had hit him.
But it gave him ammunition to use later on to taunt the man. It would be marvellous fun.
"Ye damned monster, how dare ye trick a man of God into doing your dirty work?"
"Rather simple, actually," the aristocrat said, walking among the racks of chips as though strolling through a garden or the shelves of a wine cellar. "You wanted a chance to hit Hellsing. I gave you the chance. The rest was just you fooling yourself. And I have to thank you again for bringing me the two subjects I need for my little experiment later tonight."
That brought her shotgun up to point straight at his head. "Still trying to open the Seals, are we? Too bad you're on the wrong end of the gun." She started squeezing the trigger as he spread his hands, and suddenly she saw Alucard stumble and Anderson grip his head in pain. She looked around and saw several panels had slid open, revealing both Holy Writs and a high frequency sonic amplifier. The Writs dampened Alucard's power and the high frequency waves pounded at the priest's enhanced hearing, so close to that of a werewolf.
She turned to face the vampire across the room from her again. "Too bad you've just trapped yourself," she said as she pulled the trigger.
Test tubes shattered and wood splintered, but to her surprise, Valar merely faded from view for a moment, a sharp cackle escaping his lips.
"A little trick I learned from a witch in my employ. It seems that while my vampiric powers are dampened, using external magic is still permitted. So I can still do this," he said, gesturing with a hand in a negligent manner, as though talking about some trifling detail.
She felt her pistols fly from their holsters, followed by the sabre and her small knife. Her shotgun was ripped from her grip at the same time as Alucard's pistols and the two blades Anderson held in his limp hands. The priest was kneeling on the floor, trying in vain to block the noise that only he could hear from his ears. A vein in his forehead started to stand out from his struggle.
She stepped back, and tried the only option left to her. "Situation A, release level one. The Cromwell approval is authorized. Your master Hellsing commands it."
Alucard stepped forward, his hair growing and his smile going evil, but that was as far as the change occurred. His face twisted with disbelief as he tried to call upon his various powers and failed. Valar laughed.
"Ah, how the mighty have fallen, eh Vlad?" The double-fanged vampire paced around a table, and for the first time Integra noticed the trace of accent in his voice.
The same trace that Alucard spoke with.
The accent of the noble house of Walachia.
"I've plotted your downfall for centuries, ever since you stole Jasmine from my grasp, making her one of your 'brides,'" he said, the dual fangs in his mouth made him look like a frenzied beast. "And then the Major came about with the perfect plan, and I aided him. And Rip. Dear old Rip,' he sighed.
Integra looked on in realization. He didn't want her just because of her blood. It would be a part in his defeat of Alucard, to make him feel like a worthless pet that failed to protect his master. In retaliation for stealing a woman from him.
Two women, if you wanted to count Rip Van Winkle as a woman.
Suddenly, she recalled the second half of the ritual Hunter had described to her upon her return.
"A willing sacrifice," she murmured. Oh God, what a mistake we've made.
We've just given him both of the things he needs the most.
Seras Victoria poked her head around the corner. Damned FREAKS, she thought. Just when things started going right, they run into a little bit of a problem.
Well, seventy problems.
All spread out across the generator room.
Armed.
Heavily.
To the teeth.
And in the middle of the room stood a mountain of a FREAK, easily seven feet tall and built like a professional wrestler. He pointed this way and that, ordering the placement of guards and such.
Her palms itched, wanting to feel the weight of her Gravedigger in one and her Socom in the other. She felt the muscles in her legs tighten, preparing her to spring forward and attack. She felt all of the familiar signs of the onset of bloodlust, but she forced them back down, relaxing. She had four other people she had to worry about now.
She felt the cool metal of the pendant James had given her several days ago and her mind automatically flashed to him. She wondered if he was ok, if he needed help. She couldn't call to him, the complex had Holy Writs scattered about in some places, dampening down her abilities. She clenched her fists, feeling her nails bite into her palms. She forced them to shrink back to their normal operating size. Her red irises roved across the room one more time, looking for anything that would be of use.
A plan, she had to make a plan. She intended to hold James to his promise, and to do so, she had to walk out of this alive as well. Have Robin saturate the room?
No, not with all the flammable materials. Too risky. And they didn't have enough time to take them out from the doorway, not if they wanted to get it done cleanly, without backup being called in.
She glanced about again, and her eyes fell on something and she smiled.
"Heinkel," she called quietly. "Come here and tell me if I'm seeing things."
The Austrian woman came up on the other side of the door and looked where the blonde vampire pointed. She smiled.
"Indeed, he is quite stupid. Vould you like to count down, or just dive in vith guns blazing?"
Seras took a quick stock of her inventory. While she was still quite good on ammunition, she knew that the other woman wasn't. "Count down from five on my mark," she said, pulling the Gravedigger free.
"Mark," she said rising and entering the room, firing. Three FREAKS fell, another, two more.
Another shot rang out from behind her. She heard the metallic spang as the bullet struck its target, followed by the loud roaring hiss of the escaping steam that blanketed the room in its obscuring fog, drowning out the pained scream of the large FREAK that had been standing by the high pressure line.
Seras smiled. She could work in this environment. She'd had three years getting used to her senses. These fakes probably didn't know what they were capable of. She blended with the mist, solidifying only when attacking. Soon, as the steam cooled and dissipated, there were only twelve FREAKS left. She stood and reloaded her Gravedigger and was about to call the others in when a huge paw clamped onto her shoulder and threw her across the room into the boiler. The impact dented the side of the device and she felt herself drop to the ground like a limp rag.
What the hell? She shook her head to clear the ringing and saw the mountain range stalking her, advancing quickly, his blistered face already healing over. Aw bloody hell.
She stood, bringing her pistol around to fire only to see the FREAK erupt in a burst of flames, burning down to nothing almost immediately. She saw Robin in the room, nodding at her as she turned back to the fight, her hands still tucked in the pockets of her jacket, eyes narrowed and head lowered and slightly forward as she focused on a ghoul that got too close.
Heinkel and Yumie were in as well, attacking with reserved precision and wanton abandon respectively. The fight was short at best and abysmally easy at worst.
They must not have been the cream of the crop, she thought as she holstered her pistol again.
She pulled the small radio earpiece from her pocket, tucking the bud inside her ear and positioning the microphone. "Walter, can you still hear me?"
"Of course, Miss Victoria. What is it you need?"
"What kind of explosives did you pack, exactly, outside of the incendiary rounds for the Halconnen?"
"I brought several large thermite charges. I'm not sure how large a radius they will produce, given that they are still rather new to me. I have twenty of them."
She glanced around the room, wondering how much damage twenty of those charges could do. She had seen the destruction the tiny grenades of James' had made. She had asked him what if he didn't want to make a huge crater when he used them. His reply had been simple and as cold as his eyes had turned.
"Then you don't use a resonant charge, and certainly not one with thermite as the agent. Thermite has two settings: On and Off. And something about the way a resonant charge detonates makes the On setting a lot bigger."
She felt the wonder and worry creep up inside again, like the trails of icy worms in her stomach. She had a rising fear, a sense that something big was about to happen, something horrible.
And she hated it when she got those feelings.
So far they had been turning out right.
As he ducked the slash, he kicked out, connecting with the man's knee.
Unfortunately, Rai-Dei was already stepping back to prepare for the next swing, so all he did was make the knee lock instead of break like he had wished. He got the asp up in time for a block in the high right position of the outer ring of defence.
He stared across at the other assassin. So far, they had fought each other to a standstill, stalemating each time. He was stronger and faster, but Rai-Dei was more skilled in the art they were fighting at. They were effectively standing at square one. He knew that eventually, the human would tire and he would win then, but how long that would be was anyone's guess. He didn't have time to play around forever.
"You are a great warrior, James," the Japanese man said. "It is a pity we meet as foes. In another life, I would have called you friend."
"Maybe we'll meet in that other life." He stepped back; clearing his baton from the katana sword, looking his opponent in the eye, knowing that his gaze had gone from the bright grey-blue it normally was into the mostly transparent, dead eyes that he wore when he was using his abilities. They were a fearsome sight, but the gaze in the samurai's eyes was the same.
The eyes of someone who wouldn't quit until the task was done or he lay dead.
He lowered the asp, and extended his hand in a gesture of supplication. "Why do we have to do this? It would result only in the death of a great fighter. It would be a sad waste."
Rai-Dei looked at the hand, and took it, shaking it with a firm grip. "True, but falling in battle against a worthy opponent is a death fitting to one of our position. Come, Dhampir, and give it your all."
Hunter sighed, and met the oncoming attacks with the same results as before.
She pushed the locking button on the control panel of the device she knelt over. An LED blinked once, twice, three times, then glowed a steady red. She nodded and stood, looking around the generator room as Heinkel and Amon set up the other charges in spots that would do the most damage.
Seras pulled out the comm headset again, and flicked the switch on the device in her pocket.
"James, do you copy? Over," she said.
Static met her, mocking her with its hiss. She tried twice more, and then a voice broke into the frequency.
"Commander Victoria?"
She thought for a moment, trying to place the woman's name. Meryl, that was it.
"What is it, Meryl?"
"We could use some help up here. Nick just had a fight with one of Knives' men and is hurt pretty bad. If we don't get him out of here soon, he's going to die. Milly is in bad shape too, mentally."
The vampire thought for a moment. She could apparate them back to the base, where Walter could help tend the wound and keep them from coming to harm. Or, while taking longer, she could take them back to headquarters, where the medical staff could help them.
She got Amon's attention. "I've got to go and help Vash's group out. You ok for now?"
He nodded.
She was gone before his head even started to rise again.
Integra opened her eyes, feeling pain as she did so. She was upright, manacled to a wall in a chamber hollowed out from the heart of the mountain. On the floor was a giant symbol, a pentagram with various glyphs and sigils drawn about it in dust. Across the room, Alucard was similarly bound, several Writs around him to dampen his powers.
Of Anderson, she saw nothing.
Nothing that could be called a preist, that is. She could see the gloved hand, fingers still twitching, on the edge of her vision. What little that was in her field of view made her glad she couldn't see the rest. She wasn't sure she wanted to see it.
She looked at the means she was bound with. Iron manacles at her wrists and ankles, an iron band about her stomach. She was on a face of rock that angled forward slightly, so that she was above the ground and facing it.
A pair of feet came into her vision. She didn't have to look up to see whom they belonged to.
"I got out once, I'll do it again," she said, her tone acid.
"Ah, but there isn't a jailor here whose neck you can snap." He looked at her, his eyes wild with glee. "In a matter of hours, you will be part of a ritual that will help me to cleanse the world of the filth that walks it."
She snorted. "I don't suppose that 'filth' would happen to be the FREAKS, would they?"
Alucard, she called out in her mind. Wake up you smarmy bastard. NOW!
"No, sadly. You see, there are too many of your kind that have the fortitude to stand up to us. While I would prefer draining each of you individually, that would take far too much time. So I'm giving up the taste of your blood in exchange for guaranteed success."
He pulled a small pocket watch out and looked at it. "But without the others, I'm afraid I can't start just yet. Seems I'll have to entice them to join us." He left, leaving Integra to wonder just what he meant.
Alucard stirred.
Are you ok?
He raised his head. If you count the headache as normal, yes. He glanced at the Writs. It seems as though they are meant to keep me from escaping instead of communicating with you. I wonder why.
She shivered. I don't want to know. It probably isn't good news for us. Can you get free the old fashioned way?
No, he thought. She saw him struggle against his bands. There's some sort of binding spell as well as the iron. More than I can struggle against with the Writs up.
How are we going to get out? she thought to herself.
There is always a way, he thought at her, a mental caress drifting through her mind like his hand cupping her face. And James and the Police Girl are still out there. It isn't over yet.
I know, she replied. But just in case, I, she hesitated.
She felt more than saw the eyebrow raise. But?
Her mind was awhirl with emotions, thoughts, fears, doubts. It was odd that she had to sort them out to make any sense of her own thoughts. One thing was clear, however.
The prospect of loosing the No-Life King, chained to the wall across from her like Prometheus on the edge of the world, was scaring her more than her own impending death.
And that thought scared her as well.
I, she tried again, and again hesitated.
She felt his smile, the genuine smile, not the insane one he so often plastered across his visage. It's ok, I feel it as well.
She craned her neck, trying to meet his eyes while he did the same. She wanted to see him, to look at him more than ever.
I love you, she thought, flinging caution to the winds. She stood a good chance of dying tonight anyway.
And I you, Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing. Which accounts for the trouble I give you.
She smiled. You always did focus on me more than anyone else in the manor.
It's been a long time since I courted someone. A mental shrug. So I went with the only thing I could think of. Our sparring was often the only enjoyable part of the evenings.
Agreed, she thought. And I always wondered why I let you get away with so much insubordination.
Like you could have done anything about it in the first place.
She smiled a grin that she had learned from him, lacking only the fangs.
I seem to recall you saying something contrary to that the other night, O Immortal One.
She felt his slight blush in her mind. Need I remind you of the noises you made later on in that same discussion, Sir Integra? Perhaps you should be the one called Kitten, not the Police Girl.
His laughter echoed in her mind as she blushed. But at least they could communicate. It made the imprisonment bearable.
She shut her eyes, and pictured her chambers at the manor. Alucard joined her in her minds eye, using what little of his illusionary ability he still commanded to make it seem real.
She walked up to him, and wrapped her arms about his neck, kissing him unrestrained, with the fire that only those who knew it would be the last kiss could muster. She forced him back against the wall of her room, holding him there while she drank in every little bit about him. The warmth of his body; the sound of his breathing; the smell of his body, that old book smell that reminder her of her days in study; the taste of his lips, his tongue as it probed her mouth.
His arms enveloped her, pulling her close and holding her there. His hands slid to her waist, and slowly pulled her shirt from it's tucked in position, just as he had that night at the manor.
She let the reality of her situation flee momentarily as she relived the first night they spent together in her minds eye, each touch and sensation as real as the first time she felt them.
Hunter brought the asp around in a parry, his hand high and the shaft pointing down. As his weapon cleared the blade of his opponent, he rotated his wrist and swept down before Rai-Dei could react. The blow connected just above the man's elbow, a snap and a wet popping sound emanating from the arm. A grunt of pain was all he heard the samurai make.
Damn, he's tough, Hunter thought. His arm had to be broken, and the popping sound was the arm pulling free of the socket from the impact. As the man straightened, his arm hanging limply at his side, Hunter was ready for the next attack.
It never came as a gunshot came from behind the Japanese man. He fell to his knees and looked down at the tiny spot of blood that began to seep through his clothes.
Millions Knives came forward, a smoking revolver in his hand. "Never send a spider to do a Plant's job," he said. Hunter noticed the similarities between Vash and this man. The builds, the facial features, the slim noses, the not quite human scent.
But missing was Vash's kindness, his compassion. Even the hair seemed colder, crueler. His revolver was a twin to the Mateba the bounty hunter carried, plated in matte black chrome.
He looked at the half-breed as he lowered the pistol. "You are the son of Valar, are you not?"
"I am," Hunter said, getting ready to leap out of the way of the bullet that was sure to come.
"Can you stop that madman?"
That brought him up short. "I'm not sure. I'll have to go and actually face him to find out."
The man across the way thought for a moment. "Too risky. I guess it's up to me then." The revolver came up again. "Farewell."
The sharp sound of a Mateba came, three shots in all. But no lead, no silver ripped into his body. No searing pain of any sort. Instead, Knives dropped to his knees, gripping his shoulder and hip, his face contorted in agony.
Behind him stood Vash, lowering his pistol. He had a look of pure anger on his face, and his eyes were glowing with an unearthly blue hue.
Didn't think he was human, thought Hunter. The glow faded from the blonde's eyes.
"He has a lot to pay for, most recently Wolfwood's injuries. Your friend took him back to the manor for medical attention."
Good old Seras. Helping those that needed it most.
"How bad was he hurt?"
"Bullet wounds in his lower abdomen. Blood loss was the worst part." He looked at Knives. He had passed out in pain. He began to bind the wounds.
"Get going, you've got a job to do," the bounty hunter said as he stood, hoisting his brother's body onto his shoulders.
Hunter nodded and headed for the centre of the mountain.
Seras fired again and again, moving backwards as the ghouls and FREAKS pushed forward. She didn't know where they had come from, just that they were coming in force. Amon was a little further up the corridor, carrying a dazed Robin, and Heinkel and Yumie were striking out as much as they could. Heinkel was using Hunter's Colt now, out of the Desert Eagle rounds. She was shooting with as much conservation as she could since she only had four clips total to use.
Yumie was in heaven. She swung her blade out to the side, sweeping through multiple targets. She let loose a chilling cry and dove into the center of the group closest to her, hacking and stabbing.
She's as bad as Anderson, thought the vampire, slamming another clip into place and blasting away. They were coming up on a chamber now, and with Robin coming to, they could hold them off until they could pick them all off.
"Welcome, my friends!" a voice boomed out from behind her. A voice she recognized.
Turning, she wasn't surprised to see Erik Valar standing behind her on a raised platform.
What surprised her was Alucard and Sir Integra bound to the walls to either side of him.
If they're there, then where's...she saw the disembodied hand on the ground and answered her own question.
She pointed her pistol at the vampire. "Let them go," she said, hearing how cold her voice was.
The aristocratic vampire raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You dare command me? How did you come by the fortitude to do something so bold, so daring, so stupid?"
He walked towards her, and for the first time she remembered that the only reason she had stood eye to eye with him at the ball was because she was in disguise.
Again, the icy claws of fear churned in her stomach.
James, she called with her mind, hoping he could hear her.
Valar reached her and stood with the barrel of her pistol touching his chest. He reached out and cocked the hammer back.
"Shoot, go ahead. It won't help you any. I am a No-Life King, and the weapons that you and your friends bear cannot harm me. Not even the Craft-user could kill me."
He turned and walked away, his arms sweeping out in a grand gesture.
"Why are you trying to stop me? I am doing this for our kind, Seras Victoria. We are the rightful masters of this planet, not those mortals that stand with you. Why is it that my actions are deemed evil, vile? Where is the line between you and me that makes you heroes and me a monster? What is it about me that makes you so righteous?"
"Because just maybe it isn't all about you, jackass."
All the eyes in the room turned to the far end, where a battered looking Hunter stood, unhooking his gun belt and emptying his pockets. The long pack he had carried was now leaning against him, and his eyes were cold, dark.
"Now you're in trouble," Seras said, smiling.
"Ah, my son. The noble warrior, all prim and proper and right. Or are you?" The vampire looked askance at his son. "Have you forgotten that time in the aftermath of the Inquisition? Those nineteen people?"
"I haven't forgotten," the half-breed's voice was quiet, cold. "But that is the past, not the present."
"As it should be, but isn't it true that yesterday's future is tomorrow's past? All things are in motion, my son, and you can't possibly stop me now."
Hunter opened the pack he had carried for the entire mission, withdrawing two long double-edged swords. He looked at his father and smiled the smile of a wolf that scented blood.
"Oh, but we have unfinished business to attend to first."
He tossed one of the swords to his father, who caught it easily.
"You have something of mine: the lives of my friends." He raised the sword and set himself.
"I intend to take them back."
Drum Fill
I never really feel quite right and I don't know why
All I know is that something's wrong
Everytime I look at you you seem so alive.
Tell me how do you do it?
Walk me through it,
I'm following everyfootstep
Maybe on your own you take a cautious step
Do you want to give it up?
But all I want is for you to SHINE
Shine down on me
Shine on this life that's burning out.
I say a lot of things sometimes that don't come out right
And I act like I don't know why
I guess the reaction is all I was looking for, yeah
You looked through me,
You really knew me,
Like no one has ever looked before
Baby on your own you take a cautious step
Do you want to give it up?
But all I want is for you to SHINE
Shine down on me,
Shine this life that's burning out.
I know, I know, girl you got something
SHINE (Shine it on to me)
Shine down on me (I wanna feel it)
Shine on this life that's burning out
Instrumental break
Baby on your own you take a cautious step
Do you wanna give it up?
But all I want is for you to SHINE
Shine down on me (Just show me something)
Shine on this life that's burning out (You give me something that I never
know)
SHINE (It's coming down on you if you can show me the way)
Shine down on me (I wanna know what's going in on your mind)
Shine on this life that's burning out
Don't you know I want you to SHINE
Shine down on me
Shine on this life that's burning out
Preview
Seras: In the next chapter, the final showdown between father and son, and all of the secrets of the Anusan are revealed...
Hunter: Why are you pausing?
Seras: Because it's usually right about here that something happens to mess up my preview.
Walter: I could still trade you some tissue paper for the preview.
Seras: I'm not going for that one again, Walter.
Enrico Maxwell: What about museum hopping? The offer is still open.
Brandon Heat: Don't I show up anywhere but this damn preview?
Nick Knight: Hey, at least you made an appearance in the text. I was just a side note.
Hunter: I see what you mean.
Author: I hoped you would.
Seras: Don't you have another story with characters to pester?
Author: Not at the moment. I'm finishing the outline for Hunter's fight.
Hunter: Do I win or loose?
silence
Chapter 14: Reign of Blood