Chapter 11

Angus

Luna could barely breathe as her horrific adversaries suddenly turned their direction, galloping mere feet away and leaving the young rocker exposed out in the open. The other young lady could only stare in her frozen state, locked in fear over the continuous shouts of an unholy demon emerging from the darkest depths of Loch Loud. Unlike the Loud sibling, she heard it almost every night, striking fear into those who managed to survive long enough into this newfound rule.

Out from the fog, a massive creature began to make its approach, crawling on all fours while snarling against the endless cold wave. Luna joined the centaur-like beings in looking shocked, staring into two bright lights that marched heavily towards the burning building. For the beings to actually be alarmed by its presence, that could only mean the young Loud's hell had only just begun. She tried to move, but her arm prevented her from making any sudden movements. She could only stare with blurred vision at the demon's trek, watching as its muscular form overtook the cobblestone path.

As the fog lifted, its appearance became known. Towering ten times the height of Luna, it crawled about with hands and feet, contorted painfully into claws of white and fur matching the pale tone. Its body was purely gray, looking uncannily similar to a human, but alien enough to strike fear into those afraid of the uncanny valley. Clothing was still stitched against him, but the sudden muscles that sprouted against even the spine made them barely hang on. Along with the heavy white mane, its whole existence was made of that damn hairy substance, covering even the distorted fact that lead the creature. Two eyes poked out of a massive covering, glowing a sickening red against its malformed snout. It's teeth, if one could call them that, looked more like hastily-sewn-together knives jutting out of its painful jaw.

Luna gasped in horror, for a moment forgetting the intense pain of her broken arm. She could only shuffle a mere inch before her body gave up, giving herself to the monster like a free meal. Her breaths became more and more frantic, her other hand at least able to swing as a form of defense. "W-Woah, hey... stay back...," she feebly tried to fight back.

The beast looked at all the centaurs, who they themselves growled back, though still refused to attack. All were powerless to the powerful monster, who drooled at the sight of the injured girl. It's frightening strength made Luna's eyes grow wide, looking at its disgusting mouth as it hovered over her. Both eyes stared down, looking at the blood leaking from her mouth. It produced a scent that spelled wonders for the beast. It began gyrating its muscles, slowly losing control of its senses as its saliva burnt away against Luna's skin.

Luna quickly darted her eyes back toward the fallen rifle. Just a tad bit out of reach. No matter what's happening, she refused to lay down and die like this. Biting her lower lip, she quickly brought her spare hand and tried to reach it, but a centaur caught on, stomping hard against it, smashing the poor barrel into pieces. The rocker shrieked, but had little time to scream as the beast let out another scream. It rose its front arms high into the air, the knives rattling deep in its mouth.

In one fell swoop, it came barreling down against her neck. Luna screamed and grabbed against the monster's own, trying in vain to hold the monster back. With two arms she'd struggle, but injured brought no help in keeping him back. The knives lowered themselves down to her chest, the points stabbing against her purple shirt. She grimaced in pain, but did everything she could. Her family was in her mind; Sam, her band, Vanessa, Eisenhower, Lincoln...

She couldn't give up. "I'm... not letting you..."

As she felt the horrific breath smash against her face, the monster let out a surprised yelp. Luna wasn't able to see clearly, but the sight of a metallic knife ruptured through her blurred vision. Only, it was not from the creature's mouth. Rather, a far-off target seemed to be the owner of the mysterious blade, cutting the beast deep through the cheek. The rocker was stunned as the beast hopped away, growling and shaking uncontrollably. For just a tad moment, the young victim found herself spared from a grizzly fate.

"W-What?"

Even the centaurs stood confused, until the mysterious interloper at last stepped forward. Luna gazed at what appeared to be a tall man in heavy armor, one befitting an honorable knight. He stood like a true hero against the snowy moonlight, arms folded as he looked at the monster. Rather than looking scared, he looked... bemused? Annoyed, even. Was this thing nothing to his strength and valor?

But when he spoke, Luna felt shivers run down her spine. "Oh, Angus, you poor sod. What did I instruct from you? Capture, not kill. You want mother to be angry?"

Luna watched in horror as the knight approached the beast, giving it a name that made her blood run cold. What did he call that thing? She tried raising herself up, but the man suddenly shifted his gaze down towards her way. She quickly froze. He had no face visible underneath his metallic visor, but deep within, she felt only a nightmarish presence looking back.

"Oh? Is this the girl that caused you pain? How... quaint."

He spoke so formally, and yet it came out like a voice belonging to a serial killer. Even with all the monsters surrounding her, she couldn't help but grow mad. "W-Who... Who are you, and... what did you call...?"

The knight rose his hand, signaling her to stop. "Hey, conserve that energy! You really want to die because you couldn't keep that tongue firm?" He went back to the monster, stroking its back. It strangely seemed to calm it down. He let out a laugh. "Now, let's see here... why are you trying to kill her, Angus? Something wrong? Nobody else caused this much anger in you!" He looked over at his centaur army. "In fact, all of you seem rather mad."

More anger. "They're yours? Screw you!"

The knight looked shocked, adjusting his heavy chest piece while looking hurt. "Oh, that's not nice at all! I would expect much more courtesy for me saving your life... hm?"

He looked at her carefully, before leaping away as if he saw a spider suddenly emerge before him. Luna could only glare in anger; was that enough to scare a man of his valor? The knight rubbed the back of his neck, then looked at the beast again. "Angus, prove something to me. Tear that limb off of her! Quick, before it goes completely dead!"

Tear... what off? Luna screamed as the dog-like creature jumped back to her, its knives hungry to eat through any sort of flesh. Sadly, Luna was its current target. "W-Wait, don't!" She wanted to say more, but her voice was cut off by the worst scream she ever performed. The blades tore through her bone, and in one quick grabbed, completely tore the limb straight from her body. The beast held the injured remains in its mouth, howling with joy as the knight clapped. All the rocker could do was barely breathe, watching as her blood left her body.

With another clap, the knight received the severed arm, and quickly investigated the blood. He allowed his armored hand to get covered, and it seemed he was overjoyed. "Hm... interesting...," he remarked, before standing above Luna. At this point, the girl was barely alive. Whether lucky or not, this was far from what the man wanted. Behind his visor, it was impossible to tell, but the girl knew he was smiling. "I see, so then this should work. If it does, I hope you'll enjoy the land of the living again... Loud girl!"

From his back, he pulled out a vial of white liquid, one that matched perfectly with the stuff that kept Luna alive on the mountain. Unscrewing the cap, he quickly poured its contents over her open wound. Luna watched with her injured eyes as it fell into her exposed body... and with horror, felt her body begin to contort. She gasped and screamed, unable to hold herself still as every limb apparently shuttered in a feeling she could hardly describe.

"What... are you doing... to me?"

He looked shocked again. "Wow, you can speak during this?"

Before long, Luna saw something emerge from her body. Another arm, one matching the earlier, began to slowly take form. Bone first, then the cartilage, and then finally, muscle and flesh. As the last of the pain went through her system, she looked on in horror as her wounds were all gone. As if nothing had happened, the blood she laid in belonged to an arm that was never there. She was healed; safe; regenerated.

And that alone frightened her to no end.

The knight clapped again. "How exciting this night has become! Here I thought you broke my oath, Angus, but instead you brought me something perfect. Why, you are a Loud! Mother said we were expecting you, so that must mean you're... Luna? Luna Loud, the one who killed Abraham?"

Oh God, why did he know about that? With her newfound strength, she tried to stand up, but a centaur brought its blade down, holding her back. Didn't stop her yelling however. "Look, whoever the hell you are, or what you want with me, get the hell out of Loch Loud! Leave these people alone!"

He folded his arms. "Angus, I'm struggling. I keep helping her, and yet she still fights back unabated. Were the Louds always like this? Mother told me so, but I can't believe I'm actually seeing it!"

"Stop calling him that!" She looked at the beast. Those hollowed eyes made her shiver once more. "What... Who is that? That thing?"

The knight couldn't help but laugh. "Hm, you don't recognize the old sod? I thought he was your beloved caretaker or something. To be quite honest, I know little of him, so it isn't a problem or anything, but oh well."

Luna's eyes grew wide. "W-What? Wait, is that... you monster! What did you do to him?"

"What? He looks better and behaves accordingly to the true rulers of this land! No reason to complain, if you ask me."

In her heart, Luna wanted to scream. "Angus! I know you can hear me! You... you gotta stop this!"

"Oh, like he'll help you in the end! He's with us, not the Louds! Though, I do suppose he'll help you this one time! Men, on guard!"

"What? What're-"

With no warning, the man grabbed her and hoisted her onto the furry back of Angus. With a laugh, the knight soon joined the beast's neck, riding him like a makeshift horse. "Okay, my friends, let us be off! Mother expects this Loud in the castle pronto! Hurry, for the moon rises far too fast!"

Angus howled and groaned, before suddenly picking up the pace. Luna was having none o this. "Let go of me! Who the hell are you, and what have you done? You goddamn sicko!"

The knight shook his head. "One of you, please silence her. Mother wants her alive, but I don't see the harm in knocking her out!"

A centaur glared as he brought the butt of his frightening axe to her face. "W-Wait, don't-"

Darkness soon overtook her vision.

FROM: An unsettling report from Italy

"We have urgent news that must be brought to the Pope. The Vatican's mighty walls have been penetrated by an unknown force, and countless amounts of research have since been stolen. It's not known where this stuff has gone, or why it was taken, but we followed the trail. Scotland appears to be where the perpetrators have fled to. Why would they do such a thing, and who would benefit from this?

"We must be vigilant, no matter what. Some of that info details those with White Hair Syndrome. We cannot let that info fall into the wrong hands!"