Chapter 10: Still time
Do what we do best
Roman and Trifa stumbled out of the jungle, onto a pathway. In front of them was a large road, which stretched for what seemed like miles. Roman sighed. He couldn't believe it! Why couldn't they have stumbled into a nice restaurant or something? It would have been far better than this! And it was starting to rain! Seems that even the gods themselves were against them!
The wind was beginning to pick up too! Even better!
"What are we going to do?" Trifa asked. For this time of day, the roads seemed very empty.
"Suppose we should just start walking and hope it takes us somewhere." The two of them set off down the path as it continued to rain.
Trifa found her mind casting back to the White Fang, yet again. Her time in it had been long, nearly eight years. She had met a lot of people, some she would forever treasure in her heart, some she would rather never see again.
I wonder what Ilia is doing…
Ilia had always been devoted to their cause. Always out on missions, always fighting. She was even more passionate than maybe Trifa was.
She looked towards Roman, striding our in front of her, cane twirling in his hand. She wondered if the reports of him being racist towards Faunus were all nonsense, and it was simply the White Fang not wanting to work with a human. He certainly didn't seem racist…
Roman was back to thinking about Neo. He didn't want to, but she had boycotted his mind ever since he had seen she'd been flung off into the sky by Red. Somewhere, deep in his heart, he wanted to believe she was alive, but he knew that simply wasn't possible. There had been far too many Grimm for her to possibly dodge them all. She had probably been eaten, and died.
But I was eaten, and I survived…
But his situation had been different. The Grimm that had eaten him was killed shortly after. Maybe…
You've got spirit Red, but this is the real world!
That was what he had told her, and knowing her, she probably didn't even listen to him.
The real world is cold!
That it was. A lifetime of doing everything it took to save his own skin had taught him that.
The real world doesn't care about spirit!
Being a nice, optimistic person got you nowhere! How did she not realise that!?
You want to be a hero? Then play the part and die like every huntsman in history!
So naive, so idiotic…
He then noticed something up ahead. It appeared to be a petrol station of some description.
And petrol stations usually had corner shops of some description.
"Look over there." He pointed towards it. "Maybe we can get get out of the rain."
Picking up the pace a bit, they both began to run towards it. When they got there, they both walked inside the shop bit.
Desperately trying to dry themselves off, Roman looked in the mirror. He realised with a sudden horror that the hair dye had washed off, changing his hair back to its orange tint.
That wasn't good. If someone recognised him…
Calm yourself. There probably isn't even anyone here.
He looked at the counter, and realised there was someone here.
It was a middle aged man, but from the look of things, he was fast asleep, as his head was down on the desk.
But if there was one thing that Roman knew, when people were asleep, that was the best opportunity to steal things.
He began to very gingerly tip toe over to the man.
"Roman? What are you doing?"
Sneaking over to him, he stuck his hand in one of his pockets and began very carefully rummaging around. His hand closed on something metal and hard. He took it out slowly, and the man made a snorting noise, but he didn't wake up.
Looking at his well earned prize, Roman realised it was a set of car keys! Perfect!
"Look what I got!"
"Oh, that'll be useful."
"You bet!"
Now, the most difficult task of all. Finding the car.
He opened the gate that lead to the back of the shop. It was bound to be out here, since he hadn't noticed any cars when they had been walking towards it.
Going out the back, he hit the jackpot. A nice car.
"Come on. Let's go for a road trip." He said to Trifa. Throwing the bag with his indestructible hat into the car, he got into the drivers seat.
Trifa jumped in after him, and closing the door over and putting the wipers on, Roman started the car and pulled out, driving it down the road.
He turned the radio on.
This will be the day we've waited for, this will be the day we open up the door.
"That's a old song. I used to listen to that when I was younger." Trifa said.
"Really? I've heard of it, but didn't realise it was that old." Roman replied.
"I used to listen to it after…" Her voice trailed off. She was planning to say "when my mum died", but decided against it.
"After what?"
"Never mind that."
Roman shrugged and switched the channel around.
There have been mass reports of White Fang attacks in Mistral, Vale, and even Vacuo. I am here in Menagerie with the father of the Belladonna household, Ghira, who stepped down from his leadership position a few years ago. Tell us Ghira, what are your thoughts on this one peaceful organisation?
"Well, when I first took over, I wanted to achieve equality through peace, through words, not actions. We held rallies and protests, and while it may not have been working, I was hopeful that one day, my efforts would not be in vain."
There have been reports that Sienna Khan is no longer the High Leader. What are your thoughts on this?
"All I have to say is, whoever it is, I hope they have the Faunus' best interests at heart."
"White Fang, bla bla, who cares?" Roman said.
"I care!" Trifa suddenly snapped at him.
"Why? Your not part of the organisation anymore."
"I still support the cause."
"Faunus equality." Roman sighed. "If only I thought that was still possible."
"What did you say?!"
"Woah!" Roman suddenly swerved to the left as a car came rocketing past him. "Watch it there!"
They continued on down the road.
Do What we do best
"How is your task progressing?" Adam said over his scroll.
"Calm it down there, Adam love. We've only been out for a day. You can't expect us to find them in a day. Even I'm not that good." Tock said.
"Don't call me love."
"Well, you can hardly doing anything about it, can you love?"
Adam simply sighed. "Let me know when you've found them."
"Of course. Later love. Oh, and Ilia says hi."
"No I-!"
The call ended. The two doors opened, and Corsac and Fennec entered.
"High Leader, we come with urgent news."
"Speak."
"The Lieutenant has informed us that Vale is completely overrun with Grimm. Any humans that haven't already been killed will be eliminated by them. He would like to retract his forces from there and bring them back to here."
"Very well then. He has my blessing."
Corsac and Fennec nodded, bowed and turned to leave.
"Wait."
"High leader?"
"How is Sienna doing?"
Corsac and Fennec shared a look. "She has became increasingly… frustrated. We suspect she may want to leave the White Fang with you now at the helm."
"Make it clear to her that if she does, she will the suffer the same fate that Blake and Trifa will."
"With all due respect, she was the High Leader for quite a while. Don't you think if she wants to leave, we should respect her wishes?"
"No. We can't take the risk of her giving potential intel away to the enemy."
"I really think…"
"Really think what Corsac?" Adam leaned forward and glared at him.
"Nothing."
"That's what I thought." He waved his hand. "You are both dismissed."
Bowing again, they both left.
"Are we sure he is the one to lead us? He is becoming increasingly… unstable." Corsac commented.
"Perhaps. But we must stick with him for now. If he thinks we're potentially turning against him…" Fennec shuddered at the thought.
"We shall be awaiting the Lieutenant's return then."
Do what we do best
The mines were cold, harsh, and hot. Trifa was exhausted, but the thought of that whip meeting her back again kept her going as she pushed the mine cart through. She looked around, and saw the faces of several other Faunus, being whipped and tortured. The sight was gruesome and horrific.
"Keep that cart moving little brat!" The familiar sound of a whip being lashed convinced her to keep moving.
"Hey, hey, don't do that please! Take me instead!"
Looking to her right, she saw a boy, older than her, with red hair and bull horns pointing out of his head, thrown to the ground. A women, assumedly his mum, was looking on teary eyed.
"Get back to work, women!"
"Leave him alone! He didn't do anything wrong!"
The boy wriggled and squirmed and bit one of the humans hands.
"Oh, you're a feisty one, huh? Bring out the brand!"
"Please, I'm begging you-"
The man slapped her across the face.
A red hot needle was brought out, and lowered over the boys face. Trifa watched on in horror as it drew closer and closer…
"What are you looking at?" A whip across the skin, causing her to cry out in pain. But she couldn't stop watching, watching as they traced the brand across his face… It was terrible.
"If you don't start working, the same thing will be happening to you!"
She couldn't do it. Tears filled her eyes as they lashed her and beat her again and again, the pain unbearable, relentless.
She struggled to stand back up, until she felt two hands clamp down on her shoulders.
"Wake up! Wake up!"
Trifa opened her eyes. The car had been pulled over and Roman had her by the shoulders.
"Calm down, calm down, it's fine…"
"What-"
"You fell asleep, so I decided not to wake you up. But then you started jerking and flailing and screaming. What was that about?"
"It's- nothing. I'm fine now."
"You sure?" He didn't sound convinced.
She offered him a weary smile. "I'm sure."
"Right…" He still wasn't convinced, but he let the subject drop.
He began driving again.
Trifa lay back, trying to control her breathing.
What even was that?
That boy… it had to be Adam. It just had to be. But she wasn't there, didn't see him get his brand…
So how was her mind able to relay it so well?
Maybe it was what Ilia and Blake had told her. Adam was always close to them, he'd tell them that information.
Especially Blake…
Blake leaving had ruined everything for him. Torn him apart inside, set him on this dark, unfamiliar path. The radio had said about how a new High Leader had taken over. She could make a pretty good guess and say it was probably Adam.
Which is why I am going to give you a choice. You can come back with us, and help with Beacon's demise. You will be rewarded handsomely."
If Adam was the leader of the White Fang…
"Or, you can continue to run. I won't chase after you. I have far more important matters to attend to. But rest assured, when Beacon has fallen, we will find you. The White Fang does not take to traitors lightly."
Did that mean he was coming after her? Was he coming to find her, to punish her for her betrayal?
No, he would go after Blake first, right? There was still time, still time to run, still time to hide…
He wouldn't come for her first, she still had time.
She still had time.
Do what we do best
Do you have time though Trifa?
Thanks for reading and have a good day!