Just wanted to say a quick thank you to Potato for the reviews, I appreciate it :)
Chapter 5 - Another Normal Day
How unfair, it's just our luck
Found something real that's out of touch
But if you'd searched the whole wide world
Would you dare to let it go?
Birdy - No Angel
(3 months later)
"Azmaria, watch out!" Sister Claire shouted in alarm. Azmaria turned around and let out a howling scream.
The large black bulbous demon raged down towards the petite Apostle, a clawed arm outstretched ready to attack. She tried to lift up her gun to aim but Azmaria's hand began to tremble. The fear infected her legs, unable to move from the spot to avoid the oncoming blow. Instead all she could do was look up, wide eyes in horror waiting to be attacked. Though to Azmaria's relief, the attack never came as the demon was hit in the head with a bullet from behind.
"Hey! Pick on someone your own size, mister!" Came the thunderous voice of Rosette Christopher, holding her gun upright, smoke evaporating from muzzle of the gun. Azmaria scrambled away from the demon once it had become distracted.
"Azmaria, quick! Set up the barrier." Rosette ordered. Azmaria nodded and begin to circle around the demon, placing the crucifix barriers on the ground.
Several gunshots came from above the second floor from where Sister Claire was. The third gunshot hit one of the monstrous demon's horn, which didn't make him very happy..
"Rosette, go for the other horn!" Yelled Sister Claire.
"On it!" Rosette fired another round of sacred bullets but unfortunately they didn't manage to hit the last remaining horn from the thrashing demon. But it was enough to keep the monster occupied while Azmaria managed to place all the sacred on the ground.
Stepping back, the crucifixs activated. A large glow of purple-red light formed a barrier of circular light around the demon. The fiend growled out in pain, then fell to ground into a pile of ash.
Silence fell for a moment as the light faded and the demon was defeated. Azmaria picked up the crucifixes, without another word.
"Well done, Azmaria." Sister Claire said as she came down the staircase, though Azmaria didn't think she deserved any phrase for not able to stand her ground. So she simply smiled and made their way to the car.
Rosette got into the drivers side, Sister Claire next to her and Azmaria in the back.
Starting the engine, Rosette looked behind her towards the newly recruited exorcist. "Hey, are you alright, Azmaria?"
"I-i'm sorry, I got in the way again. I thought I could do it this time but..never mind." Azmaria muttered.
Rosette offered up a bright smile. "Don't put yourself down like that. I think you did great! Trust me, you'll be just as good as me in no time!"
It was only Azmaria's third mission since officially becoming an exorcist. Maybe she was worrying to much.
"T-thanks." She replied. "I'll try harder next time."
It was another start of the day without Chrono by her side. It had been 3 months since his healing had begun, though unfortunately not much had changed for the better. He slept much more often and wasn't always responsive or even up for visitors. Rosette expected as much. Remington assured her that all this sleep would help with the healing and nothing to worry about for now. Rosette had managed to keep herself busy during her time without him, she finally persuaded Sister Kate to let her start going back on missions with Azmaria. Sister Claire was assigned to come along for awhile considering Azmaria hadn't long started and the minimum was 3 or more exorcists for every mission.
Though it did take a while for Rosette to get back to her usual self without her partner but she wasn't the type to mope around and do nothing while she waited for Chrono to heal. Life relatively went back to 'normal', Rosette began spending more time with Joshua who was currently still living at the order, his decision whether or not to become an exorcist was still undecided, Rosette had been slyly dropping hints on convincing him not to join and she hoped it had worked. Joshua has made for more than becoming an exorcist, then again perhaps Rosette was too but for now she'd wait until Chrono was fully healed before making plans for her future, however long her life will last for. She'd worry about that when the time comes. The present was most precious to her.
On their way back to the order, Rosette surprisingly drove with a calm ease rather than her usual chaotic driving that got anyone in the car almost killed. Though her calmness soon ended when Sister Claire spoke;
"Have you noticed how you've not recently destroyed anything on our missions?" She spoke in her usual soft demeanour.
Rosette gripped her hands on the wheel. "Hey! I don't always destroy things on missions, Claire!" Azmaria decided to keep quiet on the was Claire right? Maybe Rosette was becoming less..destructive and more 'lady-like', she was almost 17 after all.
Sister Claire sighed. "I'm sure Chrono would say otherwise."
"Yeah,yeah, whatever." Rosette said, not bothering to try and change Sister Claire's mind.
The rest of the ride back to the order was silent, the three of them all lost in their own thoughts.
"Well done to another successful mission, you 3. I'm very proud of you all." Sister Kate remarked with excitement at her desk. Rosette and Sister Claire looked rather pleased with themselves but Azmaria's face said otherwise.
Sister Kate questioned her; "What's wrong my child?"
Azmaria fiddled with her hands as she spoke. "Um.. I got scared..again. The demon was about to attack me and, and I was too scared to shoot." Then she took in a deep breath before speaking again. "W-what if I'm not cut out for this job?"
Rosette placed a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, don't be so hard on yourself."
"It's not an easy job, Sister Azmaria. It's much more than simply firing a gun. If in doubt, you may quit in the future."
Azmaria shook her head, tear in her eyes. "No! I-i don't want to quit!" She then lowered her voice; "I'll keep on trying again. I don't want to let anyone down."
"Well whatever you decide, you'll never let us down. You know you'll always have a home here." Sister Kate spoke. Rosette and Sister Claire nodded in agreement.
"Thank you ever so much, Sister Kate!" Azmaria said with a bow.
"No need to thank me." Sister Kate smiled. "You're all dismissed for the day." She ordered and the three exorcists left.
The rest of the day went smoothly, Rosette went to have lunch with Azmaria and Claire, meeting up with Sister Anna and Sister Mary in the hall. Both asked about Chrono's well-being, though Rosette didn't have much to update them with. She usually visited him during the end of each day if Chrono was feeling up to it. Father Remington offered to help change Chrono's bandages and bring up food if he'll eat it, whilst Rosette was on missions and other duties around the order.
"So..! How was the mission?" Asked the short enthusiast blonde nun known as Sister Mary.
"Great. I think we make a pretty good team. Sister Kate was very pleased with our progress." Replied Sister Claire. Rosette and Azmaria nodded.
Rosette had begun spending more time with the 3 sisters for the past few months now. She'd learnt so much from them than she ever has done for the past 4 years of knowing them. Sister Claire loved to read books in her spare time and had a fondness for nature and birds, she could name so many times of plants and bird species. Sister Anna was an excellent cook, Rosette especially loved her homemade chocolate cake, and Sister Mary had a secret love for operas. A part of Rosette felt bad that she'd never really known much about her friends until just recently.
"That's great to hear. I see you've both managed to keep Rosette in check without destroying a whole block." Said the red-headed exorcist, Sister Anna, in a matter-of-fact tone. Rosette simply grumbled in protest with a piece of bread in her mouth, glaring her eyes to the sister.
"Give it a rest already!" She said, not even bothering to swallow the bread fist. They all laughed as Rosette continued her rant.
It was coming to the end of another day, as usual, Rosette made her way to Chrono's room. He still remained in one of the order's dorm rooms. It was best to keep him there as it was far more comfortable and not too far from the medic room if something would go wrong. Rosette brought up a bowl of soup in case Chrono was up to eating.
She lightly knocked on the door, though there wasn't a response. She opened the door to a dark room. Rosette managed to manoeuvre in the dark and found the box of matches to light the candle. The low light illuminated the room in a soft glow. Chrono was laying on his back, eyes closed. He looked almost younger and vulnerable in his weakened state.
Rosette sat the bowel down on the table and placed herself on the chair next to the bed. "Still sleeping, huh? Lucky for some." She sighed. She didn't know if Chrono could hear her, but she wasn't bothered. It was just nice to see him at least.
Chrono stirred, eyes slowly opening to peer at the blonde girl. "Hey.." He said weakly.
"Hey." Rosette said with a smile. They both gazed at each other in a soft expression. Chrono moved his hand to reach other to grasp Rosette's in a light grip.
"I brought up some soup but I suppose you're not feeling up to it."
Chrono shook his head in response.
"I went on another mission today with Azmaria and Claire. It went well, though it's not the same without someone holding my all weapons for me, it's more work for me now. So you better hurry up and heal." Rosette joked, she made sure to keep her voice calm and to a quiet level.
"Sorry.." He smiled. "You..might be waiting awhile."
"You take all the time you need, okay? I'm not going anywhere." Rosette replied.
"Rosette, I—.." Before Chrono could finish his response, his smile dropped instantly. Eyes closing. His cold grip loosened completely in Rosette's hand.
Then Rosette frowned. Chrono's head fell slightly to the side as if he couldn't hold himself up anymore.
"Back to sleeping again, are we?" But then Rosette took another look at her partner.
Chrono looked almost.. too still. She wasn't quite sure how to explain it. It was as if he wasn't asleep but from what Rosette could see he was still breathing.
"Hey, Chrono?" She stood up and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright?" Rosette waited for some kind of response but was met with nothing but a haunting silence. Pursing her lips in hesitation, Rosette began to lightly shake Chrono's shoulders. Surely it was enough to wake anyone up.
She shook harder, though careful not to harm him. Still no response. Maybe Rosette was just being paranoid..
Seconds turned into minutes. Still nothing.
Rosette didn't want to risk anything, she stood up and ran out the door.
"Father Remington!" She shouted, running along the corridor searching for help.
I wanted this to be some kind chilled out filler chapter with interacting with others characters. I'll explain a bit more in the next chapter.