Greetings everyone! I won't blabber this time as usual, I only hope you are all doing well, both physically and emotionally.

I wish you all the best and hope you have as a good week as possible until next Wednesday! Hope you like ch. 48! Love you all!

The locked room was dry and smelled stale. The walls were thick and solid, giving a sense of isolation. There was no a lot of light; only a small yellow lamp provided illumination around it.

The hooded man of course needed no more; his eyes could perfectly see in total darkness. However, he knew that giving his victim a small glimpse of what was going to happen always proved more effective.

As he arranged his surgical items on the table in front of him, he heard a small shifting sound and a groan of pain behind him. "I see you are back to your senses. Good."

"Where am I?" the voice was heavy and had an air of pride behind it. "We are in one of the facility's store rooms. I remodeled it." "Why am I here?"

The hooded man didn't turn around. Instead, he reached for his scroll and pushed a button.

"In a few days I will be in Mantle; I will tell you everything there" the second man realized the recorded voice; it was his.

"Good. Can I trust you with the information?" a childlike yet serious girly voice replied. "I will give you our coordinates; don't worry. I will explain the rest when we meet. Make sure Blake is there as well."

The recording ended and the hooded man turned around to see his captive. Carlo Custard, tied in heavy chains, was half-naked and bound on a large wooden bed.

"Does this refresh your memory maybe, dear Carlo?" "How did you-" "This is courtesy of Sophia Carmel. A very bold and intelligent one, she is. But this is going to be the least of your concerns, my friend."

Carlo looked at the man, his former leader, Gray Fenris. He was still dressed only on the robes, with the Ursa head medallion hung around his neck.

"I understand you are angry" he finally said, trying to control the fear climbing on his throat. "Angry?" he asked, not raising his voice.

"I am not angry, dear Carlo. I would be angry if I felt any sort of camaraderie. But I never felt this way towards you my dear friend" he explained while picking up a pair of scalpels.

"But your actions have greatly distressed me. You brought Ilia Amitola and Blake Belladonna, of all people, to my front door. Betrayal has to be punished, my friend."

"Rich words, Gray. When you are the one who betrayed us all" he hissed back. "When Adam killed Sienna, you followed him. When he died, you went full terrorist. And now, you have become a lunatic!"

The bound man's breath was coming out rasped. He knew he would never leave this table alive now, but he wouldn't go down without speaking his mind first. "Why did you betray our cause?"

"Heh… I was expecting something like that, but it's still quite annoying how little you all know of me, Carlo." Fenris turned his back and let a pair of forceps down on the table.

"Do you know of the Faunus Volunteer Hospital tragedy back in Mantle? It was 20 years ago" the man replied as he started sterilizing his items. "No, I don't."

"It was a huge fire that killed every single faunus and human working or being hospitalized there. A real tragedy" he answered. "What of it?"

"What if I told you" Gray continued working on the table "there was one survivor. An unregistered, young doctor who worked there to save as many patients as possible. He went by the name Gray Fenris."

Carlo's eyes shot open wide. "He was an orphan and devoted to his work and patients; literally every person he cared for was inside this building. And got burned alive."

"I am really sorry Gray, but what does this have to do with our situation?"

"Heh… after I dragged my half-burnt corpse out of the place, I got some private care. Then, I started searching around, trying to find out why everything I held dear was so brutally taken away from me."

Carlo looked at the man's back. An old hospital. A simple job. He had heard the ones who had taken it were proud at how easy it was to destroy this place were faunus and human hypocrites coexisted.

"It was us, the White Fang, who started the fire" he whispered. "And Jacques Schnee finished your job; he delayed the firefighters to give priority to a dust-carrying convoy. Let us die like moths in a forest fire."

"Is this all about revenge? Then why did you-" "Nothing like it" the man cut him off. "I have gone past such stupid feelings and emotions, Carlo."

He turned around, a sinister smile visible under the hood. "You see, when I discovered the truth, it hit me. Why would the White Fang or SDC, care about anything than themselves?"

Carlo gulped and Fenris continued. "To the Fang, this fire was the means to an end. To Schnee, stopping the firefighters to get richer ten minutes faster was the means to an end."

His back turned again. "Everything was the means to an end for me as well. The White Fang… a group of idealists fighting for a great cause. Nothing more than a convenient tool."

"You… bastard…" Carlo glared at him. "The same applies to this band of terrorists we have formed. The difference is, dear Carlo; most of my followers know and accept it, for it serves their own purposes as well."

He stood up, hands covered in surgical gloves, a scalpel in hand. "The only ones who fail to accept that are foolish, exploitable idealists like you. Thankfully, in a few hours we will have one less among us."

Hours? HOURS? Carlo's eyes opened wide in shock as Gray cackled and started carving his skin out. Despite the flaring pain, he was determined; he would never let this monster hear him scream.

His determination lasted five minutes. His suffering much more.

-o—

Weiss opened her eye. Her head was spinning and her entire body was stiff. "Mmf…" She closed it and blinked a few times, letting a low moan escape her mouth.

She looked around. She was in some kind of car. Not a particularly luxurious one, but comfy nonetheless. Next to her was-

Her mind went from drowsiness to hyper drive in a mere second and she gasped white sitting up in her seat. Next to her, typing in a laptop computer sat Sophia Carmel.

She was wearing a field suit, with a long white combat pair of trousers and matching jacket with heavy winter boots. Next to her a heavy winter coat was left. A dust-powered pistol was strapped to her hip.

"Good morning, Ms. Schnee" she said, without looking from the computer. "Apologies for the inconvenience, but we are in kind of a hurry."

Weiss tried to grab her sword, but failed for a considerable amount of reasons. First of all, Crown was nowhere on her. Secondly, she was handcuffed. Third, Wenge was pointing a gun at her from the front seat.

"I wouldn't try that if I were you, Miss." "Where am I? And just what the heck do you think you are doing?" There was no response.

She tried to secretly conjure a small knight. If she was fast enough, she could throw him at the handsome man who had her at gunpoint. Then, dealing with the CEO would be a piece of cake.

Or not. For some reason, her summon didn't even manifest. She bit her lip and sat back, allowing the man to retract his weapon.

Meanwhile, she was screaming in the inside. She had been captured. Again. And had lost all her dust and equipment. AGAIN!

"Getting captured is becoming a trend lately" she groaned as she sat back. "This is entirely your fault" Sophia told her after she raised her eyes from the laptop.

Seeing the questioning glare Weiss shot her, the almond-eyed woman explained. "You have quite some nerve, waltzing into my house to investigate my actions. You brought this upon yourself, little Schnee."

"You…" how did she know? Had she listened to them? Even so, this way of action was out of the ordinary. Unless… "You are the one who works with Alizar and Cherry; aren't you?"

"I believe I told you that yesterday" the woman replied. "I… did you? My memory is hazy. I remember us talking… but not this. How did you capture me? Did you have the waiter slip something in my drink?"

"I didn't have to" she replied, smirking. "My semblance did the job." Sophia opened a cigar and offered her one, but Weiss shot her a stare of pure hatred. Why can't I still summon? What's going on?

"I have the ability to issue absolute commands. All it takes is for me to ask you something, and you will do it as a little obedient soldier. Side effects include a minor memory disorder."

That wasn't entirely accurate. Her ability had its limitations, but there was no reason for the Schnee to know that; let her tremble in fear of being controlled at any moment.

"WHAT?" her shriek echoed inside the car, scaring Sophia, Wenge and their driver. "I have never heard of something that powerful!" Damn summon! Why now, of all times? WORK!

"Of course" she moved her PC screen, showing her the morning news. A lively photo of Yang smiling on camera with Robin Hill from yesterday's ball was in the middle of the cover of some magazine.

"Unlike you, I do not flaunt my skills, until I am completely certain I have the upper hand." Weiss didn't reply. Her mind had been preoccupied with something else instead.

"Did you capture Blake and Yang too?" a small circle of power gathered behind her and Weiss protected in with her back. "Yes. They are on their way to a meeting point we have arranged with Blood Moon."

The circle started to surge, all she needed was half a minute at worst… "I am going to execute them along with some of Fenris' men. They will be dead before they even wake up, to avoid any sort of issue."

Her summon failed. Weiss' heart cracked. She stared at the beautiful woman sitting in front of her, who had just announced she would execute her family without batting an eye.

"What did you say?" Sophia stared at her as if she was talking to a child. "I will kill my enemies, and blame Fenris for that. You are going to be kept alive as insurance in case something goes awry. Simple, no?"

She puffed some smoke. "Before you say anything stupid, I know Ruby Rose is coming. I have arranged a warm welcome for her as well, when I am done with all of you."

She wanted to lash out at her. Heck, she would have lashed out at her, possibly manage to slice her pretty neck with her nails or mar her 'perfect' skin before they take her down.

But it was that exact moment, Weiss' heart broke. Blake… her friend, was going to die. Yang, her girlfriend, too. She would die. Executed in cold blood by this vixen's men. Ruby… her partner… her best friend…

She would never see them again. She wasn't going to hear Blake complain about Sun's laziness. Yang wouldn't bring her food on the bed, smiling like the sun… Ruby… she wouldn't see her marry Jaune. She had hoped to be her best woman.

She lost her will to fight. Her arms fell on her belly and Weiss was left standing there. She would lose them- and the last days she had spent with them were in this harrowing, pitiful state.

Weiss fell on her back and closed her eye, hoping her tears wouldn't be seen by anyone inside the car. Once more, her mind went to the lullaby.

Heart of darkness, flesh of cold…

Wicked, voracious, hundred years old…

Nothing matters when it stares…

She whimpered, trying to contain herself from breaking in front of her captives. Her pride was literally all she had left.

All shall die and nobody cares…

-o—

February 7th, 86

Aegis Forest

For the small team that Gray sent to the meeting point, it was a typical mission. Kill everyone on sight and get the barrels intact, or never get back.

Their leader, a small-sized faunus with brilliant red spiky hair and piercings all over his nose and ears, the issue was so simple it was boring.

He wanted action. He craved it so much one could see it on his body, as his red-white striped skin was glowing in anticipation. The fact his prey was running late didn't help Simon Cinnabar's nonexistent patience.

One of his men, a wolf faunus with large tail, tossed him a snowball. "Stop fuming, Simon. It's not the end of the world!" "Buzz off my ass, Terry. I wasn't included in the last two attacks- I am bored to death!"

"Maybe if you didn't make a mess every time you were let loose, Boss would trust you more with such things" another wolf faunus, Shayne, told him.

"Fuck you both. Why is it ok when Gray does it, but not when I do?" the man groaned. "Because he knows when to stop, idiot!" another voice shouted from behind them.

Simon growled and licked his lips. "I don't like this place. At all. Carlo might have been a filthy traitor, but he knew this place and he hated it too. And that makes me even more anxious."

The sound of a man running made him turn. He saw the signal and made note to everyone come out and get their guns ready. He walked forward, trying to look as natural as possible.

And then, he saw it. In the middle of the tree-hugged path, slowly moving in the snow, the relatively small convoy was reaching up to them.

"Only two vehicles?" Shayne wondered as they came closer. "And what's the purpose of the armored car if they have the barrels in the truck?"

"Plus I only see two drivers in the front and another one in the back, Terry added. "That looks like a trap, Simon."

"Do tell. These assholes are underestimating us. Are you sure the barrels are in the truck?" "Yes" Shayne replied. "Ok then there is no need for us to spare anything in the armored car. Leave it to me."

He licked his lips in satisfaction as they all moved forward and stopped the convoy. The drivers were wearing snow masks and heavy winter coats. Other than that…

"You aren't armed?" he asked the first one. He was middle-sized and very slender. A teen, most likely? "You are seriously underestimating us!"

He nodded and all the faunus raised their weapons. "Wait!" he said in a childish voice. "We brought you the stuff; as per instructed!"

"Say one more word and I will blow your brains out myself" the redhead answered. "All three of you, get down and fall on your knees! Terry, Shayne; with me!"

The drivers complied and Simon walked to the back of the car. He smiled and put his finger on the exhaust fume. "What-" a driver tried to say, but got hit on the back of the head with a pistol whip.

A few minutes passed, with Simon smiling as his poisonous deadly semblance filled the room. Everyone inside there would be dead within seconds, but he just wanted to be sure.

He nodded to his two henchmen and opened the back of the wagon- to find it completely empty. "So, it wasn't a trap?" Terry said. "Are they truly that stupid?" Simon asked.

"Like you are to talk- you didn't even check us for weapons" one of the drivers said. "What?" Simon turned around exactly the moment one of his men hit the man again.

Only this time, the driver avoided it and grabbed the man's arm. Before everyone could register what had happened, the faunus found himself airborne.

The three lieutenants watched in shock as the other two drivers span on their knees and kicked their guards down. Terry and Shayne ran towards them, opening fire.

And then, chaos ensued. The first driver rolled forward and produced a whip out of his uniform. With a swift movement, he attacked Shayne, electrifying him where he stood.

The faunus tried to counterattack, but the boy kicked his weapon off his arm with immense speed. He then electrified him again, throwing Shayne down unconscious.

Terry tried to open fire, but the second one blinked right next to him. Before the man tried to even move, the figure grabbed his arm and used a knife to slice his back.

Terry tried to disengage, but the figure teleported again in front of him and kicked his ankle. He tried to shoot, but a quick twist of his body slammed him unconscious down to the ground as well.

"Shoot those two! Pin them down!" Simon shouted to his men, still hiding in the trees. Gunfire erupted around the opening, forcing the two drivers to take cover.

Meanwhile, the red-skinned man ran towards the truck. Part of himself felt bad for Terry and Shayne, but orders were clear; taking the barrels to Gray was top priority.

The last driver jumped and crash landed between himself and the truck. He stared at him- her! She was clearly a tall woman, with a very curvy body visible even under the heavy clothing.

"I think I can take this off now!" she said in a loud, womanly voice. She removed her mask and took her hoodie down, revealing a large mane of golden blonde hair. And a pair of very angry red eyes.

He recognized her instantly. "Yang Xiao Long." Yang cracked her neck and her metal arm. "Today is not your lucky day, buddy. I don't even have the self-restraint to ask you for information."

Simon tensed with anticipation. He would finally get his fight and it was going to be against someone really powerful. If he could take down the women who killed Adam Taurus, his reputation would skyrocket.

Meanwhile, quite some kilometers away, a large shadow had just finished feasting on the hapless meal that had carelessly walked on its path.

It raised a bloody, stag-shaped maw and stared as the wind carried towards it the smell of still living prey. It stood up and followed the wind, leaving a mass of mangled flesh behind its bloody trail.

-o—

Gray shut the door behind him, without locking it. Carlo wouldn't be opening doors anymore and as for his other guest… well it's not that a lock would stop in anyway. "Boss" a voice called him at once.

A tall, massive man, with long straight dark hair and a goatee was standing in front of him. He had a pair of warthog tusks protruding from his mouth and an X-shaped scar at his cheek.

Next to the man was a short, slender woman. She had long, curly taupe-colored hair and a pair of huge sunglasses protected her eyes. Her arms were fully covered in thin grey-brown feathers.

"Robert. Stella" he addressed his two lieutenants. "What do you want?" "With all due respect Gray; was that truly necessary?" Robert Ink was flat, emotionless and on point, as always.

"Many of our followers liked Carlo, despite what he did. Maybe butchering him down was not a good idea Sir?" Stella Taupe elaborated.

"Traitors are traitors, you fools" Gray spat. "It doesn't matter what you feel for someone; once they betray our group they are finished. The moon is always dyed red."

"Yes…. but maybe…" "Don't waste your time, Stella" their leader huffed "or mine for what's worth. Has Simon's team returned yet?"

"No. He is quite behind schedule" the huge faunus replied. "It seems that young Miss Carmel is more aggressive than I gave her credit for. And team RWBY is probably closing as we speak…"

"Shall I arrange a strike force for them?" The man seethed in frustration. "We could take down a small army with the firepower we have here."

"No need to. I will go. It is way too valuable of a cargo and the stakes got considerably higher to let anyone else at this point. You two take your teams and withdraw to the hideout."

"What about the facility?" Stella said. "Let Kendrick's group guard it. They will serve as excellent bait" he smirked. And will serve as a good offering too…