Dark Inheritance Chapter 3, an ayashi no ceres fanfic

Dark Inheritance

Warning: Mature themes discussed

Scene is slightly hazy dream sequence

FADE IN shows a very young JC and JUDITH sitting at a table with JAMES and SARAH. Before them is a birthday cake with 10 candles.

JAMES

JC, Judith, happy birthday.

The twins blow out the candles. They smile at each other as SARAH starts to cut the cake. Suddenly the cake explodes and the scene shatters, leaving JC standing alone. Tears flow from his eyes as he lets out a cry of anguish.

CUT TO:

JC wakes with a start in bed. He looks around in a panic and realizes where he is. He notices the door leading into his room is open with a blue light coming from it. He gets out of bed and walks through it. Outside, the area is a massive blue void with several "islands" floating at different levels. A path leads from his position to each one in a trail. He cautiously walks along the path to the first spot. On it is a frozen image of JC when he was shot at the house, kneeling with a shocked look on his face. The pendant JUDITH gave him is on his neck and glowing. JC touches it and a message is displayed.

Theybetrayedyoutheybetrayedyoutheybetrayedyoutheybetrayedyou

JC stares at the image. Eventually, he continues down the path to the next island and sees a different frozen image. JUDITH is in the clutches of two serious-looking men being dragged away. JUDITH is clearly trying to resist. JC notices the pendant he gave her is around her neck and glowing. He reaches out to touch it and another message is displayed.

I know you're scared. You feel like you're alone. You're not.

I'm with you no matter what. Don't worry about me,

I'm safe. It's dangerous for you to come for me.

We'll be together eventually. Until then, stay strong bro.

JC nearly tears up when he reads the message. He glares at the men in the image. He then travels further and reaches the third island. Five people stand in a circle facing each other. They are dressed in ancient garb. JC recognizes two of them: adult versions of himself and JUDITH. As he stares, the scene disappears and he finds himself on an unconnected island in a black void. Two frozen images are before him. One is himself lying on the ground in a pool of blood with his eyes closed. The other is himself in a kneeling position, hands and feet shackled to the floor and a gag over his mouth. He looks in disbelief at the two images. His expression gets serious and he shakes his head vigorously. He then notices a small glimmer of light off the edge of the images in the void. JC reaches out and tries to touch the glimmer. The glimmer expands quickly into a brightly lit area with a silhouette of a tall humanoid standing before him. The figure raises its hands and a flash of light leaps out from them to strike JC.

CUT TO:

INT – BELMONT MANOR, MORNING

JC wakes up with a start and tries to catch his breath. He looks around and realizes he is no longer dreaming. He sees the pendant JUDITH gave him around his neck. He grips it and starts to tear up. A fresh set of clothes in sitting on a nearby dresser, along with some other possessions: wallet, lighter, watch. He gets up and changes. In the process, he notices the spot where he was shot. No wound remains, but a scar in visible. His face falls when he sees it. He exits the room. He wanders through a door that leads to a living room. ALICE is seated in a chair and notices JC. She smiles.

ALICE

Good morning, did you sleep well?

JC looks away with a depressed look. ALICE looks apologetically at him and motions to a chair opposite her. JC sits down.

ALICE (cont.)

You're JC Reinhardt, correct? I'm sorry

for what's happened.

Why did you bring me here? And how

did you know to find me in first place?

ALICE

Please forgive my presumption. I couldn't

let anyone harm the inheritor I sensed.

JC looks confused.

ALICE (cont.)

Long ago, powerful beings called Progenitors roamed the earth. They

were the source of the gods and beasts of our legends.

After they disappeared, the children they had with humans

spread across the world, producing numerous bloodlines.

I know that story. My family told it to me when I was little.

It's a bunch of superstitious nonsense. What does it have to do with me?

ALICE

With you, JC? You're a descendant of one of those beings.

JC stares in disbelief.

ALICE (cont.)

The Reinhardt family is one of the stronger bloodlines.

Over the generations, the genes have become diluted,

so most of them are just regular humans. However, they've

taken strides the keep the genes strong enough so they emerge every so often in –

JC sits forward angrily.

Stop! How could you possibly believe all that!?

ALICE smiles knowingly.

ALICE

I too am a descendant of one of those beings.

You're kidding, right?

ALICE takes out a pen and holds it in her open hand. She concentrates on it and it levitates up, floating in mid-air. JC stares in disbelief as it floats over and drops in his lap.

ALICE

Most of my powers revolve around visions and ESP. I'm also

a practicing mage and can cast a number of spells.

You're powers, however, are even more amazing.

I don't have any powers.

ALICE

Really? You were shot last night and the wound

has closed up. Not to mention that explosion

of power I sensed all the way from here. You may be

one of the most powerful I've met.

JC sits back and ponders this.

ALICE (cont.)

The Reinhardts are determined to keep their line strong

with inheritor genes. I don't know much about

their methods, but perhaps they –

JC stands up suddenly.

Enough! I can't just sit here!

JC gets up to leave.

ALICE

Where are you going?

JC walks over to a door and opens it to leave.

My family, they have my sister. I need

to find out what they want from her.

He turns to ALICE

JC (cont.)

Thanks for saving me, but I have to go.

ALICE concentrates and the door slams shut in front of JC.

ALICE

Over the years many inheritors just like you

have gone missing once they've appeared amongst

the Reinhardt family.

JC flashes back to the images he saw in his dream. ALICE's expression softens.

ALICE (cont.)

I know it's a lot to take in, but please stay.

I don't want you to get hurt…or worse.

CUT TO:

INT – UNKNOWN BEDROOM, MORNING

JUDITH wakes up in a bed in a small bedroom. She looks around, confused at her surroundings. She sees her mother, SARAH, sitting in a chair next to her.

JUDITH

Mom! Where am I? How did I get here?

SARAH smiles warmly.

SARAH

Relax, honey. You're safe.

JUDITH looks confused as if trying to recall something. A look of horror crosses her face.

JUDITH

The party…you drugged the two of us!

What happened to JC?

SARAH

Judith, please stay calm.

JUDITH throws off the covers of her bed and tries to get up. She looks shocked as she realizes her attire from the previous night has been replaced with a set of pajamas. She glares at her mother.

JUDITH

What's going on? I want answers.

SARAH

Do you remember the story you dad and I told

you two when you were little? The one about the Progenitors?

JUDITH

Yeah…the one neither one of us believed. What about it?

SARAH gently clasps her daughter's hand.

SARAH

Sweetheart, it's true. Our family claims descent

from them. You have inherited their gifts.

JUDITH looks in disbelief.

JUDITH

Mom, you're not making any sense. I need to leave.

JUDITH gets up but her mom stops her.

SARAH

Judith, listen to me. I'm telling the truth. You're

special. So special you need to stay here.

JUDITH

Why? Where's 'here'? What about JC?

Where's my brother?

SARAH looks sad.

SARAH

JC's disappeared. Your father is looking

for him with the rest of the family.

JUDITH

Why do this at all? What do you want from us?

SARAH softly embraces her.

SARAH

Judith, you must understand how important you

are to the family. You have a destiny

to fulfill, and we can help you with it.

JUDITH

And what is this "destiny" that's so important?

SARAH releases her.

SARAH

That will become clear soon enough.

For now get some rest.

JUDITH

Wait…shouldn't I be in school?

SARAH

Judith, I know you're worried, but your

old life is past you. Some new arrangements

will be made. Do you understand?

JUDITH looks stoically at SARAH

JUDITH

Yes, mother. I do understand.

SARAH smiles and leaves the room. JUDITH flops down onto the bed. She looks down and sees her pendant is still around her neck. She grips it tightly.

JUDITH

I know JC's okay. I just hope they don't catch him.

CUT TO:

INT – BELMONT MANOR, AFTERNOON.

JC is sitting on the floor in a porch area with his hands around his knees. His expression is on of depression. DIANA comes up behind him.

DIANA

Hey there. How are you holding up?

JC glares sarcastically at her.

My family just tried to drug and kidnap me,

took my sister, all because apparently I'm

the descendant of some powerful being

that doesn't seem to exist anymore.

How would you be?

DIANA

Sorry, just trying to open up.

DIANA walks over and sits next to him.

Did you know about your sister?

DIANA

Yes, for more than a year now. It was shocking to

say the least. But it is kind of cool, don't you think?

"Cool" isn't the word that comes to mind.

The two are silent for a moment.

JC (cont.)

I'm sorry. This is a lot for me to deal with.

DIANA

Don't worry about it. It isn't your fault.

Does Alice do this a lot? Take in strays that need help?

DIANA

She took me in when she married my brother.

I didn't get along with the rest of the family. When he died,

she continued to let me live here and

treated me like her own blood. I owe her a lot.

I'm sorry about your brother.

DIANA smiles and nods. She looks like she just remembered something. She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a smartphone. She hands it to JC.

DIANA

I almost forgot. I added our contact info your list.

I also installed some software that

will keep anyone form tracking you too well.

You can do that?

DIANA

I've been tinkering with electronic and mechanical

devices since I was little. This was easy. Hopefully it

should keep you safe.

JC pockets the smartphone.

I can take care of myself. Despite what you saw

last night, I can fight. I've a brown belt in martial arts.

DIANA

Really? How long have you been practicing?

Since I was little. My parents insisted actually.

JC and DIANA go silent at that thought. JASPER walks up.

JASPER

Good morning Mr. JC. How are you feeling?

DIANA tenses at the question. JC just shrugs.

I've been better, but I'm managing.

JASPER

That's very good to hear. If you'd like, I can

prepare a meal for you. I don't think you've eaten since yesterday.

JC tenses as he recalls 'yesterday'. JASPER looks regretful

JASPER (cont.)

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—

It's okay. I could use some food.

JC is shown eating some food in his new bedroom. When he finishes, he sits back and takes out his phone. He scrolls down the contact list and come across JUDITH's phone number. His finger hovers over the CALL option. He sighs and puts the phone away. Next shot is him leaving the room. A note in seen on the bed reading "Thanks for everything."

CUT TO:

INT – REINHARDT HOUSE, EARLY EVENING

JC enters the house through the front door and looks around. The lights are out and house appears to be empty. JC looks around in disappointment.

Mom and dad would be coming back

from the lab around this time. Unless they had to work late.

JC walks into the kitchen, also empty.

JC (cont.)

Judith and I would eat here together when

mom and dad worked late. I had to cook most of the time.

He continues up the stairs goes down the hallway. He stops when he sees two doors next to each other.

JC (cont.)

We would spend time after dinner in our

rooms, me at my computer and sis at her desk.

We'd scare each other to add fun to the night.

JC looks ready to fall apart. He walks to one of the doors and opens it. He looks shocked when he sees the inside: The room has furniture, but no items are there. The bed has no sheets. He frantically opens the closet and drawers, finding nothing. He stares in disbelief.

What happened to my room? Where's my stuff?

He races out and enters the other door. It is in the same state as his own: bare furniture with hardly any sign someone has lived there.

JC (cont.)

They took her stuff too?! What's going on?

JC looks scared and ready to panic. He quickly leaves the room and heads down the stairs. When he reaches the main room, JAMES, MARCUS, and WILLIAM and a MAN are standing there.

JAMES

JC, thank god you're alright! We've been

worried about you.

JC looks surprised at seeing them but quickly changes angry.

Worried? You drugged us! Where's Judith?

And what did you do to our rooms?!

WILLIAM

Calm down, JC.

MARCUS

We can explain everything, but you

need to come with us.

I'm not going anywhere until you explain yourselves.

The men look at each other. JAMES sighs and addresses JC.

JAMES

JC, you and Judith are special. You have

gifts that can help the family. We can take you

somewhere they can be put to good use.

You mean from the 'progenitors'? I

already know that. I also know you're

trying to keep those 'gifts' in the family.

The others look surprised. JAMES smiles.

JAMES

Very smart of you to realize that. Then you

should know it's crucial you come with us.

Are you going to take me to

where Judith is? I want to see her.

JAMES looks regretfully at JC

JAMES

I'm sorry JC, but that's not possible.

It'll be better if you two are kept apart for now.

MARCUS

JC, we're wasting time. We need to go.

I'm not going anywhere. Screw you.

The men look disappointed at the statement. JAMES looks at the MAN and nods. The MAN pulls out a dart pistol and shoots JC before he can react. The dart hits him in the chest.

JAMES

Don't worry, son, it's just a mild

tranquilizer. You'll be fine.

Everyone stares at JC waiting for a reaction. Nothing seems to happen. JC holds up his hand and moves his fingers, not feeling woozy at all. He grips the dart and pulls it out. A look of anger crosses his face as he holds up the dart.

I'm curious: After knocking me out what

were you planning on doing next?

The others are completely surprised at this. The MAN puts the gun away and runs at JC. JC flings the dart and him and he flinches. JC charges in at the opening and his fist connects with the MAN's chest. In a still shot of the punch, a set of three shockwaves travel down his arm and impact with the MAN. The MAN is thrown back and bounces off the wall, clutching his chest and moaning in pain. JC smiles smugly at this. Suddenly a loud "crack" is heard and JC grabs his arm, yelling in pain as he falls over. JAMES rushes up to him.

JAMES

JC, are you okay?

JC looks at him with a mix of pain and disgust.

Get away from me!

JC tries to crawl away but MARCUS and WILLIAM come and hold him down. MARCUS grabs JC's other arm and holds it out. Taking off his tie, he ties it arm part of JC's arm like a tourniquet. He looks at JAMES, who takes out an empty syringe and uncaps it. After feeling for a vein, he inserts the needle and takes a blood sample from JC's arm.

JC (cont.)

What are you doing?

JAMES

We just need a sample. When we get you

to safety we can look at your arm.

Suddenly a thick smoke seems to roll into the room. Visibility is obscured. In the confusion, JC manages to break away and crawl towards the door. Upon exiting, he sees ALICE standing next to her car with JASPER in the driver's seat. She doesn't look happy.

ALICE

We need to hurry, the spell won't last long.

The two get in the car and it drives away.

CUT TO:

INT – BELMONT MANOR, EVENING

ALICE, DIANA and JC are sitting in the living room. ALICE looks angry.

ALICE

You idiot! What were you thinking?!

JC looks away in shame.

ALICE (cont.)

You barely escaped last night and

then you went right back into the lion's

den. They almost got you.

I'm sorry, I just needed some answers.

ALICE calms down.

ALICE

Did you find any?

Not really. Only that Judith's been taken somewhere

they won't tell me. And all my stuff at

the house is gone. It's like I don't even

live there. Which, according to them, I don't.

DIANA

How's your arm?

It's fine now. I don't know what happened.

ALICE

From what I understand, an inheritor's body can't

always handle the power they channel. If

you're as powerful as I sensed, it was

too much and it injured you. You'll need to

learn more control if you intend to use them.

JC looks at her with determination.

Damn right I intend to use them. I'm

not going to let them blindside me like that again.

CUT TO:

INT – OFFICE, EVENING.

JAMES, SARAH, and MARCUS are together. SARAH looks deeply troubled.

SARAH

You couldn't bring him in?

JAMES

No, something or someone interfered.

MARCUS

All isn't lost, though. We have this.

He holds up the syringe full of JC's blood.

MARCUS (cont.)

This should suffice for now. Eventually,

he'll be back in our custody.

FADE OUT