Crimson nightmare

Chapter 2


"Hello! I have missed you quite a lot you guys! I have new friend, thank goodness she is not insane. Well she might be now that I think of it; she says she's my daughter but I think that the poor dear is just in shock. But I should not get my hopes up everyone but me seems insane here" Summer said as she talked with a small lamppost.

Ruby could only stare in quiet horror as her mother, the best human being she had ever know; a woman of steely resolve and near limitless kindness raved like a mad woman at the small light "I hate it that they don't talk back, it would be quite useful like knowing where to go, say you wouldn't happen to know… well anything helpful really I am quite lost" Summer said the unnerving smile not the one her mother would use on her. Ruby swallowed her fears a bit as she looked down at her feet not wanting to see her mother, the eyes where wrong everything was wrong. The grey that this woman had where cold and ruthless, but she managed to get gather enough courage to speak loudly enough for the woman to hear "I… I'm also not from around here remember"

Summer let out a sad sigh "Yes I remember I was just hoping you were lying, then we're in this together, come along it would be quite rude of me to not help such a pretty young lady" there was no malicious intent in the way Summer said it but it made Ruby shiver nonetheless it did not held love, no appreciation merely an observation based on the taste of the woman with the face of her mother.

This nightmare was too much, she felt herself begin to hyperventilate "This… this can't be happening… YANG HELP M…" a loud slap echoed in the cold streets of Yharnam, Summer coldly looked down at the girl, hoping this would be the last time she would have to hit the child. Two times was already too much in her humble opinion, but she remained quiet waiting to see if the slap was enough to get the girl to react like it did last time. Soft sniffles and sobs where her only response, Summer let out a sigh as she looked around slightly annoyed at the situation. Ruby on the other hand was having a crisis, she felt that. Her panicked state had allowed the strike to pass through her aura, the lingering pain of the slap made her hold her cheek and her eyes widened as she looked around in fear. She walked closer to Summer as she held the sleeve of the taller woman "This isn't a nightmare?! What is going on?" she muttered.

Summer looked down at her and shook her head "It is my nightmare that's for sure, come on we are wasting precious time. And I don't like to linger, it makes it easier for someone to jump at us" Ruby nodded and ignored the weird filling as she walked behind Summer who tried to shake the metal door that was locked tight. A small light from the window next to them caught the attention of the young huntress in training, a small cough made her knock on the window "Hello? Are you all right?"

"Oh you must be a hunter" a soft voice said from the other side, Summer looked at Ruby with curiosity as the small girl made a face "You could say that"

The voice paused for a bit the silence making both of them uncomfortable "And… not one from around here, either. I'm Gilbert a fellow outsider, you must had a fine rime of it. Yharnam has… a special way of treating guests"

Summer was the one that spoke this time "You could say that again friend, I could use your help I am a bit lost and me and my..." Summer gave Ruby a glance as if trying to find what to say "sister, could use someone like you to guide us in the right direction" Gilbert descended into a coughing fit but recovered quickly.

"Well I don't think I could stand if I wanted to… but I am willing to help if there's anything that can be done. So I will share what I know, this town is cursed" Summer snorted while Ruby found herself growing concerned "Whatever your reasons might be, you should plan a swift exit"

Summer shook her head "Not yet, I need answers. I was promised a cure for my amnesia int his town I do not plan on leaving just yet" Gilbert simply hummed as the candles in his house dimmed for a bit as they spoke of knowledge and curses "Whatever can be gained from this place, it will do more harm than good"

Ruby looked at Summer "Is there anything that can point us in the right direction, any sort of direction?" the eldest of Roses closed her eyes as she tried to recall "Seek the pale blood, that is all that comes to mind. But I don't suppose either of you know anything about it" a small shake of the ehad from Ruby and a cough from Gilbert was all the information she got.

"Figures" Summer muttered under her breath but Gilbert stepped in "Paleblood, you say… never heard of it, but if its blood you're interested in you should try the Healing Church. The church controls all knowledge on blood ministration and all varieties of blood" the foreign man said, Ruby looked at Summer wanting to question her about Blood Ministration but the older woman simply held a finger to her lips. Summer looked down at one of the vials she held and then at the window once more. "And where would this church be?"

From out of nowhere Summer pulled out a small book and a pen, Ruby swore she saw a ghostly hand lingering on the book "Across the valley to the East of Yharnam lies the town of the Healing Church it is know as the Cathedral Ward and deep within Cathedral Ward is the old grand cathedral the birthplace of the Healing Church's special blood… or so they say hehehe"

Ruby shivered a bit at the creepy laugh while Summer simply stared "Yharnamites don't share much with outsiders" Gilbert continued his tale as he seemed to be lost in memory "Normally. They wouldn't let you near the place but the Hunt is on tonight so this might be your chance" Gilbert then disappeared into the depths of his house another coughing fit overtaking him.

The young huntress in training looked at her mother as she placed her small hand on the cold skin of the woman that looked like her mother "Do you think this blood wiil help you? Can it help him too?" Summer gave her a sad smile "Beats me, but it is better than nothing. Come on, he said we needed to cross the Valley so this might take some time"

Ruby nodded as she followed the taller woman towards the only way they could move towards, as they walked Ruby finally began to really look at the place that surrounded her. Dark, cold and eerie where words that came to her head as she looked at the town, wet and dirty came second as she looked down at her sandals covered in mud as they softly slapped the dark rock beneath her.

"Now Ruby I need you to…" Summer started to say but before she could finish her sentence from the corner a taller than anyone she had ever met jumped towards Summer. the butchering knife sank deep into the neck of Summer as she gargled her last words, blood coming from the wound and her mouth "Run"

Ruby stared in horror as Summer fell limply to the ground a scream of pain the last thing she heard from her mother as the blood-lusted man turned to her "Away foul beast!" Ruby blocked the first blow with her aura as from the corner of her she watched Summer's body fade from existence. Confused and scared she pushed the man with all the strength she had and did what she was told: she ran.

Her semblance made it seem as if she disappeared, the man simply growled as he returned to his hiding place, unbothered that one of them had escaped. Beasts came and went but the Hunt was on tonight and no foul beast would make it past him. Or that was the only thing his damaged mind could muster to think.

Ruby ran underneath the light of the moon, tears cascading down her eyes as she felt her heart break in two "Not again… NOT AGAIN!" she screamed as she reached the small lamppost that Summer had being rambling with, her legs refused to move as her emotions took hold of her and despair took over her "Please… not again… mommy please" the broken girl sobbed as the cold wind passed softly over Yharnam. A small bell resonated in the air as the air around Ruby turned even colder.

Concerned Ruby looked up as her mother, Summer Rose. Twice slain, rose from the grave "…I need you to pay attention, pardon my language but irony has bit me in my rather large arse" Summer growled as Ruby gasped, she stared at Summer up and down the wound on her neck nowhere to be found. Summer looked at Ruby and gave her a small smile "Look I know I said I am not your mother but you should wash yourself when you get the chance you are covered in mud. Take care of yourself understood?"

Ruby cried as she threw herself at Summer "Please… don't die again"

A request, a childish part of her wanted to keep it but Summer knew that it would be a lie, as she looked at the Great Bridge a piercing scream echoed in the streets of Yharnam.