Hello everyone and welcome back to Blood to Hunters Borne to Beginnings. I hope everyone had a swell day, and if not, well you've come to a place where you can get better, hopefully. I'd like to thank those who took the time to read last chapter, thank you. I'm not sure if it's just me, but the reading graphs are strange. This story has more views on chapter 7 then almost any other one besides chapter one. I don't know if I'm crazy, if you're crazy, or maybe we're all crazy. But that's not the point. Instead of rambling on about small things like that, let's just go right into the story.
Once the Healing Church came to Yharnam, everything changed. Patients that were once left to die, walked once more as if they were never sick to begin with. The Healing Church lived up to that name all right, their 'cure all blood-transfusion' techniques; damn miracles. My own wife and daughter were diagnosed by some doctor; can't even remember tha man's name now. All I remember is that he said that it was uncurbable, or incurable, and that I didn't have it since my family before me never got sick. Said it was a sickness that slowly ate away at one's mind and body; and that the victim would die slowly. I couldn't believe it, and I would rather do my family a favor and end them before they went through pain. I said this to the man and he said "That is a terrible thing to do to your family!", so then I punched the man that cursed me with this horrible truth. They took them to a clinic that was near our home in Lower Yharnam, said it was one of the best since it was a popular one. We arrived there and I saw many others like me; those without a sickness, apparently, this whole clinic was managing many of those like my family. Wives of my friends or my friends themselves were standing next to me in the waiting room. Everyone was either quiet or crying, honestly, I wasn't sure myself on what to do. Later that night, I found out that they could only slow the sickness and couldn't cure it; god damn it! Every night I stayed with them, and every night I heard the screams of other patients who wanted a death to end their pain, but the doctors wouldn't allow it; said it went against their 'practice'. Who gives a damn about your damn practice, people are suffering and dying slowly, and here you are puttin needles in them and doing nothing other than that. It carried on like this for weeks, and with my own eyes and two hands; I felt and saw what this sickness did. The two most important people in my life, slowly breaking apart, skin falling off, their skin sinking into their bodies, bones seemed to shrink, their eyes only containing madness. I grabbed each of their hands and the worst sensation came across my hands; I opened them and saw only flat skin. Moans of pain came from the two of them, too weak to scream in pain. Lying in my hands were their own, but almost completely flat. I basically crushed their bones to dust with hardly any strength. I felt as if I was going to throw up as the bile climbed up my throat; and from there I quickly dashed out of there and ran for home; my only sanctuary from the screams. Running through the streets, I saw exactly what was happening to this city, and that it was falling apart. Falling apart not from the buildings, but rather the people that rested within its walls. I quickly confined myself inside away from society. Guilt washed over me day after day, waiting for the letter or message to inform me of my loss, I could hardly contain it. What came a few days later was something completely different. Standing at my door was the doctor that diagnosed the love of my life, and my lovely daughter. Like a sappy love story, standing behind him was my family with smiling faces and looking brand new. No longer wrinkles, bleeding eyes; hell, the last I saw of my daughter she didn't have any, and here she was looking up at her father. We quickly got reacquainted once more and they told about the Healing Church and the miracles they did. I thought to myself that nothing could go wrong, but something has been strange as of lately. The two of them had constant nightmares, every night my daughter would sleep on one side of me while my wife slept on the other, each one gripping me tightly; at times, I feel as if they would rip off my arms with the hidden strength they had. The supposed red moon that sat in the sky in each nightmare, it seemed like a fairy tale. Time went on and madness started to appear within their actions and just their voices as well. I was beginning to get scared of what was going on, so I went to the place where it started, the Healing Church. I was quickly turned away after hearing about my problems; saying that they would send a hunter to deal with the problem. I thought just what could a hunter do to solve the problem my family is having? ...
The rest of the page is covered in a strange red liquid which doesn't match anything like blood or any substance. Along with it, the bottom of the page, which seemed to be ripped out of a notebook, is burned slightly. Only this page was found within the burned ruins of what seemed to be an abandoned house.
-Atlas Scouting Party: Officer Búckro Beloved
Everything began to seem different from normal, the atmosphere almost radiated death from the cracks in the ground, to the simple breeze in the air. The bone chilling feeling was felt by both boy's as they took a step back away from the sidewalk, or if they could really call it that. Their feet stepped on what looked like stones set next to one another in a poor fashion as weeds and other greenery flowed from it.
The buildings themselves stood out very different from the ground though. The simple yet appealing architecture glowed with a feeling from a time before. Gothic features lined the streets in front of them. The lamps that did stand, stood tall with a fire in them, which in turn looked very different from any sort of dust fueled fires. Even from a distance they were from the lamp, a strange, healing warmth radiated from it, almost opposite from the feeling that surrounded it. Multiple lights were on within the windows that stood along the buildings, some with strange stains across the windows, while with others there stood shadows that just… stood there. No movement, just as if they were waiting to see what would happen to the boy's, almost as if there was going to be a public execution.
One thing that stood out the most still, was the man sitting across from a building with the lights almost non-existent, as if they current resident residing there just up and left to escape from some horror. The man, still hiding his eyes with his hat, sat staring towards the building; ignoring the two boys' now, much to their relief.
The two still stood on the edge of the strange, almost terrifying street. Jaune looked behind them, both to the left and right, and still on his face rested a worried look. Ren looking over to him noticing his friends worry, placed his arm on his shoulder.
"Jaune, what is wrong?"
Jaune gulped loudly, and his Adam apple was clearly shown moving along his throat. Sweat dropping he turned to Ren. "Don't you find it strange on how there is no-one around here at all? Especially since this seems like a would-be busy place."
Ren glanced around and noticed the strangeness. A café sat across the street behind them, and right across to it on the right was a fashionable clothing store that he's heard about from time to time. It was quite peculiar on how such a popular place was barren of any life except their own. He glanced back to Jaune who was staring back down the street. A more curious face replaced his once more worried look, and Ren looked down the street as well.
Sitting there still was the man, but now he looked to be in a more relaxed manner, and seemed more approachable. The aura around the man seemed clean, not in a way of pure, but that there was nothing wrong with him whatsoever. No murderous intent, no evil glare; just…nothing.
Jaune and Ren looked towards one another and nodded in agreement. They each let out a sigh and took a step forward. The ice-cold feeling came over their bodies straight to their bones, ignoring everything upon them. It felt as if even the thickest of clothing couldn't stop the feeling that came over them. Their bones chattering from the cold, but their courage kept them warm.
Jaune pushed forward with a slightly selfish thought; he needed to become stronger. Not only for himself, but for his team. Being carried was not the way of a leader, and he most definitely did not wish to keep it that way.
Ren pushed forward for his friend, along with the sense of curiosity that seemed to plague his mind in this instant. What could be this mysterious area that hardly any knew about, and what exactly is this 'family friend' of Jaune's. Few things were explained just by looking at this area, but the stranger sitting meters in front of them could possibly have the answers he needed.
What seemed to be like minutes to the boys happened in very few seconds. Each step taking them feet closer to the quiet man. Few things began to stand out to them though, such as the stench that plague the air. It seemed not at the point of being retched, but non-the less horrid. The look of the man also looked like that of a homeless individual. His hat being crumpled multiple times, just sat upon his head. His clothing looked very worn, multiple stiches lined parts of the vest, and stains were most obvious upon it as well. The smell that accompanied the shirt smelled like that of sweat from a long jog for multiple days being left alone and unwashed. The most interesting part of the man were his shoes. They seemed to shine out of the rest of his surrounding, especially looking at the ground they were walking upon. Anything that would touch this ground would most definitely get dirtied, but his shoes didn't seem to show a single spot.
Before they noticed they were standing in front of the man looking down at his shoes. A slight scoff got their attention to look up towards him. A frown sat upon the man's face, which also seemed slightly clean for the attire he is wearing.
Jaune, most obviously embarrassed, began to shake his hands in front of him.
"We….w.w.w w…I…I..I didn't mean to look at your shoes, but we were just thinking if…if you knew where to find a nearby clinic?"
The man covered his mouth and coughed into it.
He leaned forward towards the boys, his nose now seeming much more apparent as it stuck out from under his hat. His eyes seemed to be almost completely closed, yet it felt as if he was staring directly into the two.
He finally spoke up,
"You…you're not from around here, are ya?"
The two looked at the man, surprised from his sudden manner of speaking, also from the strange accent that accustomed it as well. Jaune stepped forward and began to speak before the man stopped him.
"What, an outsider who's come to join the hunt? What a pathetic idea." He scoffed and spit onto the ground at Jaune's feet, making him step back.
The two were very confused at this point. Jaune turned back to Ren, who in turn pulled out the book he obtained earlier and began flipping through it, and Jaune turned back to the man very confused.
"What do you mean by that? Are you hunting some sort of beast in this town…"? The man was currently glaring at Jaune now.
"You what? What, you think I'm a beast? Well, maybe I think you're a beast!" He shouted towards Jaune and leaned back against the wall on the pedestal.
Jaune was very taken back at this point, and was more confused than ever. He turned back to Ren who was running his finger across a few lines in the book.
"Ren, what are you doing? Did you find something about this so called "Hunt"?"
He snapped the book closed and let it slide back onto its latch. He looked up towards Jaune.
"So apparently, this superstitious Hunt is something more like a purge of those who are down with the sickness of beasthood. The Hunt is just another term for removing said beasts."
"Ahhhhh" He turned back to the man. "Listen sir, we're not here for any Hunt. We're here to find a clinic. Here, I was wondering if you'd be able to tell us where this is located." Jaune began to fumble around in his bag looking for the letter he received from the mysterious blood minister.
"Ohh, enough of you! What, you think this is funny? Well, I certainly don't, so be gone with ya! I'll have nothing to do with your beast hunts!" The man hopped off the pedestal and began walking down the street to their left.
The two looked at one another, and began walking after the man.
"Please sir, just listen to what we have to say. We promise we're not part of this so-called Hunt, we're just currently lost and we need directions."
The man stopped and turned around. "Oh, enough with you already. Come on, just go, will ya?"
Ren stepped in front of Jaune, placing his hand on his shoulder.
"Sir, have you perhaps heard of a place where they administer blood-transfusions?"
"You just can't help yourself, can ya? Go on then, fine. Go on, I'll tell you all about this so-called clinic you're looking for."
The two finally sighed as Ren let his hand fall off the man's shoulder. "Thank you, sir."
He lifted his hand and pointed down the street towards the only building with a lamp lit outside it's building. "That right there is what you're looking for. Shady place it is. Nothin but Hunters ever come out of that shop. Since you say you aren't part of this god forsaken Hunt, then I'd suggest stayin away from it. It'll do you no good." He spits on the ground once more, but much further away from the two boys and began to walk off down the lamp less street.
Jaune and Ren looked at one another and down the street the man pointed them towards. Above the lamp swung a small sign with the exact symbol that rested on the letter Jaune received.
"You really think this is such a good idea to continue on with?" Jaune questioned as the two began to make their way towards the shop.
"There's not much we can do now Jaune, we've made it this far. We might as well humor this 'family friend' of yours. It's not as if you have some incurable sickness anyways." Ren laughed a small laugh while Jaune laughed nervously.
The two reached the door and noticed that the windows were barred up with iron bars that had spikes protruding from it. "Slightly welcoming don't you think?" Jaune spoke quietly towards Ren, who in response shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe these so-called beasts are an actual problem?"
Jaune's hand wrapped around the doorknob and pushed the door open, hearing the loud creak that came along with it. A small bell rang along with the loud creak. The first thing that the two noticed besides the lack of customers was the number of vials that lined the walls, each one filled with different shades of red, and each one with its own label and wooden cork on it. Various syringes lined along another wall, each one seemed to shine on the tip of the syringe where the sharpest point lied.
Another creaking sound came from not the door, but from what seemed to be the back of the shop. A man in a wheel-chair was pushing himself out and into the small, but spacious lobby where the boys stood. Almost instant, a hand erected from the old man's side toward Jaune, a yellow smile accompanying it as well. A slightly nervous Jaune shared a small smile and shook the old man's hand.
"It's good to meet you Mr. Arc, and you as well Mr. Lie Ren" Ren grew a confused look on his face after the man said his voice.
"How do you know my name?"
"I make it a mission to know all who will require a transfusion at some point young man. I'm just surprised that you came in so early. You're not nearly sick enough for some of my potent mix." A small laugh escaped his lips which was quickly followed with a small cough.
The man began to roll into the back room when he motioned to the two boys. "Come now, let's get to it gentleman. A hunter's time is most precious when they're not hunting, and that's almost not ever." Another laugh came from the man.
Ren spoke up at this moment. "I'm not sure we quite understand what you're speaking of sir. We're not the hunter's you think we are. We are learning to protect the world from the Grimm, not these mythical man-beasts you are thinking of."
"Oh, but you are young man. As I said, everyone has had a sickness treated at some point in their life. Miss Rose had one when she was younger, but it was more a wound. Miss Long came in as well for that. The Queen of Ice came in for a life-threatening cold; ironic isn't it. Miss Belladonna came in for a sickness that very few catch in a lifetime, looked as if it was a hereditary trait. Miss Valkyrie came in as an infant, before you met her young man, another sickness normal doctors could not cure. Then there was Miss Nikos. Her family brought her in as a family tradition; strange as it seems, but her family is quite healthy from the looks of it. Then there is the two of you. Mr. Arc here is missing something from his bloodline, and you Mr. Lie Ren, a sickness best treated now than never. Better to be prepared from the looks of it, smart young man." The man then continued into the back room, leaving the two of them alone in the lobby.
"This doesn't seem right at all Ren. He seems to have done this with almost everyone that is close to us. This is just too freaky for me to deal with. How come no-one has ever mentioned this to us before? Or do they even remember? He said they were all very young when it happened, so it wouldn't be that surprising after that, but…"
Ren had his hand on his head, and another on the book.
"We need this Jaune. Not just for us, but for our team. I…I can just feel the need for it for us to cooperate with one another even better. We need to almost…share the same blood with them."
Jaune took a step back from Ren. "You do know what you're saying right Ren? All this blood talk is making me nauseous; I'm going to take a step…" Ren caught Jaune right before he fell to the ground. Worry was over his face.
The old man rolled back into the room. "Come on you two. Let's get this procedure on with so you can finally join the hunt; also, I don't want the first Arc I've had in a while to be the first one to die in my shop." He rolled into the back room, motioning Ren who was carrying Jaune over his shoulder.
"Lay him on the table, then lie down on the one next to him. It will be a fast, but simple procedure, don't you worry." The old man made his way between the two and inserted what seemed to be the IV tubes into both, which were connected to two separate blood bags hanging above them. Ren's body felt extremely heavy, and the thought of moving seemed to cause him to be restless as well.
"Now one warning I must give since you are currently awake unlike your friend. Whatever you see, it will not hurt you. This blood will protect you, but just don't move or make a peep, or you might not make it through the night." The feeling of his very own blood leaving his body began to take effect, but at the same time, new blood began to enter, and a rather strange feeling flushed over his body.
The old man's laughter could be heard in the other room, but was soon drowned out over what seemed to be the moaning of creatures. He tried to look down at his chest, but his eyes began to grow heavy, and no matter what he tried, they just wouldn't stay open. He finally let go, and decided to follow the instructions he read within the book.
Release one's inner self and let it fall to the blood, but one must not succumb to it, or the entire process with be for naught and the beast inside will have taken over and nothing will be the same.
And with that, Ren lost consciousness into the night where the red moon hung in sky.
Is it that good? I hope it was, I enjoyed it. Sorry for the late release; I was just busy with other things. Nothing much else to say besides comment, favorite, PM, or whatever your young hip kids do now-a-days. Thank you for reading and I hope to see you next time.