Chapter 21. Secrets Revealed.


Poch didn't know what was going on, but for some reason, Blitzø had his pistol pointed at Striker. When Striker took the moment of confusion to flip Blitzø over and run to a mounted gun, he knew something was wrong.

"Stolas!" Blitzø yelled out.

Poch had to act and he did. He rushed forward and tore open a portal. He wouldn't make it in time to stop the firing and moving the gun could result in another getting shot. He had one move.

The trigger was pulled, the bullet was shot, going straight for the head of Stolas. In the split second the gun was fired, Poch's arm was already going through his portal, pushing against the frame of Stolas. In that moment he pushed him away, his chest became the new target. In the milliseconds before impact, Klarnas arm and blade came out in an attempt to cut the bullet. Its blade only grazed the skin of the blade, not even knocking it off course.

The heavenly bullet hit, digging itself through Poch's shirt and flesh, putting itself deep into his chest, close to his heart. The moment it stopped moving, light emanated from it, followed by powerful shocks of white lighting traveling all around Poch's body, electrocuting him like a bug on a zapper.

"GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!" Poch screamed in pain and anguish, those in the front of the crowd blinded by the brightness. This went on for nearly five seconds before it finally died down. Poch stood on his feet, fried and his eyes wide and lifeless as he fell back, his arm hooking on a podium, his body going limp.

"POCH!" Blitzø screamed out.

Loona's eyes widened, having seen the light flashes and heard his screams, noticing his limp body fall back. She saw it all through the window.

"Damnit!" Striker cursed.

Loona looked at Striker. 'He….shot him…' Her mind said.

"Damn hound had to ruin a good shot!"

'Those screams…' she felt her face twitch, 'he was in...in pain…' she felt something hot rise in her, 'that….that…' her lips pulled back, baring her fangs as the heat began to boil. 'that….THAT…' Her eyes became redder, her fur becoming feral, her claws coming out, and she began to snarl and growl like a mad dog.

Blitzø looked back at her and so did Stiker. The look on her face was one of pure absolute rage. She was seeing red and Striker was in her line of sight.

"BASTARD!" She roared before charging at him on all fours. She tackled him, crashing them through the window. She was biting at his face and neck as they fell, her claws digging in his arms, prying them away so he couldn't block. He dodged her bites. When they slammed and tumbled onto the ground, she had a chance to dig her fangs in his shoulder.

"GRAGH!" Striker screamed in pain. He tried to pull her off but she proved to be to strong, her claws starting to dig into his other shoulder and into his waist, sinking in deep in an attempt to rip them off. He fought through the pain and reached around. He touched a piece of the window frame, grabbed it, and slammed it into the side of her face, releasing her jaws and pushing her away. When she turned back to him, he grabbed a handful of dirt and flung it in her eyes.

"AH!" Sche screamed, trying to rub the dirt free.

"I'd check up on that boyfriend of yours before worrying about me," Striker said before leaving, disappearing into the confused crowd.

Looona got the dirt out of her eyes but lost sight of him. She could've sniffed for him but she didn't, she didn't want to give chase as soon as her eyes hit the stadium. Her rage was replaced by something else. She hastily ran up to the stage, pushing everyone out the way, panicking and close to hyperventilating. What replaced her rage was a growing sense of dread. Tears welled up in her eyes as she begged in her mind for him to be alright. She jumped onto the stadium and rushed to Poch. His eyes were wide open and his body was limp. It made her chest tighten. She lifted him up off the podium he was leaning on. "Poch!?" She called out, holding him up. Blood came onto her hand, it was his coming out of his chest where he was shot. "Poch!?" She yelled again, tears gushing out her eyes as she saw and felt how lifeless he was. "Say something!" He didn't respond. "PLEASE!" He didn't move.

"Loona!" Jack ran up to the stage with Shelly and Solis. "We heard Poch screaming wh-" He saw Poch in her arms and fear grew into him, "What the hell happened!?"

"I think I know," Stolas said, having regained himself after being pushed away.

Loona looked at him, balling her eyes out. "H-he's not breathing!"

"We have to hurry!"

"Stolas!" Blitzø and Moxxie ran up to him.

"It was a blessed rifle wasn't it?"

"Yes!" Moxxie answered.

"We have to lay him down!" Stolas pulled Loona away from Poch. "Loona, move!"

"I-I-'' She didn't want to let go but was forced to anyway. She stood there watching.

"Jack! I need you to use Dust to restart his heart!"

"A-Alright!" Jack jumped up and Summoned Dust. "Dust!" He brought it to Poch's mouth. "Wait, I don't know where-"

"I'll give you an X-ray!" Stolas used his grimoire to create a veil that went in front of Poch, showing his insides.

Jack acted quickly and had dust go inside through his mouth and maneuvered it around till it gripped his heart. "Clear!" He yelled. Dust gave his heart a jump. Pochs body convulsed but didn't change. "Clear!" Jack did it again. No change. "Cmon! Clear!" Jack did it once more.

Poch gasped and sucked in air. Everyone was relieved, especially Loona, but it didn't last long because as soon as he breathed in, he choked and spat out his own blood. "GLCHCLARGH!" Was the sound he made.

"His lungs are bleeding! You're going to have to use Dust to cover the holes up!" Stolas said.

"On it!" Thanks to Stolas's X-ray Jack was able to cover up the holes in his lungs, stopping the blood from entering and making his breathing better. His eyes were still cold and lifeless but he was breathing. All seemed to be going well until a small light shined from his bullet wound followed by a series of white lightning coursing through his body.

"AAAAAAAH!" He screamed as he was electrocuted for a second time, although a bit weaker this time. His breathing and heart stopped again once it finished.

"Damnit, the bullet's still in him!" Stolas cursed.

"I can help remove it!" Moxxie said.

"Alright! Jack, restart his heart again! Shelly and Blitzø, help me carry him to the tent! We can use the table there! Solis, I need you to go to the white tent over there," He pointed back, "and grab the medical supplies, mainly ones used for surgery! Go!"

Everyone did what was told. As they put Poch in the tent, Loona tried to follow, but Stolas stopped her.

"I know you're worried, but you'll only get in the way! Stay out here!" He told her before moving in.

"O-Ok…" Loona said. She watched as Poch's body disappeared behind closed curtains. She could hear Stolas ordering around the others to try and keep him alive. There was a chair next to the Tent and she took it.

The imp from the Wacko commercials came out with a microphone. "Ladies and Gents! The festival is over! Please return to your homes and don't worry about anything here!" He said, trying to ease the crowd of imps.

Loona didn't listen to him, her hearing was only focused on what was going on inside. Solis came in with the medical supplies and she heard talk of losing him again. She held herself and began to scrunch up. Poch screamed again and it was followed by Stolas saying they need to remove the bullet before it does irreparable harm. Her tears became heavier and she hugged her knees to her chest. She heard nothing except the noises coming from the tent. Most of them weren't good. She heard that he was getting weaker, that his breathing stopped again, that his heartbeat was slowing. She grabbed her ears, not wanting to hear anymore but she kept hearing it, even though it was muffled. As she heard it, the images of him getting shot and shocked filled her vision. It played over and over again. She couldn't take it. She got up and ran away, vision blurry from her crying but she didn't care where she was going, she just didnt wanna hear or see it anymore.

"Loona?" Solis looked out and saw her running off. "Loona!" He called out.

"What happened?" Shelly asked.

"Loona ran off...she probably heard what's going on in here."

"Oh…"

"Should we go after her? I don't think Stolas needs me anymore."

"Just in case...let's wait...so we can give her an update on how he is."

"Alright...then let's see what else I can do."


Nearly fifteen minutes later.

Poch was breathing softly, his eyes closed, and his heart beating regularly.

Stolas breathed a sigh. "Thank goodness. He's stable."

Everyone took a seat and slumped with a breath of relief.

"How long will he be out?" Jack asked.

"Well…he was hit with a heaven tipped rifle and the closer to the center it hits, the more it hurts the entire body. The shocks might have put him in a small coma for a good while. It could be days or even weeks before he wakes up," Stolas explained, "Even then he still wouldn't be back a hundred percent."

"Whaddya mean?" Blitzø asked.

"When I said it hurts the entire body, i didnt mean by pain. Other parts of his body took damage as well. He's got some broken bones here and there along with some muscular damage."

"Shit…"

"While him waking would be great, let's not forget the other injuries. Now I believe you should be able to tell Loona now...wherever she is….actually I may be able to help with that."


Blitzø and Moxxie went to the area where Stolas believes Loona to be in. It was a huge barn some ways off from Millie's parents house.

"Thanks for coming, Mox," Blitzø said.

"No problem," Moxxie replied.

The two split up and looked around for Loona. Moxxie went in while Blitzø went outside and around. As Moxxie went in deeper he could hear sniffling and sobbing.

"Loona?" He came closer to the sound. It became louder and more apparent at a nearby pen. He peaked around the corner and saw Loona rolled up in the corner. He couldn't see her face but he could tell she had been crying for a good while. "Loona?" Moxxie walked in.

Loona looked up at him and it became known to him that she had been bawling her eyes out. Her eyes were redder than usual, with strained cracks in them, her makeup ran down her cheeks like a black stream and some of it was still running and it was very much wet. There was even a little bit of snot coming down her nose. She buried her face in her arms. "Go away," She said.

Moxxie came up to her. "I can't do that."

"Leave me alone…"

Moxxie sat next to her. "Aren't you at least curious about him?"

"...How is he?"

"He's stable...breathing nicely and his heart's beating normally….we managed to patch the holes in his lungs with some sort of paste...but…"

"But what?"

"..." He was hesitant but knew she had to know, "he's in a Coma...we don't know when he'll wake….he's….also suffered some...other major injuries throughout his body….it'll be a while before he's up to strength."

"...damnit…" Loona's fist tightened, "GOD DAMNIT!" She turned and punched a hole into the wall.

Moxxie was startled by her actions. "Loona!?"

"IF I HAD JUST CAME BY WHEN HE WHISTLED, OR BETTER YET, NOT KICK THAT DOOR OPEN, HE WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN THAT CHANCE TO SHOT!"

"Loona."

"BUT I CAME LATE….I GAVE HIM THAT CHANCE….and Poch...Because of me he's got….im such an idiot!" She cried into her hands."

"Loona it's not your fault."

"Yes it fucking is!"

"Its not!" He grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her to his face, "You think any of us would've known what he was up to!? I found out by accident and if Blitzø didn't have his phone on him, he would've never known at all! Hell, I doubt Millie's parents, the ones who hired him, knew what he was up to either! Noone saw this coming, nor did Poch! So get your head out your ass! This isn't your fault!" He let go of her. "Besides...I'm sure he'd like it if you saw him right now."

"...ok."

"Good," Moxxie got up, "Lets go." He gave her his hand.

She slowly took it and lifted herself up. She followed him outside where Blitzø met up with him.

"Loona!" Blitzø gave her a worried hug. "Are you ok, sweetheart?"

"..." Loona hugged him back. "I'm ok...dad."

"Good." He pulled back, "They took him to his room at the base. Let's go see him."


Moxxie, Blitzø, and Loona entered the Lobby area where Millie was getting patched up by her parents while Blitzø led Loona to the rooms. The exterminators were there too, bringing Echo, Shred, and Dundy up to speed about what happened.

"I can't believe you let him trap you! Haven't we taught you better!" Lin chastised Millie.

"I was seeing red Ma! And he was slippery!" Millie defended.

"Excuses! You're better than that Mildred!"

Moxxie walked up on them. "Y'know, she protected me. And maybe I'm not a strong beefy dickhead, but Millie has the strength enough for both of us! You two are getting on her case about being hurt by a psychopath you hired, who, might I add, almost killed a friend of ours!? Shaaame on you!"

Joe glared at him before his expression softened. "I...I saw them take him to his room….He gonna be ok?"

"The heavenly bullet that was used did a number on him...he's alive at least but we don't know when he'll wake."

"I see...I'm sorry."

"Hey, you didn't know what his motives were, I found out by happy accident, so no ones blaming you."

Joe smirked. "Heh...you ain't so bad for a scrawny little guy...Moxxie."

Moxxie smiled. "Thank you sir."

Loona stood at the door to Poch's room. Blitzø and Stolas stood behind her, watching with anticipation. She looked at the door for a good while, unsure of what to do. She looked down at the knob, squeezing her hand on her arm before eventually yet hesitantly reaching for it. As her hand touched the knob she had flashbacks of him getting shot and electrocuted. She shook before pulling back. "I...I need a minute."

"It's alright," Stolas placed his hand on her shoulder compassionately, "don't push yourself but also don't be afraid."

Blitzø came to her other side. "He'll be here waiting for you sweetie." He smiled.

"...Thanks dad," She said. Stolas and Blitzø led her back to the lobby where everyone was waiting.

"I'm going to give you all a sheet on when to change and clean his bandages. Make sure to read carefully on how to replace them as it's very delicate," Stolas instructed, "I would also suggest someone stay by his side during The Cleansing," He said, motioning his eyes at Loona.

"Got it," Solis said.

"Well, it's kinda getting late, let's head- Ouch!" Millie attempted to stand but cringed in pain.

"Oh that doesn't look pleasant," Stolas said.

"Got chomped on a bear trap."

"Here," He brought out his grimoire, "allow me to help." The grimoire hovered above her leg along with his hand. A red aura covered her leg before sparkling. After a minute, it went away. "There."

Millie flexed her leg. "It's...healed!?" She removed the bandages and saw no trace of injury.

"My grimoire is good for healing demons."

"I didn't know that!" Millie said.

"Neither did we," Loona glared at Stolas, "How come this is the first time you used it?"

"Pardon?" Stolas looked at Loona.

"You heard me!" She stomped closer, "Why are you just now using it!"

"Oh...well cause she was injured and-"

"So is Poch! Much more than she is! So why does she get it but he doesn't!"

"Well...you see...it wouldnt...wouldnt quite work on him."

"Bullshit! Poch is a demon just like her! It would've worked just fine!"

Everyone else started looking at Stolas apprehensive as Loona confronted him, everyone except the Exterminators, who just looked among themselves.

"He's...not quite that," Stolas tried to explain.

"Not quite what!? Saying it doesn't work on hellhounds!?"

"No it... work on Exterminators."

"And why not!?"

"Because...Because..they're...I can't t-"

"Were humans," Jack butt in.

"What?" Loona looked at him confused along with everyone else.

"...We're humans."

"Jack, are you sure about this?" Stolas asked him, concerned.

"...Poch was gonna tell Loona anyway so...why not?"

"What do you mean you're humans?" Moxxie asked.

"Yall cant be human," Millie said.

"..." Jack sighed. "Alright...listen up...i'm gonna tell you...what an exterminator is….have a seat."

They all sat somewhere close to Jack and Jack sat on a chair in front of him.

"...Forty years ago...there was a disease in the human world called the Holy Blight...whoever had it had a mark of a cross on there arm and would die after a certain amount of time...except...it wasn't a disease...we call it The Purge, an event were angel monsters invade earth to kill humans. To avoid suspicion and to make them unnoticeable, a subspace is created in the area they invade. Everyone on the inside is aware of this change and the angels while all those on the outside don't notice anything out of the ordinary….those killed by the angels are replaced by some silhouette doll made from their corpse, each with its own life expectancy...they go on with life as if nothing happened, avoiding more suspicion...however there are those who managed to survive, having stayed alive during the invasion and kept away from the angels long enough till it was time for their return...these humans decided to fight back, using magical weapons of old earthly times and even some demonic weapons that were left on earth for some reason or another. Sadly their attempts were fruitless as they could barely even hurt the angels, especially with the demon weapons. They decided to reach out for help. They used a method to contact a demon and managed to contact a monarch. This monarch was curious about these angels and made them a deal. they had to capture an angel. Somehow they managed to do it and the demon came to earth to inspect it. He found out that it was an angel that had its soul intertwined and covered with chaos. Chaos is the nature of the human soul, and when a human dies that chaos converts into a hellish soul or a heavenly one. By some means the angels mixed their souls with that chaos, and the distortion, though stable, turned them into mostly mindless monsters. Why? Cause with that distortion, whatever human they killed had their soul obliterated instead of moving on to the afterlife, and it gave them an immunity to being killed by normal means. Hearing about this, the humans thought of trying to do the same, but not by asking other demons to bathe in chaos but rather they kill themselves, go to hell, and they bathe in chaos. The demon had another idea however. He suggested that they do the opposite and instead intertwine hell in them. He even helped. He gave them something called the embodiment of hell, a literal tub of hell. The humans dove themselves in it and their bodies were lit aflame, mutating. The results...they became demons, but in form only. The intertwining of hell onto chaos proved to be more fruitful than the other way around. It also created something new due to the mix, Shadow Demons. They would dream some form of introduction and learn about their demons, their names, their letters, all of it. They also found that they can infuse the energies of their souls into any weapon they wielded, and they could now wield demon weapons along with magical earthly weaponry, allowing them to kill the angel monsters. They made a deal with the monarchs to gain resources among other things, but it was a secret to the public of hell. Thus...the Exterminators corps was created, named after the symbol that appeared on the back of their right hand. They found ways to track the incoming of angels and mobilized in that area, protecting the humans and killing the angels, erasing the memories of any regular human involved unless they showed potential to join them. A few decades later, give or take a few years...you get there newest recruits….Me, Dundy, Shelly, Echo, Shred, Celis, and Poch."

"...oh my crumbs." Moxxie said, trying to process everything along with the others.

"So...youre all...humans?" Millie questioned.

"Yep...just humans in demon skin that's been sewn on. We can only take off the skin for mere moments at a time before it comes back," Jack said.

"Wow…"

"That's why, no matter how much I want to, I can't use my grimire to heal him. It doesn't work on humans," Stolas explained.

"This is nuts…" Blitzø said.

"...I don't care," Loona said.

"What?"

"So what if he's human...I dont care...he's still Poch...dumbass was so worried about telling me….I'm not gonna see him differently...or any of you guys."

Jack and the rest smiled. "Thanks."

"Do the rest of you feel the same?" Shelly asked.

Blitzø, Moxxie, Millie, and her parents all looked at each other before looking back.

"I mean...heck it's a shocker….but...that just means Jack has no excuse not to show me his sister now," Blitzø smilled.

"Heh, Guess not," Jack chuckled.

"Does this mean I can see your family too, Shelly?" Millie asked.

"Of course!"Shelly answered.

"I already liked you folks to begin with and if my daughter's ok with you being human, then I guess we shoundt give it no mind either," Jil stated.

"You're too kind," Echo smiled.

"Honestly I think you being human is pretty cool. It's like some scifi," Moxxie said, "though it just means Blitzø's gonna try and pry more into your life's."

"Hey it's not my fault they broke rule number one," Blitzø brought up.

"Rule number one?" Jack asked.

"Yeah, I.M.P. employee rule one, must be a demon to work here."

"You made that up!"

"Prove it! Either way you're gonna have to make it up to us with even more answers for our new set of burning questions!"

"...Alright, that's fine….hey, I just realised, now I can have you meet my sister!"

"Really!?"

"Yeah! We can do it next day after the cleansing!...plus there's two more people you should meet as well."

"Oh! Can we come too?" Millie asked.

"Of course!"

Echo nudged Dundy. "May want to tell your mother about them before they ask you for an introduction. Unless you want your ass kicked."

"Hah! No thank you!" Dundy smiled. "Though i think i'll have them meet father first."

"Heh, I'm sure he'd love a rowdy bunch like them."

"...I'm sure yours would too."

"...Maybe...Introductions wouldn't hurt."

While everyone talked, Loona got up and took a breath. She looked to the hallway that led to the rooms and went for it. Everyone pretended not to notice but once she left the room everyone looked her way and smiled.

"One second," Blitzø took a deep breath, "...She called me dad!" He cheered, Raising his arms up and nearly crying with joy.

Loona stood at Pochs door. She grabbed the handle and waited. She took a deep breath and slowly turned the knob. She softly pushed the door open and saw him lying on his bed, softly breathing, his eyes shut. She took small steps to his side, sitting at the chair next to him, keeping her eyes on him. She got teary eyed but smiled. "Hey," she said to him. Her hand went to his chest, gladly feeling his heartbeat. "...Im...so glad you're alive….wake up soon...ok?" She looked at his face, and felt a drop of a tear roll down her cheek. She wiped it away before laying her head down in her arms on the side of the bed. She kept her eyes on him before closing them. She was tired and felt like resting by his side.


Ends

Next chapter. Crusaders.