Hello everyone. How are you doing? I hope you are all doing fine!
Chapter 78 is here and, as always, I hope you enjoy it.
Thanks a lot for following/favoring/ reading the story. Yes, I will not get tired of thanking you, trust me.
See you all next week with Ch. 79. Until then, be well and have fun!
The first two scarecrows couldn't even react on time; their passive and slow-paced nature betrayed them as it gave Weiss enough time to conjure a massive orange glyph in front of Crescent Rose's barrel.
Powered by the explosive dust rune, the bullets made the two Grimm explode, the immense heat from Ruby's dust and Weiss' semblance melting their highly resistant bodies like ice exposed in a laser beam.
"That feels so satisfying for a reason" the white girl announced next to her grinning partner. "We owe those freaks one for the hellish night in the fields" the girl cocked her weapon "six more to go."
Vivian saw Weiss and Ruby move forward to engage the next three enemies. The sword-wielder skated between them, creating currents of air that propelled their unnaturally heavy and tough bodies airborne.
Unlike yesterday, Ruby rushed in a diagonal pattern, riding the girl's air currents while shooting gravity bullets backwards to gain momentum.
A quick torrent of slices severed the Gargoyles' heads like knife cutting through butter, vaporizing them at once. The other three stared at the powerful huntresses, tilted their heads and, as expected, vanished into the mist, a thin breeze accompanying them as they meld in the ground.
"Good job you two; it looks we weren't needed at all!" Yang and Blake landed a few meters away, on high alert despite the visible relief on their faces.
"Yeah" Ruby replied, eyes scanning their perimeter. "It was way too easy, compared to how sturdy and powerful they seemed yesterday."
Vivian slowly stood up. Gargoyles are much weaker under daylight and do not move or hunt unless they feel their prey is an easy one to kill. I hope you appreciate the effort I took to lure them here, you four.
"Are you ok, Miss?" Blake walked next to her, her expression a mixed one of caution and concern. "Crem" she replied, trying to sound as hurt as possible. "Professor Vivian Crem, of Lakkard University" she added.
"I am Blake and these are team RWBY" the faunus told her. Vivian tried her best to sound surprised. "The famous team RWBY? I am honored…" she coughed a little "did you come here to save us?"
"Among other things" Yang smiled at her, a big attractive grin radiating positive energy and comfort. Vivian groaned in the inside but smiled at the girl "I am honored. Thank you so much for saving me!"
"You are welcome, Professor" Weiss returned the courtesy. "You are one of the two professors who accompanied the field trip, right?" The woman brushed her filthy white hair and nodded with wet eyes.
"We didn't expect that" she pointed at the direction the Grimm had left "nor we expected our equipment to malfunction like this… we lost our way in the fields and were forced to try finding our way, until…"
The woman gulped and Yang gave her some water to clean her throat "poor Daniel… what they did to him was…" she looked away, a motion that everyone followed with "we barely managed to reach this place."
"I understand it must be tough for you" Ruby knelt next to the crying woman "But I have to ask something really important. Do you know where the others may be, Prof. Crem?"
Vivian returned the flask to Yang and licked her dried lips before she stared at the girl's silver pools "we got separated in the plaza yesterday night, when those things attacked us. I haven't seen them since then."
"I see" the girl smiled and turned to her teammates who were staring at the woman in sadness- except for Yang who had her eyes narrowed.
"Sorry to ask, but did you discuss with them what would you do if you hadn't been attacked?" the tall woman asked her. "I don't like doing that, trust me, but if they have survived we must find them ASAP."
Finally, they asked she thought in satisfaction. "We were going to use the museum as a place to pass the night in; it should have a few vaults that could be used as emergency barricades if we were attacked."
The four girls stared at each other and nodded. Ruby turned to Vivian "can you walk, Prof. Crem?" "Yes" she nodded. "Perfect" the silver eyes scanned their surroundings once more, as the faunus took out the map.
"You will help Blake lead us to the plaza. We are checking it first and then we rush to the museum. No matter what, however, we are setting our camp there and spending the night, all right?"
Everyone nodded in acceptance and at once started walking through the thinner, yet always obstructing, mist towards the central plaza, the cream-haired woman satisfied with the progress they were making.
-o—
All things considered, walking through Cornfield proved to be a less eventful task than it seemed at first.
The city was in as a bad shape as it seemed at first, the slowly thinning mist only revealing more and more horrid images. Ruin, decay and masses of thick, green vines spread around, filling their line of sight.
Blake jumped over a vine and took a few glances around; save for piles of rubble the only noteworthy thing was a half-destroyed house. The girl's trained eyes could see that most vines in the area sprouted from its inside and through the demolished wall, she noticed purple petals.
"For some reason those purple flowers have found residence inside the suburbs' abandoned houses; the vines covering the city all belong to them. They are not poisonous unless threatened" Vivian told her.
"You managed to find that out while running away?" Ruby, who was at the moment walking next to the short woman, asked.
"I noticed it after a few failed attempts to find shelter somewhere. They dislike water it would seem so if we get closer to the lake they become scarcer. Those things that went after me seem to avoid the lake too."
"Maybe that's what it is" Weiss noted from behind them. "If they are truly Gargoyles, maybe the large ones imitate the flowers' traits and patterns like the small ones imitate the scarecrows."
"Is it possible for Grimm to gain new powers merely by imitation?" her fiancée asked in confusion. "Well, we fought a Geist that had possessed a mass of fog back in Grimmwater; I don't consider it impossible."
While the couple lost themselves in a debate over the possibilities of the enemies here to have managed such a thing, Ruby took a few side steps next to Vivian and pointed at her silver rifle.
"Can I take a look?" she smiled in childish and gleeful excitement. The woman's big black eyes stared at the girl's innocent silver ones as she pondered over her choices.
She really didn't want to give her weapon to the girl. This hunting rifle was the most trustworthy thing she had in the entire area. On the other hand, however… gaining the innocent girl's trust was equally important.
"Here you are" she handled it to Ruby, who suppressed a shout of joy. Expertly, deftly and with careful movements she ran her fingers over the weapon's metal plating. "It's very well made" she finally exclaimed.
"It was my father's" Vivian had the excuse ready and practiced. "He was a huntsman and the one who taught me how to use it." That part was a truth and helped her story sound even more believable.
The girl examined the weapon once more, not even for a second losing ground or slowing down, well-trained eyes focusing on the numerous cuts and scrapes on its body and handle.
"Indeed; it's a huntsman's weapon. It has seen a lot of fight in its life" she smiled in sadness as she gave it back to Vivian. "I am sure he is proud of you having it now."
"He would; but he passed away due to old age ten years ago. He was old when I was born." The girl's eyes opened wide "oh I am sorry to hear that." "Don't be; I am sure he was happy" that one was also true.
They continued walking, making small talk about less important matters for a while, when Blake's voice sounded from behind a large vine she had climbed to take a better look.
"I have found the plaza!" she shouted. "There is no one here; human or Grimm" she added, before the others climbed over the green obstacle and reached their tracker.
The area here had no buildings. A series of bloodstained and shattered tiles formed circles around a large statue that towered in the evening mist, the few rays of sun able to pass through lighting its gray form.
The few buildings that once stood around it had been flattened. As the black-haired huntress moved forward and fixed her mask, she noticed a lot of scrapes, cuts, claw prints and a lot of bullet cases spread around.
Without wasting any time, the girls started searching around. Ruby and Blake swept the area for recent traces of human activity, while Yang patrolled the area for enemies and Weiss sternly guarded Prof. Crem.
"There's nothing here" the crimson reaper finally said. "All the cases are old and rusted and so are the claw marks." "Same is for the blood spatters" Blake added "it seems nobody fought- or died- here recently."
"These are good news!" Vivian smiled at them, her face a perfect mask of happiness. "Should we go check the museum then? They may have found shelter there after all."
The three girls nodded and got ready to leave, until Weiss noticed her girlfriend who had been standing a few meters behind them, her lilac eyes fixed on the massive statue.
"Yang?" she asked "is everything all right?" The tall blonde was gazing at the tall form that was made of dark stone and depicted the same hooded woman with the lump on her back, now holding a tall staff.
Her features were the same; slightly thick arms and legs and a hidden face but now she could see that small bumps formed in her cloak. Was it intentional or just bad sculpting?
"Isn't weird that everything has been destroyed here and this statue is perfectly fine?" she replied. "It only needs a little cleaning at should be perfect! Mayor Franklin could even put it in Patch's annual festivities."
Ruby's face took an expression of disgust. She could definitely see the eccentric mayor of Patch doing that. "Please don't put horrible images in my mind, sis" she tossed her backpack behind her left shoulder.
"Let's go Yang. We have to reach the museum before night catches up to us." The blonde nodded and moved after them, spending one last gaze at the hooded statue and the large, jagged letters on its base.
ALL PRAISE THE GRAND MOTHER- THE ONE WHO WATCHES
-o—
A few hours earlier…
New Vale City Police Department HQ
Velvet finished typing and saved the file on her computer. Her body was stiff from exhaustion, so she decided to get up and stretch her arms and legs, leaving a small moan of relief as her muscles shook.
Her brown eyes fell on her desk; a series of files, archives and notes spread all over the surface, only the left part next to her PC where she kept her personal belongings being clear and organized.
On the wall just above her chair, a large map of New Vale stood and next to it there were 12 pinned posts with the names of the peoples' graves that had been opened and vandalized these last six weeks.
A small ray of sunlight fell on the map, highlighting the Vale Cemetery. She furred her eyebrows; some days it felt like even the world itself was hell-bent on messing around with her. She gazed out of the window.
It's getting late, isn't it? I should get back to work if I want to be home before midnight. She had only managed to get seated when her ears perked at the sound of someone opening the door.
They couldn't be another officer; only the night shift remained and they would call her in advance if they wanted something from her. In that case… she turned around and came face to face with Jaune.
A very exhausted Jaune, holding a small paper bag in his arms. "I was sure I would find you here. Do you ever stop working, Velv?" he asked her, always smiling warmly at his temporary partner.
"I just want to be done with archiving the information" she replied, not really interested in whether he would reprimand her or not about that.
"I knew it" his shoulders slumped "that's why I brought you these" he took out a large cup of coffee and a sandwich from the bag, as well as a piece of pumpkin pie "Erik told me you like it a lot."
"Thank you; this may be exactly what I needed" she smiled at the man's thoughtfulness and noted to thank her boyfriend later. Velvet sipped some coffee and felt her tired eyes open at once.
"Are you not eating?" she stared at the now empty bag. "I will eat when I get home; probably cook something fast." Brown eyes narrowed and the bunny girl crossed her arms at Jaune.
"You will put on weight if you keep eating too late; not to mention it's no good for your health" she told him, not revealing the full extent of her thoughts. The blonde boy smiled meekly and shook his shoulders.
"I eat when I get hungry, Velvet. I can't do anything about this. I know Ruby asked you to take care of me, but you don't have to be worried to that extent" he calmly stated.
Of course you would know what Ruby asked of me; you two think so much alike; it's kind of scary. Hope you didn't get the full extent of her worries, though. "Speaking of Ruby, have you contacted her at all?"
His eyes got serious and he stared outside the window; the sun had already started set and the beautiful night lights would soon shine in the cool spring night.
He missed her already; more accurately he missed her from the very first moment she boarded the train to Lakkard. But, this was the way of life they had both chosen. Ruby was Ruby; nothing should change that.
"We talked yesterday morning; they were getting ready to venture in Cornfield" he swallowed the small pang of fear rising in his throat. "She told me they will probably be out of contact for a while."
"That's them all right" the faunus' gaze softened. "I am impressed by your strength, to be honest. If I were in your place, I would be worried sick for them." She smiled at him "you are a strong man, Jaune."
The boy replied by sending her a melancholic gaze "thanks Velv. I really appreciate that. I hope next time I will be in shape to follow her instead of staying behind and trying not to be worried sick about them."
She took out the pie; it smelled divine and reminded her she hadn't had lunch at all today. "I am sure you will. You are Jaune Arc; you can do anything you want. Start by getting some rest" she bit into her food.
"Yeah, probably will. See you tomorrow Velv" the boy smiled at her and left, quickly trekking down the stairs as the hungry brunette devoured her food behind him, accompanied by the last rays of the setting sun.
A few hours later, Velvet stepped inside her apartment. The door was locked, but the living room's lights were on so Erik must have been waiting for her. As usual, she bitterly nodded.
A quick, hot bath and a pair of fluffy pajamas was all she needed before she crashed on the sofa with a bottle of juice on her hand. Erik wrapped his strong arms around her and kissed her neck.
"How was your day?" he asked. Velvet was so tired and stiff that she didn't reply at once, allowing her muscles to enjoy the much needed warmth and comfort her boyfriend tenderly provided.
"Bad as usual. Yours?" "Boring as usual; with Alex and Albus currently moved to Cypress to replace Ren and Nora and Lumia preoccupied with Glynda's commands, there is not much to be done that patrolling."
"I see" she rubbed his arm. "Why was your day bad, baby?" Erik didn't even keep pretenses and was always direct and to the point. It was one of the things Velvet loved in him so much.
"For starters the looming threat of the Eldergrimm and the fight RWBY had with the council bother me" she replied. "But I am also tired trying to track down that corpse-eating criminal" she bitterly added.
The chestnut-haired boy took a thoughtful expression for a few seconds and then grabbed her waist and pulled her up. She didn't expect that and made a small, disgruntled whimper.
"There is something else too, so why don't you spit it out?" he told her. Velvet groaned "do I have to?" "Do you have a reason not to?" he told her. "Unless it's something I mustn't know, of course. But I am curious."
Feeling the worry in his voice, she turned around and, without any prior notice, grabbed his chin and kissed him, enjoying his lips for a while.
"I am not cheating on you" she joked. "It is something I am ashamed of and has to do with the case." He stared at her in confusion "did you fall asleep on the job?" he asked, half-joking.
Velvet rolled her eyes "of course not! Even I am not that desperate to feel bad about resting when I am really tired." She looked away and, after a few minutes of trying to pull her thoughts together, spoke.
"It is a theory I have thought about the corpse-eater" her voice was really low and her eyes had that timid nature her boyfriend had first seen back in Vacuo before the war claimed Velvet's innocence away.
"It's more like a series of bits and pieces of information I picked by analyzing all aspects that have to do with them. Mind you" she gulped "the connection is made by making a few gaps in my logic. There is no concrete evidence about what I am going to tell you, ok honey?"
Ok, now he was alarmed. Velvet called him honey on rare occasions, mostly when she was in a really heated mood or when she was scared and wanted support.
"If, and I say that with a lot of caution, if I am right, then I think I have found the identity of the one who eats all these corpses." "Isn't that a good thing?" Erik asked her.
She shook her head "not exactly. You see-" the sudden ring of her scroll cut the bunny girl off. It was not her normal ringtone but a monotonous and high-pitched one; the VPD night shift was calling her.
She gave one quick jump and grabbed the scroll "Detective Scarlatina here." "My apologies for the late night call, detective, but there has been an incident and we were ordered to call you at once."
"Its fine" she stared at the tall boy who was now standing next to her "tell me officer." "The corpse-eater has struck again. But this time two of the patrolling officers' bodies were found next to the grave as well."
Velvet's face went pale white. She licked her lips "understood; I am on my way to the scene. No, you don't have to; I will contact Mr. Arc and drive there on my own. Thank you officer and I wish you a good night."
As if anyone who just heard two of their colleagues were murdered could have a good night she thought. "Honey, I am sorry but I have to go. I will-"
"I understand" he replied and ran to the bedroom. "Let me get dressed and grab my weapons." Velvet smiled at her boyfriend and dialed Jaune at once.
"Velv?" his voice replied after a few beeps. "He got us again; and killed two officers now." "Really? I can't believe it!" he sounded frustrated and, if she wanted to be fair, she shared that sentiment as well.
"Get ready" she told him "we are on our way to get you." "Of course" Jaune replied and closed the scroll. The faunus threw it away and ran to get changed.
It was going to be another long night in Vale. And, deep inside her, the brunette huntress couldn't fight the growing feeling of dread that had started to grow inside her since yesterday.
She couldn't help but hope that in her exhaustion and obsession she had wrongly connected the dots in her head; otherwise, she would be forced to do something really unpleasant- and utterly unforgivable.