Hello! Chapter 7 is here, and with this chapter I've got the canny feeling that we're coming to a close. Not quite yet, of course, but we're getting there. Thanks to all of the reviewers; you really help with this fanfiction every time you submit a bit of your words.

Disclaimer: All characters are mine except a select few. If you don't know who those 'select few' are, then why are you starting at chapter 7 to read this? Go back, go back! xD The town of Silent Hill is Konami's. And so is Sammael. –wail-

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"So, do tell," a haughty grin swept Miki's face. "What has Lord Sammael got for me, then? Apparently I'm not a part of this sacrifice, so it must be something much, much more."

Tonek's eyes rolled upwards in what seemed to be thought—or maybe it was annoyance. Really, it was hard to tell. "Oh, yes…it's a s-special job, you see, but…it doesn't come immediately, like theirs. You'll have to be patient with time."

With a scowl, the black-robed leader shot a brief glance towards the rocking chair. "Don't see why you just can't tell me…" he grumbled, crossing his arms stubbornly to emphasis this manner of tenacity. "At least tell me this—does it have anything to do with Paradise?" a flash of eagerness sparked in his now-focused eyes.

Raephin coughed, looking from one to the other; Fifty-Two was hiding something, obviously, just to tease the other. The filthy man standing opposite was just a little too…obsessive, or so Raephin was confident to believe. Such a Paradise was what other people believed to be Heaven, and the only Heaven he believed in was the white powder he'd gotten his hands on before he'd been thrown in the crazy house. Other than that, hope was just a petty source of comfort, and nothing more.

Tonek glimpsed down, not wanting to catch Miki's eyes. He was surprised to find that the man with the glasses was still alive, chest rising and falling with much effort, but doing so nonetheless. "You could call it Paradise…" he murmured, shoulders falling in a shrug. "…But then again, don't y-you think anyone can call anything Paradise if they want it to be?"

A bit taken aback, Miki tried to hide his uneasiness as he shook his head roughly. "Yeah, yeah, they could…but I think you know what I'm talking about. It's a true Paradise; the one."

"One above all o-others, eh?" Tonek smiled. "Tell me, S-Sir…what do your followers think?"

"I don't know what they think anymore," Miki snarled under his breath, the very thought infuriating him. The two siblings, the higher of his followers, had seemed to willingly give in once they had found that there was nothing left in the coffin they had dug up. If they were ready to give up on what little tasks he had easily found soon after, then were they really unwavering when it came to forfeiting everything just to get back a one, single thing? "…I just don't know."

"Well then," Tonek turned his head towards the entrance of the orphanage, tilting his head to the side at a bit of an angle. "We'll be blessed enough to soon find out."

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The doors creaked open, eerily giving off the shrill sound that the two siblings were not too fond of hearing. It was a very unnerving noise—a noise that sent shivers up the middle of their backs, like snakes slithering up their trembling spines. The opening swung open to announce the two's arrival.

Ryland immediately rushed forward towards the small group in the center of the area; Roth's feet were cautious, steady as he made his way along the walls of the place, ears ringing as he heard the slamming of the doors behind them. His back was slightly crouched; he looked like a peering cat, ready to dart away if any sudden or unexpected jerk sprung out in surprise.

"Miki—er, Sir!" The girl was hardly used to calling the older man such a title. "We've been looking all over for you! Why did you just go off on your own? And why, in all sake of the living, did you take our—" Her eyes caught the rocking chair beside them. Walking over, face twisted as if in a daze, she reached out to run her hand across a seemingly invisible barrier, preventing her hand from straying any closer—or perhaps she thought the sight to be too astounding to touch, at the moment. "There are our—"

"—Ears!" Roth finished in astonishment, gaze sweeping over the mass of different body parts. He then looked over to the strangers he'd never laid eyes on before—an odd looking fellow with forks dangling from his belt, and another with a stub for an arm… "Hey…you're—"

"It never gets old," Tonek sighed in satisfaction, basking in the thought of being what many like to call 'special'.

Raephin took all of this in silently, as if not wanting to interrupt some joyful family reunion. If so, it was more than likely he'd probably be cursed if he did—he was starting to believe that anything was possible around here, including the act of getting turned into a filthy and wart-covered toad. Gradual movement caught his eye; he turned his head to watch the female newcomer advance towards the so-called sacrifice.

Ryland had noticed them from the start—two chunks of lightly colored skin, sprinkled daintily with a light covering of freckles, and the torn edges clearly cut savagely from the edge of a blade. Their ears—these were theirs! Barrier now obviously forgotten, her hand shot out, ready to retrieve what was rightfully—

"Ry!" She heard her brother's voice, angry and filled with worry as she was thrown backwards, tumbling on the hard ground roughly and landing square on her back. She looked up to see their leader towering over her, eyes wide and wild, hair looking as massed as ever, and lip curled back to bare his teeth in a malicious warning. "Don't you dare."

Her lower lip began to tremble in fear; Roth stepped up beside his sister's flinching form, eyes furious and glaring straight into the other male's. "Don't touch her. Don't even think about it, Miki."

"Then get your bitch of a sister away from the sacrifice!" he bellowed just as heatedly, stepping forward—he was not afraid, in the least, to show how daunting he was. Although not overly equipped with a large amount of muscle, he had an air about him that made others nearby scoot away in wariness. Ryland felt so livid, and yet at the same time an overwhelming amount of shame was weighing atop her head. She'd admired Miki in the past, and still did somewhat, when looking over his stubborn and impatient acts of leadership. However, seeing him talk about her like this made her spirit drop, and all around her was a puddle of the dreadful, sinking sand waiting to be fed.

Although Ryland was worrying over hesitation and thoughts of confusion, her brother took no time to wait for the 'right moment'. He had already lunged towards the filthy man opposite of him, and the two went crashing to the ground, tumbling over each other in a bundle of violent throwing limbs and teeth. "That's all you care about," Roth growled brutally, getting pinned under and arms resisting against Miki's head from shooting down—no doubt the dark-haired man would probably try to chew his jugular out, "That damn Paradise of yours!"

"Oh," Miki hissed, little bits of spit glinting on the redhead's face, "So it's my Paradise now?"

"Maybe it is!" Roth mumbled sharply in reply, a bit taken aback. He couldn't tell what he was saying anymore…all he knew was that the man who'd led them all these years had both physically and verbally attacked his sister, and for this he was unable to control his normal system of thinking. "Wait…"

But the one on top hadn't heard the last word, which had escaped from his high follower's mouth. His fingers were already gripping the side of Roth's head, entwining in the flaring hair. "Well, if you're not too fond of finding Paradise…" Miki mumbled with a small, hurried giggle to follow. "I'll send you to Hell!"

"Miki, no!" Ryland screamed, struggling to get up from where she had fallen.

The back of Roth's head collided with the hard dirt below, unlucky enough to notice there was no grass around the selected brawl area. His skull rattled jerkily, the light damage to his brain causing his vision to swing and blur. It felt as if he was flying as his head was lifted, but tipped out of a highborn airplane to shake his senses once more. He could hear the rocking chair swinging moving back and forth faster, faster, faster…it sounded as if it were going to fly from its very spot.

"Stop it, you jerk! Stop it! Get a hold of yourself!" The frightened girl screeched as she yanked at his arm hopelessly, nails tearing into the cloth of his robe. "Miki, you're killing him! YOU'RE KILLING HIM!" her shrieks only seemed to increase in volume as she attempted to wrench him away.

Raephin started forward, deciding to help the desperate sister. "And they sent me to the crazy house?" He sneered under his breath as he eyed the raging Miki. He almost didn't want to get near the guy, but thought better to go over and be of aid, rather than just stand there looking like a fool. Tonek had a pleasant smile dancing across his lips, enjoying this aggressive scuffle a little too much.

Ryland's face lit up at once as she noticed Raephin's intentions. He took Miki's shoulder as she grasped the other, and together they pulled back with gasping groans and grunts of effort. The man was like trying to force a predator from its kill—though hopefully, Ryland thought in addition, her brother hadn't been mutilated and ripped apart—but finally he fell back with a rasping burst of laughter.

Roth's body was motionless; Ryland's sobbing figure draped over his silent form in loud attempt to wake him up. Raephin stood there, awkward, watching one sibling cry uncontrollably over the other. Miki lay on his back, a fanatical grin alight from ear to ear, chest rising and falling rapidly with every random chuckle ready to explode.

Tonek stood there, at a far distance, looking down at them like a majestic king perched on his throne and looking down to the common folk—though hardly anybody would go as far to call a single one of them common. "My friends," he called out, raising his arm above his head, an expression of utmost pride spreading. "Our Lord is here."