"Okay guys, this is it," said Jaune, "If we stick together, we'll have a better fighting chance."
But despite his own words, the bloody hallways they have to go through made his heart go into overdrive.
"I really need all of you to support each other," he said, "If we don't...I don't know what might happen."
"Shit man," said Cardin, "Shit, shit, shit! Are we really doing this?"
He gripped his pistol tighter.
"C'mon Jaune, l-let's just go find another dorm or something!"
"What?" Velvet commented, "B-But our friends! What about your team?"
"My team?!" Cardin exclaimed, "To hell with my team!"
"What?!" Ruby said, shocked, "You heartless jerk!"
"Guys! Please!" Jaune said, "We really need to focus."
He looked at Cardin, trying to ignore the comment he made about his teammates.
"We're already wasting too much time. More may come!"
Cardin's heart skipped a beat. He looked at Ruby and Velvet. They both were preparing to move with Jaune.
'Are they crazy?' he thought.
He looked at the school uniform he was wearing, alongside everyone else. Had they not been wearing them, perhaps they'd be better equipped for this. Cardin can feel his pants restricting his legs, and he definitely knew his shirt will tear if he were to swing hard enough with his weapon if he had it.
"Let's get out of here," Jaune said, "If we can make it to the staircase, we can leave through the fire exit."
"Right!" acknowledged Ruby and Velvet.
"Fuck. Me," Cardin said under his breath.
And finally, they began to move down the hall.
Their brisk footsteps filled the silent hallways. No sounds were heard from any dorms. After the previous group of people attacked them, no one wasted time talking.
Jaune nervously looked around, sweat appearing on the sides of his ears. Cardin was indeed correct, their plan was crazy. Going across the entire continent of Sanus? What is he thinking?! And why was everyone listening to him of all people?! They all went to him like he had all the answers. Ruby should have taken lead, she is much better qualified for this.
...No. He couldn't place this pressure on her. She went to him as well, after all. No, what he needs to do is think. He must think of something now.
'Okay,' Jaune thought to himself, 'Think Jaune, think.'
His attention went back to the dorms.
'Okay,' Jaune tried to think, 'Stairs, fire exit, friends. Stairs, fire exit, friends.'
The dorm they are currently located in was the Redwood Dorm. Cardin's team might still be here. Despite the bully's desire, there was no way they were going to leave them here, even if they bullied him.
"Cardin," Jaune called out, "Where did your team go?"
"Really?!" Cardin yelled, "Screw them man, they could be dead for all I know."
"W-What?!" Ruby said, horrified.
"No, Ruby, it's fine!" Jaune quickly said, "Cardin just tell me where they might be. There's still a chance we can save them."
Cardin looked at him. The same geek they bullied now wanted to save them. For some reason, that really pissed him off.
"Oh I don't fucking know!" he said, "I think they might still be at the school, we got separated around there."
Jaune nodded. They can find them as soon as they retrieve their weapons. Surely they can fend for themselves until then…
For now, his focus was on the Cypress dorm, his and Ruby's dorm. It's located just in front of Redwood, which makes the travel marginally simple.
But the question of Velvet's dorm made him sweat since Cypress is only reserved for freshmen students. All student years, including guests from other schools for this year's Vytal festival, could stay in Redwood and the Sycamore dorm, while all upperclassmen could stay in the Oak and Laurel dorms.
He silently prayed for some level of convenience.
"Velvet," Jaune called, causing her ears to twitch in response, "Where's your dorm?"
He saw her furrowed eyebrows, seeing how his fears might have come true.
"I-It's...the Oak dorm."
Jaune's heart skipped a beat.
"Oh…" Ruby's face paled.
"Oh great!" Cardin yelled, "The fucking animal choose the dorm on the other side of the fucking school!"
"I-I'm s-sorry," Velvet's voice grew quieter, "C-Coco really likes the...suites there..."
She blushed heavily.
"Well, glad you got your fucking suite!" Cardin yelled, "It's gonna get us killed, I just know it!"
"Cardin, c'mon! She didn't know this would happen," Jaune said, "But damn…I guess...we'll get to it when we reach that point Velvet."
Her ears drooped as Coco was placed into her mind.
Jaune noticed they had just ran past the two large elevators, Jaune went back to thinking.
'Alright, so far so good,' Jaune thought, 'We're halfway to the exit.'
"H-hey guys!" Ruby called, causing everyone to stop, "Why don't we take the elevator? It's faster, right?"
"Yeah right," Cardin responded, "No way I'm going in that metal coffin."
Ruby turned to him.
"Metal coffin? It'll take us straight to the first floor."
"And what if those things are right outside the door?!"
"...It was just a suggestion."
"A stupid one, freak."
"Jerk-face."
"Shit-head!"
"G-Guy's, please," Velvet tried to speak, "Y-you shouldn't fight."
"What was that?! You little-"
"Guys, c'mon!"
"No, shut up Jaune!" Cardin went back to the faunus, "I bet you're feeling all 'high and mighty because you think you helped me back there."
He went closer to her face, causing her to shift back.
"But that doesn't mean anything to me." he said, "I still don't like you, not a single bit!"
He shoved her to the ground.
"Hey!"
Ruby ran to Velvet's side as he walked off to the end of the hall.
"Cardin, what was that!" yelled Jaune.
"Just shut up!" Cardin began walking away, "Who the hell do you people think you are, talking to me like that."
Ruby's cheeks couldn't pout any further from anger but saved it for her downed friend, who was wiping her eyes with her hands.
"Are you alright Vel?" Ruby asked.
"..."
"Don't listen that jerk," Ruby said, "He must be dumber than rocks if he thinks he's better than you!"
"…I guess," replied Velvet, still down, "I…I think we should catch up to him. We need to stick together."
Ruby allowed her to get up, but her disdain for what happened wished to fuel her mouth further. Whenever Cardin opens his mouth she just wants to explode into millions of pieces.
"Guys...we have to keep moving!" Jaune said, "And Cardin! Don't go too far!"
"Oh please, I can go wherever…..."
The abrupt halt in his selfish tirade scared Jaune, leaving Ruby and Velvet to forget what occurred moments ago.
They made their way to the standing bully, staring at the wall by his side. Once they approached, their focus was also sucked into the sizable bloodstain that Cardin was about to approach.
Cardin didn't know what to think.
His pistol began shaking like a cornered animal.
'Monty Oum,' he thought, 'How the hell am I going to get out of this?!'
Cardin could not wrap his mind around it.
He looked back at the approaching losers, especially Jaune Arc, whom he found himself following. He should have been the one to be the leader, not Jaune.
Not to mention that fucking Faunus, god damn it, he couldn't stand her. Acting all nice, who the hell does she think she is? He felt far better seeing her eyes shift away from his gaze.
"Cardin!" Ruby yelled at him, "Stop staring at Velvet!"
Cardin grunted, "Whatever, loser."
And that stupid brat, all high and mighty because she's the leader of her own team. If she wasn't the leader, she'd be a nobody.
Why does he have to be around such losers!
"Guys, keep it down," Jaune said, "We might attract more of them!"
…
…
…
Cardin felt the hate he felt for that blond dork, telling him what to do.
'This whole team is stupid.'
They're going to get him killed, but what choice did he have but to follow them? He took a glance at the faunus, hoping his glare would make her disappear. He remembers how easily she shot that guy attacking him, she definitely is in touch with her animal side.
'Freak.'
Unfortunately, Velvet wished she could have handled what had happened previously better. The immense pressure in her chest reminded her of the murder she committed not moments ago. Had it been in cold blood, she would have puked.
Yet despite the blood on her hands, she was certain it was to save a life. The man she shot had charged at Ruby like a Boarbatusk and attacked her like a Beowolf. Not to mention the bullets it took to take him down. At that point, the line between human and inhuman becomes blurred, right?
'But...He was sick though,' Velvet thought.
Despite Jaune's bold claim, she cannot help but think that the man could have been helped. Surely, something could have been done, right? Was she a murderer? Did she just kill an innocent man?!
Velvet could feel Cardin's stare despite him looking forward. Surely, everyone else was thinking about the man she killed as well.
'What's wrong with me?' she thought, 'I should be strong and confident like Coco.'
Velvet hoped her best friend was alright. But...what on earth was she going to say to her about this?
'Oh my god, she's going to think I am an animal...'
Her chest hurt more. She felt like a sick psycho.
She looked at Jaune,
She could not wrap her head around how he was able to handle all of this so well. She barely knows him, but she could finally understand the praise she had heard about him from Ruby. Her chest lighted from his previous declaration, surely there was no other way.
Velvet's eyes shifted at Ruby, who accepted her from the very start despite her Faunus heritage. She has been defending her from Cardin from the start, something she should have been doing herself. This must be hard for her, being so young. Knowing her child-like personality, Velvet doesn't want to imagine what she possibly thinks about what she did moments ago. From face value, she seems to be alright.
However, Ruby was far more terrified than she lets on.
She has killed many Grimm during her time at Beacon Academy, and she believes her dream of protecting the world from them brought her to Beacon Academy, up until now. Where not days ago she was thinking about defeating Grimm, she now thinks about killing people. The thought began to tie her stomach into knots.
'This has to be a dream…' Ruby thought.
She wanted to help people. She wanted to be a great Huntress, like her mother. She wanted to be the heroes like the ones she reads about in her books.
Killing people is not what heroes do.
Ruby looked at Cardin. Her mind drew blanks when trying to understand his thought process when he pulled the trigger at that man.
But the man he shot...Is it possible to be gunned down without aura and still walk?
She looked at Velvet, who was sweating from head to toe. She was the one that finished the man off. She can still remember the man's head bursting like a balloon and the confetti that poured out of it...How Velvet was able to handle this speaks volumes of her huntress-in-training experience here in Beacon Academy.
'Maybe I'm not ready…'
This isn't what she wanted. She didn't want to kill anyone. Sure she handled her own with Roman Torchwich, but Ruby could never imagine ending the criminal's life.
'No…This is different...'
Jaune said that he didn't feel human anymore, but what did that mean? It made sense at the time, but now she can't comprehend it. He looked like a sick human to her, if he's not that then what was he? A Grimm?! No, whatever Jaune meant, thats' no excuse to kill someone…Yet the healing sores on her body grew more painful.
That man really hurt her, without her aura it could have been far worse. Those attacks were ferocious, something that a normal person shouldn't be capable of.
"Hey, guys!" Jaune called, "Up ahead!"
Ruby could see the emergency exit just a fair distance ahead.
This is a really big dorm...
"Let's keep going, we're almost there!"
They all obeyed the blonde leader, but Ruby couldn't help but notice his sudden shift in behavior. Jaune had been leading them with such an unnatural bravado that she forgot he was the awkward goofball she was best friends with. How was he handling this so well? It was incredible! Her heart lightened up, if Jaune of all people was confident enough in this situation, then she should be too! She will help him out in whatever way possible...but she can't stop thinking about that man.
They were halfway to the exit, and Jaune's attention did not falter. He had read books as a kid about knights who lost battles because of early victory celebrations, and he did not want to make that kind of mistake. Especially not in this situation.
It unnerved him how quiet the halls were. It felt like everyone was in class, but the soot and blood made that fantasy impossible. He felt like he was preparing for a jump scare in a scary movie, this kind of pressure is something he can't handle. He felt he was making his feelings too obvious to the others, how nobody called him out thus far was beyond him.
Where was this even coming from? Everything happened so fast and now suddenly people were looking to him for answers.
'I don't even know why my own team listens to me!'
Jaune was probably the most cowardly, least confident person to ever hold such a position as leader.
He thought about Ruby. At such a young age she was accepted to Beacon Academy and was given her own team, a team that is now one of the most well-known and skilled teams in the entire school, let alone the freshman body.
Yet he was the one leading everyone. Jaune Arc, a man who faked his own transcript just to enroll here, was the one in charge of their lives. He couldn't imagine how he was going to protect them. Why did he take such a huge role, Ruby should be leading them.
'She fought against Roman Torchwick, she's way more capable than me!'
Yet…he remembered a red and black-haired statue, staring intensely at the blood and gore from Cardin's door. Jaune has been great friends with Ruby for quite some time, but he never could imagine her in such a petrified state.
'No, this is far too much for her to bear.'
He can't let her take this burden. In fact, how was she handing this now? What about Velvet? Cardin? He couldn't possibly guess. He hoped it was far better than how he was handling this. They're far capable huntsmen and huntresses in training after all.
But regardless of his skills, he had to keep going. They have a plan, so he's going to make sure they stick to it.
'I was trained by Pyrrha for god sake, and she was on a Pumpkin Pete box!'
Surely that had to count for something.
'Just keep a brave face, and lead.'
"Velvet?" Jaune heard Ruby whisper.
The rabbit faunus sensed the stress on Ruby.
"Did…did that man…" Ruby delicately whispered, "Did…did he feel…human?"
'Oh god,' thought Velvet.
She still couldn't find an answer she was comfortable with. Not even what Jaune said could possibly help her comprehend what happened.
Velvet thought about her answer carefully, opting to look at the wall next to her for safety. Monty knows what's going on in Ruby's mind.
"God damn it."
She blinked after hearing a response from Cardin.
"Unless you've heard of a man that can take a whole round of bullets and keep trotting forward, then we might as well be murders."
That's what Velvet was afraid of.
"Well, what if we're murderers!" Ruby said back.
"God damn it, why're you ALWAYS STARTING SOMETHING!"
"Guys!" Jaune called, "You're too loud!"
"Oh go fuck yourself Arc!" Cardin said, "The only reason why I'm letting you lead is because this twerp won't shut up.
Cardin looked at Velvet.
"And the animal isn't going to listen to a word I say, I bet."
Jaune could see Velvet falter even more.
"He's a better leader than you, you jerk," Ruby defended.
"What'd you say brat!"
"Guys!" Jaune harshly called once more.
Everyone flinched from his unnatural tone.
"God forbid we attract more of them!"
Cardin and Ruby stopped themselves.
The air grew silent once more, and Jaune was able to relax his facing heart.
'No, I let my anxiety get to me', he thought, 'That was way too harsh.'
He had to keep everyone calm, including himself. If everyone starts arguing, then no doubt more of those things will come...wherever they might be.
"Cardin," he spoke, "Regardless of who's leading, if we don't cooperate...I don't know what will happen to us..."
Cardin stopped himself from continuing, gritting his teeth in frustration.
"Ruby," Jaune called, seeing her look at him with uncertain eyes.
Of course she's still unsure about what happened, how did this skip past his mind. Jaune couldn't imagine her pulling a trigger on anything but the Grimm. But...what he said earlier aligned with his very soul. Jaune swallowed the saliva in his mouth.
"I know…I can't imagine what you might be thinking…but…"
He took a deep breath.
"But when that girl…When she grabbed me while we were...clinging to each other outside the window…"
His eyes felt a horrifying certainty cast over them.
"…I thought we were going to die…I thought you…or I, or one of us, would lose our grip…and die."
Jaune saw Ruby's eyes widen.
"That girl...her eyes...she looked like a wild animal...she wanted to kill me," Jaunes said, "She wanted to kill us."
Ruby stared at him, thinking about Jaune's words.
"Strange," Cardin interrupted, "Because I'm convinced that YOU could have killed us!"
Jaune stiffened at that accusation.
"H-Huh?" Velvet stumbled.
"What was that?!" Ruby demanded.
"Oh, you losers heard me!" Cardin yelled, "We wouldn't have been in that situation had Mr. Brave Leader not pushed us out that fucking window."
Jaune's shoulders threatened to sag.
"In fact," Cardin continued, "I was going to shimmy to the next window and avoid the entire confrontation all together!"
He stepped forward while Jaune slightly stepped back.
"But no, fricken Arc thought pushing us out of a window, eight stories high, with no way of breaking our fall, was a good idea!"
He got really close to Jaune.
"I should be leading us, not you, or that twerp, or even that…FUCKING ANIMAL OVER THERE!"
He shoved Jaune to the floor.
"Hey!" Ruby yelled.
"And what's wrong now, twerp?!" Cardin yelled, "Don't tell me I'M FUCKING WRONG!"
He made his way to Ruby, getting dangerously close to her face, causing her to step back.
"What do you have to say now, huh? That I'm a jerk? HUH?!"
Ruby's face was as red as a tomato.
"You're such a...You're such a...YOU'RE SUCH A..."
Ruby exploded.
"BIG...ASSHOLE!"
"OH HERE WE GO!" Cardin raised his hands, "THE BRAT HAS FINALLY SAID WHAT SHE REALLY MEANS! I'M SO FUCKING PROUD!"
He shoved Ruby, but she did not fall to the ground.
"Arc could have killed us, and you're DEFENDING HIM?!"
"Everything happened too fast!" Ruby yelled.
"Don't give me that shit! He said it himself, he thought we were going to die!"
"W-W-we're not dead."
Cardin stopped. The response came from a different voice, a voice who faltered under his gaze.
"What was that?"
Velvet's face was redder than Ruby's, but for the wrong reason.
"W-w-we-"
"WHAT?!"
Velvet could stop stuttering.
"W-W-W-We"
"'Wuh-Wuh-Wuh-Wuh-Wuh-Wuh'", Cardin mocked, "WHAT, YOU FUCKING ANIMAL!"
"We're not dead," Ruby repeated, "That's what she said!"
Cardin stared at her, his anger growing beyond the room.
Jaune slowly picked himself back up. He couldn't deny the shame and embarrassment he felt. What Cardin said was true. What he did was stupid and dangerous.
'God, what was I thinking?'
A competent leader wouldn't have been so reckless. A competent leader would have thought of something better. Ruby and Velvet have been backing him up for a while now, but he still knows for sure that things could have ended horribly had Cardin not latched himself onto the window ledge. They could have been killed...And it would have all been his fault.
His confidence as a leader slowly withered away. It's always been a problem for him, despite having an amazing and supportive team. But despite Pyrrha's accolades, Ren's respect, and Nora's "fearless leader" nickname, he never felt good enough. After all, the only reason he was able to even catch of glimpse of Beacon Academy was with his fake transcripts. He should have never come here in the first place. Hell, the only one that knows about it is Pyrrha and...Cardin.
"Fuck this, fuck you all!" Cardin screamed as he began to walk to the exit.
"C-Cardin?" Jaune asked incredulously, "Where are you going?"
"Away from all of you," he responded, "I haven't done anything, and all you guys do is keep attacking me like kids to pancakes!"
"It's because you won't shut up!" Ruby yelled.
"Well screw you shrimp, and screw you rabbit!"
Ruby growled at Cardin, as Velvet shrunk further.
"I don't need any of you losers," he proclaimed as he walked further ahead, "I bet you all won't even last-"
*KABOOOOOOOOOOOM*
The hot air smacked Cardin's face like a mace to the skull.
He flew off the ground as the flames escaped, hitting the wall on his left before tumbling to the ground.
"Oh shit!" Jaune screamed, "Cardin!"
"AARGH, WHAT THE FUCK!" Cardin grasped his burning face, "S-SOMEBODY HELP ME!"
Jaune scurried to the downed bully.
The explosion came from the door almost directly from Cardin's right.
"W-w-what was that!?" Velvet yelled.
Jaune removed Cardin's hands from his face, which only suffered from redness and minor wooden shrapnel to his right cheek.
Jaune knew if Cardin had been directly in front of the door, he would be much worse off.
"Was that a dust explosion?!" Ruby yelled to Jaune as she and Velvet approached them.
The fire began to spread across the floor.
Hot smoke escaped from the burning dorm.
"I-It had to be!" Jaune confirmed to Ruby.
"Guys," Velvet called, "T-the exit!"
The fire had blocked the way to the staircase.
"Damn it!" Jaune cursed, "Is there another exit?!"
"I don't know!" Ruby called.
Jaune lifted Cardin up.
He stared at the fire.
"Oh…" Cardin cried in fear, "What the hell is going on!"
"Guys!" Velvet called, "T-The fire's spreading! We have to go!"
Jaune turned to the fire, the horror washing over him. But then he saw the smoke grow thicker.
He took a step back, seeing that the smoke was almost towards the ceiling.
"Oh my god," Jaune said, seeing where the smoke would lead, "We...We have to go NOW!"
"B-But what about the people in the dorms!" Ruby added, "They could be-"
"NO, HURRY!" Jaune ran to the front of the group, "THE SMOKE! IT'S GONNA START THE-"
*DI-LI-LI-LI-LI-LI-LI-LI-LI-LI-LI-LI-LI-LI-LI-LI-LI-LI-LI-LI-LI-LI-LI-LI-LI-LI-LI-*
The piercingly loud fire alarm rung through the hallways, silencing everyone in the room and draining the color from Jaune's skin.
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EEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
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Everybody stopped breathing.
*BANG*
*BANG*
*BANG*
*BANG*
*BANG*
*BANG*
*BANG*
*BANG*
Every room banged with feral rage.
Every single door, from every entryway they can see, began to bend and tear.
Arms sprouted through the openings.
"Run."
Nobody listened to Jaune's order.
*POW*
They all turned to him after he shot a bullet to the floor.
"RUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUN!"
The doors broke open.
AAAAGH
EEEUUGH
FEEEAAH
GEEEAAA
AAAARRG
IIIEEEEEEG
YAABAAA
HUUEEAAG
HAAAAGH
EUEAAAG
HEEEAAAH
FEEERRRAA
GUEEAAAG
KAAAAAAH
"UUUUAAAAAAAAAAH!" Cardin ungracefully screamed in horror.
They all ran down the hall.
The students and civilians were right on their tails.
"Oh shit!" Jaune ran, "Oh shit! OH SHIT! OH SHIT! OH SHIT!"
They ran in the opposite direction they came from.
IIIEEEEEEG
AABAAAA
HUUEEAAG
HAAAAGH
Four students rushed them from the front.
Everyone raised their guns and fired rapidly.
Nobody had time to aim.
They sprayed across the hallway.
Their bullets took off the arm of one.
The leg of another.
The head of the third.
And chunks of the chest on the last.
"OH MONTY OUM!" Velvet screamed, "OH MONTY OUM!"
They began to make their way halfway to Cardin's dorm.
The horde was getting closer.
"G-GUYS!" Ruby screamed, "THE ELEVATOR!"
Jaune's eyes widened.
"RUBY!" He yelled, "USE YOUR SEMBLANCE TO GET THE ELEVATOR! PRESS THE BUTTON!"
Rose petals flurried everyone's vision.
Rushing past more students and civilians, Ruby caused them to trip over themselves.
"LET'S GO!" Jaune ordered everyone else.
Ruby arrived at the elevator in no time.
She rapidly pressed the button.
"C'mon, c'mon!"
She pressed the button some more.
GEEEEAAUGH
She looked to her left.
A student laid his sights on her, but Ruby could only pause.
The longer she stared at the rushing form, the slower time went.
The student was Mistralian, with a dark complexion and short green hair that stood up. He was here for the Vytal Festival, and he was always with his team, led by Sun Wukong.
"Sage…"
Neptune introduced him to her, but not like this.
His face was so pale, his eyes were so yellow, and his hands were coated with blood. Yet Ruby was able to look past all of these traits due to one thing.
His lower jaw was missing. Ripped off like a ripped apart peach.
His gargled screams caused blood to stream out from his torn flesh. But despite this, he seems adamant to attack Ruby.
She began pressing the button faster.
"C'MON, PLEASE!" Ruby begged with tears in her eyes.
She turned to Sage, who was getting closer.
"Sage it's me! Ruby!" she yelled, raising her gun at him, "I'M FRIENDS WITH SUN! PLEASE STOP!"
AAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUH
"No…" Ruby's gun shook, "Sage!"
*POW*
Ruby recoiled back.
Sage's head exploded into chunks.
But his running continued for one second before collapsing to the ground.
Ruby turned to the smoking gun, held by Jaune.
"Ruby!" Jaune yelled, "Are you okay!"
Ruby's mouth froze open.
*DING*
The elevator began to open.
"G-GUYS! THE ELEVATOR!" Velvet screamed.
"FORGET THE FUCKING ELEVATOR!" Cardin screamed, "I'M GOING BACK TO MY DORM!"
Cardin began running ahead.
EEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUHHH
The doors from the other side of the hall broke through.
More students and civilians came pouring out.
Cardin tripped over himself they rushed him.
"OH GOD!" Cardin rushed back to the group, "OH GOD, OH GOD, OH GOD!"
"GET IN THE ELEVATOR!" screamed Jaune.
The cries of rage grew closer, but Ruby still gazed at them.
The civilians and students were getting closer.
She recognized students from outside Beacon.
Some from Haven, Shade, and even Atlas.
"RUBY!"
But she was dragged by Jaune and Velvet into the elevator before she can recognize more.
"CARDIN PUSH THE BUTTON!"
He pushed the button for the first floor.
But the door could not fully close.
HUUEEAAG
HAAAAGH
EUEAAAG
HEEEAAAH
FEEERRRAA
Flailing arms held the door open, splattering blood across the small room.
"SHIT!" Cardin screamed.
Everyone reached for their pistols, including Ruby.
She remembered Sage's face.
His face and eyes were as dead as a corpse.
They were not human.
She heard the screeches of rage.
They looked like monsters.
They looked like Grimm.
She aimed true, her marksmanship being the best in this group.
And with horrified eyes, she pulled the trigger.
As did everyone else.
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
They tore apart like paper but attacked like bulls.
With every kill, new monsters would replace them.
They roared with intent.
Excited to rip the flesh off their bodies.
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
Velvet saw they were not thinning out.
The elevator wouldn't close.
Their arms were in the way.
She quickly hatched an idea.
"Keep firing!" she yelled, as she shimmied to the side of the elevator.
Everybody, far too focused on the imminent threat, kept firing.
She made it to the side and began firing at the arms.
One by one, their arms exploded from their sockets.
Everyone saw what she was doing and followed suit.
Blood soaked the floor with each loud ring.
Arms piled onto one another.
And as they continued to fire, the elevator closed further.
*POW*
*DING*
Ruby shot at the final arm, and the door finally closed.
The banging from the other side was very moist. But as the elevator began to slowly descend, the wet slamming of the doors faded. Everyone finally had the chance to catch their breaths, but the adrenaline did not allow them to relax.
"Holy...What the...How the...Fuck...Fuck!" Cardin yelled, "What the fuck was...What in the…FUCK!"
"Just...*huff*...relax," Jaune said, breathless, "...We...*huff*...We made it."
"MADE IT?!" Cardin screamed, "WE...*huff*...WE BARELY ESCAPED!"
"Oh my god," Ruby cried, staring at the smoke leaving her pistol, "Did I just do that? I can't believe I just did that!"
She desperately hoped she was dreaming, that she will wake up from this horrible nightmare. But as the pool of blood by the door spread, it was hard to ignore reality.
Especially for Velvet, who stared at the flesh that was left. The blood that was soaked onto the floor had begun to stain her school shoes.
"Oh…" Velvet held her mouth as her cheeks turned green, "Oh...oh my fucking god."
"We're okay guys," Jaune said, "We're going to be okay!"
But his racing heart begged to differ.
'God damn it, this is a nightmare!'
He looked at everyone's dazed eyes, exhausted from their collective near-death experience. It felt like a horror movie, like something straight out of a zombie flick. That was impossible!
'No...Don't ruminate…' Jaune thought, 'Stick to the plan...Just stick to the plan."
It was the only thing they can do. Progress will keep morale up, and they had made strides so far. They just have to continue with this momentum.
"We made it this far," Jaune said to everyone, "Everything will be fine, as long as we stick together and go with the plan."
"THE PLAN?!" Cardin yelled, "Forget Vytal, how the fuck are we going to get out of this school."
"The same way we got into this elevator," Jaune said firmly.
But before he can say more, his crying best friend stole his complete attention. Jaune rushed to Ruby, who collapsed on the floor.
"Ruby, it's okay," Jaune said, "We're okay."
"Sage."
Jaune blinked.
"What?"
"That was Sage...Sun's teammate," Ruby said, "You...you killed him."
Jaune eye's widened, remembering the shot he took for Ruby.
"Oh god…"
He knows him through Sun. He never spoke to him but he seemed like a formidable huntsman in training. How could he have missed that? Everything happened too fast and Ruby was in danger, no wonder she didn't fire.
'Oh god, what kind of virus is this...'
He stared at his gun, still smoking from the attack moments ago. He looked at everyone else, trying their best to stand up straight. And finally, he looked at Ruby, who was beginning to calm down.
He helped lift her up.
"Ruby," Jaune said delicately, "I know what your thinking."
He turned to everyone.
"I know what you're all thinking."
He took a deep breath.
"But we don't have a choice now."
He pointed to the blood-soaked elevator door.
"They're going to rip us apart. They're not human anymore."
He stood up as straight as he possibly could.
"These...infected...they want to kill us. We must defend ourselves."
Nobody could say a word. But as huntsmen in training, they were expected to be prepared for the unexpected. Of course, this couldn't possibly have been put in a curriculum. Despite this, what Jaune said rang true.
Ruby slowly got up from the ground, eyes clouded with still wet tears.
Velvet, having come back from her daze, brought herself to Ruby's side.
"Ruby," Velvet said, "I...Think he's right…"
Ruby gazed at the disappearing smoke from her gun.
She looked at Jaune, feeling his worried stare. But Ruby, despite the horror she felt she committed, had seen the monsters they had become.
They cannot be human.
But...
"Is...Is there any other way?" Ruby weakly asked, "Maybe...we can help them."
"How the hell are we going to help those freaks?!"
"Cardin!" Jaune yelled.
"What?! I agree with you, what the hell is wrong with you?"
"Just...stop."
Cardin lifted his arms up before turning around to fold them around his chest.
"Assholes."
Jaune went to Ruby.
"Ruby," he placed his hand on her shoulder, "I...I really don't know if there's any other way."
Ruby stared back at Jaune, who continued speaking.
"I wish there was...but…" Jaune paused a bit, "...I don't think there is one..."
Ruby looked at her best friend in resignation.
"I wish this wasn't true, but...It's us, or them."
Ruby closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.
"I...I know…" Ruby said.
Velvet knew this very well, having learned this in one of her lectures. At times, one's safety becomes far more important than the mission. She would never abandon her friends or her comrades, but if the going get's tough, she knows when to retreat with her teammates. These are tough decisions to make, especially if people's lives are at stake...But a dead huntress is a useless huntress.
"R-Ruby."
Ruby turned to Velvet.
"This is...P-Part of being a Huntress."
Ruby looked down, absorbing the reality of what Velvet said.
She breathed in deeply to-
*COUGH* *COUGH* *COUGH* *COUGH*
Ruby began coughing profusely.
Velvet, Cardin, and Jaune involuntarily followed suit.
"*COUGH* *COUGH* What the- *COUGH*" Cardin couldn't finish his sentence.
"*COUGH* T-The elevator-*COUGH* *COUGH* *COUGH*"
Jaune looked at Velvet's pointed finger.
Smoke was coming from the other side of the elevator door.
*DIL-LIN-LIN-LING*
The sudden ring from the elevator startled the members inside the elevator, just as it came to a screeching halt.
"Oh *COUGH* come on *COUGH* *COUGH*!" Cardin wheezed.
Jaune looked at the elevator screen.
"Crap, *COUGH*" Jaune tried to talk "We're only on the *COUGH* *COUGH* *COUGH* second *COUGH* floor."
"*COUGH* *COUGH* T-There's a fire outside," Velvet said, her ear twitching from the rustle of flames scorching wood.
"Yeah, no shit!" Cardin yelled.
"We have to get out of here!" Ruby yelped.
Jaune ran up to the elevator door, grasping the edges.
"Cardin!" Jaune called, "Help me *COUGH* open the door!"
Cardin made his way to the door, intending to leave as soon as possible.
They began pulling the seams, Slowly, the door opened.
"God! *COUGH* *COUGH* *COUGH* Why *COUGH* *COUGH* is this so heavy!" Cardin yelled.
"Just keep pulling!" said Jaune, now having Ruby and Velvet assist him.
They finally opened the door, feeling the wave of horrible heat reach their skin.
The entire hallway was engulfed in flames, feeding off itself.
Everyone covered their watery eyes before more smoke entered it.
HEEEAAAH
EUEAAAG
YAABAAA
AAAARRG
They all looked through the flames.
More infected people began to approach them.
"Shit!" Jaune yelled, "In front!"
They all raised their guns and exited the elevator.
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
Bullets sprayed at the approaching infected, the smoke masking their identities.
They met flesh, but they continued to sprint.
The fire roared on, yet one infected woman ran through the flames.
It spread faster than gasoline on wood.
The infected began flailing its hot arms like a wild animal.
"We have to get out of here!" yelled Ruby.
"Find the staircase!" cried Jaune.
"S-Shit! It's this way," yelled Cardin, pointing to the left away from the flames.
They made a sprint to the end of the hallway.
But Velvet tripped and fell to the ground.
The fire was too much for her lungs.
"No," Ruby yelled, using her semblance to assist the coughing Velvet.
"*COUGH* *COUGH* *COUGH* T-The fire *COUGH* *COUGH*"
Velvet couldn't finish her sentence, the smoke suffocating every word.
Ruby lifted her up and placed her arm around her shoulders
EEEUUGH
GEEEAAA
IIIEEEEEEG
Three more infected sprinted towards them.
"Jaune!" Ruby yelled, trying to catch up to the other.
Jaune and Cardin noticed the slowed Ruby, along with the approaching infected.
"Oh give me a break!" Cardin complained.
Concrete from the ceiling began to crack.
"C'mon!" Jaune commanded, making their way to Ruby and Velvet.
He approached them and began spraying bullets at the approaching infected.
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*click*
*click*
*click*
By the time the last one fell, Jaune had emptied his magazine.
"Shit!"
Unable to reload his gun, Jaune assisted Velvet.
The concrete ceiling collapsed behind them.
But they were too focused on the exit just up ahead.
"Cardin, get the door open!" Jaune commanded.
They can see the door just at the end of the hall.
"Aw, fuck man!" Cardin cried, scared and breathless, "I'm not going down there!"
"JUST DO IT! YOU HAVE A GUN! USE IT!" Jaune screamed.
"Aw...FUCK!"
Cardin relented, masking his face through the smoke and heat to make his way down the hall.
*BAM*
*BAM*
Two doors broke through in front of him.
"OH GOD!"
Cardin raised his pistol and sprayed it in front of him.
One collapsed from the spray.
EEEEEEAAGH
The other smacked the side of Cardin's head.
The bully collapsed to the ground, dropping his gun.
Before the infected student could continue his attack.
Cardin held him by his arms.
The infected screamed and cried.
Savagely shaking his arms and legs like a lunatic.
Enraged that it was being held back.
"F-FUCK!"
Somehow, Cardin landed a solid punch across its cheek.
It flew to the wall due to Cardin's strength.
But immediately began to get back up with its dangling jaw.
Cardin reached for his gun.
The infected dived at Cardin.
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
And landed dead above the downed bully.
"Haah-HAAAAAAAAAGH!"
The adrenaline and fear clouded Cardin's mind.
He quickly tossed the bloody body off.
He felt the blood seep into his school uniform.
He got up and sprinted towards the stairs.
*BAM*
*BAM*
*BAM*
*BAM*
*BAM*
*BAM*
With every long stride, Cardin could hear the doors he passed begin to break.
His heart raced further.
Before he knew it, he reached the door.
Opening it widely, he turned around.
Jaune, Ruby, and Velvet were only halfway to him.
Cardin's eyes widened.
The doors were almost broken through.
His hands were shaking.
His heart threatened to leave his chest.
He looked at the staircase.
Then back to the others.
Then back to the staircase.
He began to hop in place.
"C'MON!" Cardin screamed.
The doors finally broke through.
FEEAAAAH
EEEAUUUG
AAAAAUUG
EEEEEIIIIIIGH
YUUUUUIIIGH
AAAAAAUUURG
HUUUUAAAAGH
Three went after the others.
While four went straight for him.
"FUCK!"
Cardin backed away from the wall.
He raised his gun.
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*click*
*click*
*click*
*click*
*click*
Two went down.
He couldn't think straight to reload.
YUUUUUIIIGH
EEEEEIIIIIIGH
Cardin could only scream as he fired the empty pistol in his hands.
He desperately punched the first one.
It collapsed to the ground.
But the other tackled him to the ground.
Cardin grabbed its arms as it tried to attack with unnatural strength.
The other one has already risen.
Cardin watched in horror as it began to rush back to attack once more.
The infected he held chomped his teeth at him.
The second infected raised his foot.
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"
And slammed it on his face.
Dazed, he released the infected on top of him.
The infected began to chomp at him.
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
But after being coated in more blood, the attack didn't occur.
Blue and purple began to show on Cardin's face. Groaning and whimpering, he looked up to see Jaune and Velvet lowering their weapons, as Ruby swiftly closed the door with her foot.
Cardin didn't say a word, shifting to the wall to grasp the horrible pain he felt. Jaune leaned on the railing, exhausted. Ruby tried to calm her still-beating heart. While Velvet desperately breathes in the smokeless air in the stairway.
"O-Okay," Jaune tried to remain calm, "We...We gotta keep moving."
"No, no way," Cardin said, "I'm done, I'm staying right here."
Cardin shifted to the corner of the room.
"Cardin…" Jaune tried to catch his breath, "C'mon, we have to-"
"I DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING!"
Cardin stayed in his corner.
"We're screwed!" he cried, "We're so fucking screwed."
He rested his arm against the wall, his face away from everyone.
Ruby and Velvet approached him.
"Cardin?" Ruby asked, "Are you...Are you crying?"
"SHUT UP BRAT!" he cried, "I'm too young to die!"
"Cardin, if you stay here, you ARE going to die," Jaune said, "We have to keep moving, now!"
"…...FUCK!" Cardin screamed, secretly wiping the tears from his face.
Jaune began to make his way to the staircase.
"C'mon guys."
They all went down the empty stairs, hearing the rage-induced cries from behind the closed door.
"Wh-What kind of disease does this," Ruby asked, "I...I saw them run into the fire like they wouldn't get burned."
"They're insane," Velvet said, the adrenaline fixing her shy stutter, "They...They're insane!"
"God damn it, we barely made to the fucking stairs!" Cardin cried, "How the hell are we going to get to Vytal?"
"Calm down guys, maybe..."Jaune tried to think, "Ruby, do you know anyone on Patch that could own a boat?"
"I-I know one guy, but…" Ruby paused.
"What?" Jaune asked.
"Do we even know if this guy is still alive?" Cardin bluntly asked, "I mean shit, everyone in this building is a freakin Zombie."
"There could be an evacuation site somewhere in Vale," Velvet said, "There has to be one!"
"That's assuming we even leave this fucking school alive," Cardin retorted.
"If we continue to work as a team, we'll have a chance!" Ruby said.
"Ruby's right, we made it this far," Jaune said, "We can probably make it much farther."
"Y-Yeah," Velvet agreed, "We have to learn to work together."
"Oh come on," Cardin complained, "The next opportunity I have to leave I'm taking it."
Ruby and Velvet did not like that answer, but Jaune prevented them from speaking further.
"Fine then," Jaune said to Cardin, "But let's stay together for a little while longer, okay Cardin?"
Cardin stared at the blonde leader, huffing at the realization that, perhaps, they would be better off together.
For now, anyway.
Jaune walked ahead.
"Let's keep going," he said, "We're almost at the bottom."
"I hope my team is alright," Velvet whispered.
"Me too," Ruby whispered back.
Jaune led them down the stairs. No sounds could be heard, besides their footsteps and heavy breathing.
They made it to the first floor, noticing that the main exit to the hallway was blocked by a makeshift barricade.
"Monty Oum," Jaune commented, "When was this made?"
"M-Maybe it's to keep people from entering," Velvet said.
"Or leaving," Cardin added.
"Look, the emergency exit's over here," Ruby said, making her way to the exit.
"WAIT!" Jaune called, just as Ruby was about to push the latch to exit.
"What?!" Ruby said startled.
"Cardin," Jaune called, "Is there an alarm on that door?"
"...Yeah."
Everyone came to the same conclusion.
"They're attracted to loud sounds," Velvet said.
"And people," Cardin added.
"Shit," Jaune said, "I don't think we have a choice."
The emergency exit would take them to the back of the building. They would have to go around the building to get to the front of the dorm to get to Cypress. There definitely will be infected on the other side.
Jaune looked at Ruby.
"Ruby, don't use your semblance, stay with us."
Ruby nodded in agreement.
"Everyone, don't get too separated," Jaune said, looking at Cardin, "These things thrive on single targets."
Cardin gulped at that thought.
"Alright, everyone get ready."
Everyone reloaded their guns.
The clicks coming off of their pistols signified to Jaune that it was time to go.
"Once the doors run, we run. Stick together!"
"Right." Ruby and Velvet responded.
Cardin only gripped his gun in severe stress.
Jaune latched onto the door.
"Here goes!"
With a push and a shove-
*RE-RE-RE-RE-RE-RE-RE-RE-RE-RE-RE-RE-RE-RE-RE-*
The alarm went off.
HHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
"Let's go!"
Everyone made a break for it.
"HUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Cardin screamed.
HUUEEEEEEGH
EEEUUGH
FEEEAAH
GEEEAAA
AAAARRG
HAAAAGH
EUEAAAG
HEEEAAAH
YAABAAA
HUUEEAAG
HAAAAUUH
EEEEEEIIIIIIIGH
AAAAGH
FEEERRRAA
GUEEAAAG
KAAAAAAH
IIIEEEEEEG
Everyone raised their guns.
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
Bullets flied to any obstacle entering their way.
For every one taken down, one replaced them.
"HURRY!" Jaune screamed.
They turned right, reaching the right side of the dorm.
"IN FRONT!" he yelled.
A group of infected students sprinted at them.
Without thought, they fired their guns.
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
EUEAAAG
One grabbed Velvet's ear.
"AAAACK!"
She collapsed to the ground.
"VELVET!"
Using her semblance, Ruby launched the man towards the bushes with a powerful shove.
AAAARRG
HAAAAGH
EUEAAAG
HEEEAAAH
YAABAAA
HUUEEAAG
"SHIT! SHIT!" cried Jaune, as another group of infected made their way.
Velvet had gotten up.
"COME ON!" Jaune yelled.
HUUEEEEEEGH
EEEUUGH
FEEEAAH
GEEEAAA
AAAARRG
HAAAAGH
EUEAAAG
HEEEAAAH
YAABAAA
HUUEEAAG
HAAAAUUH
EEEEEEIIIIIIIGH
AAAAGH
FEEERRRAA
GUEEAAAG
KAAAAAAH
IIIEEEEEEG
They approach Cypress while firing their weapons.
The entrance was locked behind a metal door.
An ID scanner was on the side.
"The scanner!" Jaune yelled, "Someone get their student ID!"
Everyone scavenged their pockets.
"I got mine!" Velvet yelled.
"THEN OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR!" Cardin screamed.
Velvet swiped her card.
But instead of a green light, a red one was shown.
"Velvet?!" Ruby screamed.
"I-It's not working!" Velvet screamed, trying again.
"Do it slower!" cried Jaune, "Reloading!"
"GOD DAMN THESE FUCKING ID SCANNERS!" Cardin screamed.
YAABAAA
HUUEEAAG
HAAAAUUH
EEEEEEIIIIIIIGH
AAAAGH
FEEERRRAA
GUEEAAAG
KAAAAAAH
IIIEEEEEEG
Jaune began to reload his pistol, while Ruby and Cardin tried to cover him.
"SHIT!" Cardin turned to Velvet, "HURRY THE HELL UP!"
Velvet desperately tried to slide the card slowly as the others tried to cover her.
Her racing heart almost covered the gunshots from her back.
UUUUAAAGH *COUGH* *COUGH*
Velvet's ears twitched.
That groan was very different.
Throughout the bloodshed, it sounded like someone was hacking for air.
HEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH
*SSHHLOOOP*
Velvet turned around.
"WHAT THE-?!"
"HUH?!"
Ruby felt something constrict her.
"RUBY!"
"WHAT THE HELL?!"
She was suddenly dragged away.
"HAH, HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"
FEEEAAH
GEEEAAA
AAAARRG
HAAAAGH
Ruby screamed as she was dragged closer to the mob.
"WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?!" Cardin screamed.
"SHOOT AT THE ROPE-THING!" Jaune screamed.
Velvet turned to help shoot at whatever was wrapped around the screaming Ruby, not knowing where the source of it was.
But eventually-
*SHLOP*
It was shot, causing it to immediately retract to its source.
Freaking out, Ruby squirmed out of the slimy rope.
HAAAAUUH
EEEEEEIIIIIIIGH
AAAAGH
FEEERRRAA
GUEEAAAG
Just as more infected began to approach her.
Jaune and Cardin raised their guns.
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
Jaune turned to Velvet
"VELVET, HURRY WITH THE DOOR!" he screamed, rushing to Ruby.
Vevlet tried again, getting more frustrated.
"C'mon, C'MON!" Velvet screamed, "WHY DOESN'T BEACON UPDATE THESE THINGS!"
She swiped.
Green light.
"O-OH MY GOD!" Velvet opened the door, "GUYS!"
Ruby got up and shot at the other infected approaching them.
"GET IN!" Jaune yelled as more infected attacked.
"GET OUT OF THE WAY!" Cardin shoved his way in first.
Then Ruby, Velvet, and finally Jaune.
And just before the infected could reach them, they close the metal door.
They are now in Cypress.
Catching their breaths, they watched the metal door taking the brunt of the many who wish to kill them. Yet the metal door was far sturdier than the doors they have seen thus far.
'CEDA must have installed them,' thought Jaune.
They all heard the screams and cries of rage from the infected. They seemed too feral to figure out how to open the door.
The group had finally found the chance to slowly catch their bearings once more.
"Alright…" Jaune said, "We made it!"
"Monty Oum, I thought I was going to die!" Cardin cried, "What the hell wrapped around the shrimp?"
"I...I don't know," Velvet said, "R-Ruby, are you okay?"
"Y-Yeah," Ruby answered, "Just...give me a second."
She felt chills go down her spine. It squeezed Ruby so tightly that it felt like she couldn't breathe.
'But what the hell was that?!' Jaune thought.
GUEEAAAG
FEEEEEEAAH
They turned around.
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
*POW*
And shot down two infected students rushing towards them.
"Oh give me a fucking break!" Cardin complained.
"No!" Ruby cried, "Not here too!"
"Of course they're here too," Cardin said, "This is a fricken nightmare!"
"Oh no!" Ruby feared, "My teammates! My Sister!"
"We...we can't rest, c'mon!" Jaune said, now fearing for his team as well, "This time we take the stairs."
"Okay!"
"R-Right!"
"Shit."
They reached the emergency staircase.
"What floor do you guys stay on?" Velvet asked.
"Fourth," Ruby said, "Jaune and I are neighbors!"
Cardin rolled his eyes.
"Come on guys!" Jaune commanded.
They climbed up the stairs, empty of infected.
Their footsteps reverberated off the concrete walls and metal railing as they ascended each floor. They all couldn't help but see through each door window the escalation of blood from each room. Ruby found herself moving faster than the other with each floor.
Eventually, they made it to the fourth floor.
"Ok, we made it!" Jaune said, opening the door, "Alright, stick together and…"
There was so much blood on the floor, far bigger than what they have seen.
It painted the wood crimson.
"Oh my god!" Velvet said, covering her mouth.
Jaune froze, thinking the worse.
*FFZZOOOOOM*
A flurry of rose pedals slapped him across the face, causing everyone to shield themselves.
"Shit!" Jaune cursed, "Ruby, wait!"
He chased after her.
"Wha-What happened to sticking together!" Cardin yelled, chasing after them.
"W-Wait!" Velvet cried, chasing them as well.
In mere moments, Ruby found herself in front of her dorm.
The door was still closed.
"Please, please, please, please!"
She inputed the door code.
"Please, PLEASE!"
She rushed inside and saw the disarray that was left inside.
Books scattered, beds destroyed, and windows broken.
Ruby's heart dropped.
"YANG?!"
She looked into the closet, seeing Yang's things still stuffed inside.
"WEISS?!"
She rushed into the bathroom. The medicine cabinet was opened. The toilet was untouched, and the shower still clean.
"BLAKE?!"
She looked under the beds. She saw Blake's books neatly stacked on top of each other.
"ANYONE!"
The tears started to build up.
"GUYS!"
She looked out the broken window, having a view of the campus center.
Her eyes dilated when she saw the view.
"RUBY!"
Jaune appeared by her, noticing the mess in her room.
"Oh god," Jaune muttered, "Ruby?"
Jaune approached Ruby, who was looking out the window.
What he saw was horrifying.
"Guys?"
Velvet and Cardin made their way to their room.
They looked out the window and saw everything.
The entire campus was destroyed.
Smoke was leaving windows from dorms and campus buildings. Medical tents were destroyed and bloodied. CEDA vehicles abandoned and flipped over. And scattered students and civilians spread across the large campus grounds.
"Holy shit…" Cardin said, "What the hell is this?"
Jaune immediately turned over and ran to his dorm.
Just like Ruby, he quickly inputted his room code.
"PYRRHA!"
He ran in, looking at the room.
It was just as in disarray as Ruby's.
"PYRRHA!"
He ran to the bathroom.
"REN!?"
He ran to the closet.
"NORA!"
He grasped clumps of his blonde hair.
"ANYONE!" he screamed.
He looked everywhere.
He began flipping furniture.
Tossing pillows.
Trying to find anything at all that can hint at where they can be.
"GUYS!"
There was nothing.
"Oh Monty fucking Oum."
He stood still.
"Oh Monty fucking Oum."
No signs of life.
"No no NO NO!"
This couldn't be happening.
This had to be a dream.
'No...Maybe they evacuated.'
Yeah, they're great fighters, and great students, maybe they're safe.
*THUD* *THUD*
Jaune turned around.
The feral cries of the infected were just outside the staircases.
"Shit."
He was about to leave his dorm but was stopped by his front door.
Attached by a piece of tape was a piece of paper, folded in three. On was his name, with the letter "P" on it.
'Pyrrha!' Jaune thought, 'She was here! She must have left this for me!'
But before he could open it, the pounding of the emergency exit got louder.
He put the paper in his pocket and went back to everyone.
"Guys," he said, "They're coming!"
Ruby turned around, horrified.
"B-But our team!" she cried.
"They...They're probably fine," Jaune said, hoping he was true, "They must have already been evacuated!"
Ruby stood up straight.
"Y-Yeah," Ruby agreed, "T-They're probably fine...they have to be."
"Right," Jaune looked at Velvet, "Okay, Velvet, I guess our trip is short."
But Velvet was still looking out the window.
"Velvet?"
Jaune approached her, wondering why she was not listening.
He looked in the direction she was looking and saw the culprit.
The Oak dorm was burning to the ground.
The entire building was encased with smoke.
It looked like there was no salvaging the building.
If anyone was still in there...well…
"V-Velvet!" Jaune saw the horror in her eyes, "They're fine, I promise they're fine!"
He looked at Ruby.
"Right Ruby?"
"Y-Yeah," Ruby said, "I know Coco! Our friends and team are definitely fine!"
"If they're not zombies," Cardin said.
*WAM*
"ACH!"
Jaune punched Cardin hard in the stomach.
"Jaune?!" Ruby called out.
"You better shut your mouth, you son of a bitch!"
A look of rage was on Jaune's face.
"Y-YOU BASTARD!" Cardin said, "YOU'RE FUCKING DEAD!"
"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU FIRST!"
Jaune was ready to throw another punch as Cardin was ready to charge at him.
"WOAH WAIT!"
Ruby knocked over Jaune while Velvet kicked Cardin's knee, causing him to collapse on the ground to be restrained.
"Ruby!" Jaune yelled, "Get off of me, he's dead!"
"JAUNE! PLEASE CALM DOWN!"
"MY TEAMMATES ARE NOT DEAD YOU SON OF A BITCH!"
"YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU'RE RIGHT!" Ruby yelled, "THEY'RE FINE!"
"NO THEY'RE NOT!" Cardin yelled in anger as he tried to be released by Velvet's impressive hold on him, "I BET THEY DIED BY THE ZOMBIES!"
Jaune tried to force Ruby off.
"YOU DON'T KNOW JACK SHIT YOU BASTARD!"
"JAUNE PLEASE, HE'S WRONG!" Velvet screamed as Ruby struggled to keep him down.
"SHUT UP YOU ANIMAL!" Cardin screamed, "I BET YOUR FRIENDS ARE-!"
*CRASH*
The sound of weak metal came crashing down.
Everyone went silent.
EEEEUGH
REEAAAH
AAAAAH
EEEAAAAH
"FUCK!" Cardin thrashed, "FUUUUCK!"
He and Jaune were released.
"W-We have to go!" Velvet said.
Forcing his anger to subside, Jaune took the lead.
"LET'S GO!" he screamed.
Cardin was surprised.
"Where the hell are you-!"
"LET'S FUCKING GO!"
Cardin stepped back, gritting his teeth with newfound fear.
They left the room and immediately raised their weapons.
**POW**
**POW**
**POW**
**POW**
**POW**
**POW**
Jaune found no problems spraying his way back to the doors, leaving everyone to support him.
Cardin was bothered very much, having completely lost his anger.
Ruby frantically fired around her, finding it easier to end the lives of the infected.
Velvet as well, no longer thinking about it.
They made their way back to the empty stairwell, the silence once more prevailing.
Jaune stopped suddenly, surprising everyone following him.
"Jaune?" Ruby called, "Are...you okay?"
Velvet silently watched the young man.
Jaune suddenly turned around and pointed his gun at Cardin.
"Jaune!?" Velvet and Ruby said incredulously.
Cardin suddenly tripped over himself.
"Woah WOAH WAIT!" Cardin raised his hand, "WAIT JAUNE, I'M SORRY, WAIT!"
Jaune pulled the trigger.
*click*
The gun was empty.
Jaune stepped closer to Cardin, who backed away against the wall.
"Don't you dare talk about my friends like that," Jaune said, "Do you understand?"
Cardin only nodded.
"New plan," Jaune said firmly, "We go to the armory, get our weapons, our clothes, and we get out of here."
"Jaune?"
Ruby approached Jaune, placing her hand on his shoulder.
Jaune looked at her.
Seeing her concerned eyes began to help him calm down.
Seeing Velvet's worry calmed him down even more.
'Shit, I just lost it there...'
But seeing Cardin's failing bravado made him a little bit sharper.
Everyone else looked at Cardin the same way, especially Velvet. If there was one thing you don't mess with, is someone else's team.
Cardin never felt more cornered.
"I...uh-"
"Save it," Jaune said, "For better or worse we need to stick together."
Ruby looked away from him, despising this truth but knowing it was the right thing to do.
Velvet took a deep breath, knowing that the situation was over.
Jaune had allowed himself to calm down. If they were going to get out of here, they had to work together. They may have problems, especially with Cardin, but he wasn't going to let anyone die. He was made the designated leader, and as much as he wished someone else to take over, he wasn't going to neglect his role. He looked at everyone, especially Ruby.
"Alright," he said, much calmer than before, "Let's get going."
They made their way back to the lobby, preparing to head back outside for their weapons in the campus center. They had made it this far, but will they be able to go further?
Jaune grabbed the letter he had yet to read. Hopefully, their friends are alright.
