And finally, the last chapter of Hallow is out! Thank you to Leahcar-chan, who kept reviewing and therefore kept me posting a chapter a day!
Answer: Once more, you'll find out in this chapter. I can only say that... they're both leaving. *shed loads of tears*
Enjoy!
He hadn't felt my presence yet, what with the magical papers of the CROWs keeping me trapped, but I knew it only was a question of time by now.
... Wait.
I couldn't get out!
Fuck! Michael's going to absorb Allen and I can't fucking free myself!
Breath, try to take them off!
I'm trying!
Allen started screaming as I felt the Innocence agitate itself. Link tried to intervene, but started screaming too.
Struggling, I couldn't get the damn things off. I was going to be too late, damn it!
The white haired teen tried to kill him, and I gritted my teeth.
"Get away, Allen!" I then yelled. "It's him! Get your fucking ass out of here now!"
There was a moment of silence.
"It would seem you have heard of me, but I have yet to know who you are" remarked Apocryphos, his voice reverbating on the bare walls.
"The name's Aryane Darkelston, asshole" I spat, trying to get my legs to move. "Better remember it"
"I will take care of you next"
And with that, he returned his attention to Allen, who was too shocked to even move.
He hasn't heard of us yet, then. This will be a good element of surprise. He only thinks you're another prisoner who heard of him somehow.
He's truly full of himself, to act so carelessly. I still can't get free, tho- wait, they're getting off!
A first one had just fallen. Frowning a little, I then realized it must have been Link who managed to deactivate them before blacking out.
It's acting too slowly, though. He's going to absorb him!
I gritted my teeth, before grabbing the papers still glued to my back.
Hime?
When you gotta go, you gotta go.
I ripped them apart. Instantly, my hands burned at the jolts of electricity, my whole body shaking in pain, the skin peeling off along with the damn things. I didn't make a sound, knowing it would only betray my position. Then, I felt them.
The Noahs were here.
Is it weird that I feel glad or what?
Better them than Michael, I'd say. Better move faster, though.
Yeah. Hey, Trickster? I don't think I'm leaving with him anymore.
Me neither. Give him a good farewell show, ne?
You know me too well.
There was an explosion as Allen's screams died down.
"It was worth it… to send you back to the Order… seven thousand years…"
Hey, isn't that Mikk?
"Seven thousand years… and we finally found you!"
Yep, that's him. Sounds crazier than before, though. Is he talking about Michael? Has he really been around for seven thousand years?
I told you before that we existed before recorded history.
Still weird.
"Allen!"
Road's here too. Allen isn't saying a thing, he must have panicked a little.
That's an understatement. Now move, it's time for your grand entrance.
Taking a sharp breath, I forced my legs to answer my demand. It was weird, half-painful and half-numbed, so it didn't work too well, but I could walk, or at least for now.
Don't push, the nerves are more damaged than ever and some connected back to the wrong places.
Got it.
The papers locking my door had deactivated too, so I walked out without any trouble, before making my way at Allen's cell.
"The Noahs, uh?"
Oh, the big bro's up.
"Seriously… it's not like this is your friend's house" he remarked, his voice cracking a little. "I don't want you coming in so casually"
He kind of got a point.
As you said, better them than him. His voice is giving me shivers, and not the good kind.
"Apocryphos" Allen grunted.
"Oh, you've heard of him, Boy?" asked Tyki." Figures, with Milady around"
He really ought to stop calling me that.
I find it funny.
Shut up.
"We've finally found him" remarked Road, more serious. "After seven thousand years, we had given up. Then, little Gabby came back, and all was well. But having two leads to the Heart now…"
"Ga… bby?" repeated Michael. "He finally… came to play? That's nice… but you are wrong… to the Noahs, I'm the equivalent… of the Grim Reaper!"
At that, I finally reached the opened door. For a second, I stilled.
The Thirds are here.
Shield won't work so soon.
I know.
Steeling my resolve, I slammed the door open.
"The hell do you think you're doing, partying without even inviting me!?" I exclaimed, waltzing inside as if I owned the place.
If I die tonight, at least let's go with some fireworks.
The stage is yours, Hime.
The one I recognized as Apocryphos turned to me, eyes bloodshot.
"And who… are you…?" rasped the weird being.
At that, I grinned, before activating my Innocence. Instantly, he took a step back.
"It's been a while, Mickey" I made the peace sign, Gabriel's voice joining mine.
"Finally showed up, Milady?" smiled pleasantly Tyki, standing just next too me. "I was afraid we'd have to wait"
But I could sense his unease growing by each passing second.
"Get out of here" I ordered, more at Allen than the other two. "This is my fight"
"You're my brother's vessel then…" he slurred. "I should have known… where is he? I want… I want to talk to him…"
Hime?
Go ahead.
I closed my eyes.
"You're arrogant, Mickey" the girl shook her head, eyes glowing in the darkness of the cell. "This will be your downfall"
"Gabriel… so you truly are here…"
"Oi, morons!" he snapped towards the onlookers. "Hime said to get out, so get your fucking arses out of here"
"But-"
"Our paths diverge, Allen Walker" he cut, more serious. "But do not forget that you aren't walking alone. Keep going, and do not regret. Timcanpy? It is time"
"T-Timcanpy?" repeated the boy, confused.
The Golem growled, and it's bindings snaps, the papers having deactivated along with Aryane's. With one feathered blade, Gabriel cut Allen's chains as the gigantic gold ball destroyed the wall to allow him –them- to escape.
The teen still hesitated, before gritting his teeth and jumping out. Road shot them a wondering look before following, and Tyki smirked.
"Any words of wisdom for me?" he taunted.
"Fuck off, Mikk"
That earned a sharp laugh, before the Noah fled too. After that, knowing the rest was up to Allen, Gabriel turned to face his brother, who hadn't made a move since he walked in.
"This is only slowing down… the inevitable…" remarked him who was once an Angel. "Would it be today… or tomorrow… Allen Walker and I will become one!"
Suddenly, binding papers strapped around him, and both beings turned theirs heads at Howard Link, who was struggling to stay conscious with Innocence blinding him.
"I won't let you!" he grunted. "Aryane… or Gabriel… get out of here!"
At that, the vessel shook his head, smiling sadly.
"You have changed, Howard Link, but today is not the day you play the hero. Settle down, for you have a greater purpose than to die tonight"
"What!? I-"
Before he could finish, Gabriel hit the back of his head with a rock, effectively knocking him out.
Apocryphos snorted, breaking the bindings without much effort.
"You truly are the same… always thinking about others before yourself…" he smiled, showing his shark-like teeth. "You were always so strong… so good… And we could do so much together… brother…"
"You have strove from your path, Mickey" he shook his head, honestly sorry. "Taking the matters in your own hands… you broke the rules, and there is no going back"
"So you are betraying… your own brother?" he sneered, mocking and angry at the same time. "You are ready… to destroy me? To kill me… with the hands of this untainted vessel?"
For only answer, the Host took the feather pendant and turned it to Silversword.
"My brother died seven thousand years ago"
But Apocryphos only let out a sharp laugh, getting back his usual appearance.
"You are still weak with this new vessel, Gabriel" he remarked. "You're not fully in control, and lack the necessary abilities to even be a challenge"
He disappeared, and the Angel was suddenly hitting the wall.
"For today, I will show mercy to your foolishness, brother" he sneered, looming over him. "But the next time we face each other, I won't hesitate to spill the blood of your dear Host"
And with that, he disappeared.
"Fuck, that hurt…" I grunted, rubbing my forehead.
Trickster, are you alright?
He's grown so strong… Ary… I'm afraid I burdened you with a mission too great… I'm sorry…
The hell are blabbering about? Yeah, we got our asses handed with one fucking move. Yeah, it hurts the pride. Yeah, we were clearly at a disadvantage. Yeah, we-
Not helping.
Sorry. Anyway, all that to say that yes, we couldn't fight him now. However, we'll grow even stronger and one day, we'll defeat him. It's just a question of time.
Right…
New presences made themselves known, running down the stairs leading to the dungeons, and I scrunched my nose when I realized it was Leverrier.
"Well, that's our cue to leave" I sighed.
Glancing at Link's body, I let out a breath of relief. At least he was still alive.
Let's go, Hime.
The Thirds are here, though, attacking Headquarters, and-
They'll be fine. You can't always be around, Ary. It is time to walk your own path.
I sighed heavily, before spreading my wings and heading for the gigantic hole in the wall made by Timcanpy.
"Guess it is"
"Don't move!"
I titled my head at Leverrier as he entered the cell along with guards and CROWs.
I smiled at him, somewhat sadly.
"Take care of them"
And I jumped.
The rest happened kind of quickly.
I flew away from Headquarters, putting the more distance I could between me and them, hoping they would understand and not go after me. The Thirds were still ravaging the place, but I couldn't turn back now. The others would be fine.
Allen had parted ways from Tyki and Road, along with Timcanpy, which lead me to truly question the Noah's sanity. But whatever. In the end, he used the Ark, and even got to say goodbye to Lenalee, who's despair echoed in my bones like a sick rhythm.
I didn't look behind as explosions were heard, knowing it would only make me feel worse. No matter how many time I said myself to be ready, I had just discovered how outmatched I was against Michael, and left behind what I considered my home and those I considered my family. However, I knew that in the end, it'd be worth it, so I didn't press the matter any farther.
Hime, you're exhausted. You haven't eaten since you woke up.
Don't remind me.
You have to land before you crash because you were too stupid to stop.
Tche. Fine.
I dropped in the trees below, and deactivated as soon as my feet touched the ground, my stomach grumbling loudly.
I cringed.
"I'm so fucking hungry now… Putain, qu'est-ce que je ne donnerais pas pour un repas bien chaud de Jeryy…"
Hang in there, Ary. There's a village at two hours or so.
So comforting.
But I walked.
Using Archangel would only lead me to a worst shape, and with Apocryphos now aware of our existence, the Noahs still hanging around and the Order on my trail, I needed all the strength I could get.
So I walked.
My legs gave in after half an hour. They felt so heavy I thought they were made of roc, and I couldn't take a step farther in my state.
I've said it once, twice and I'll say it trice: nerve damage is a pain in the ass.
No kidding. And I'm so hungry…
I can't heal them properly like this. Do you have any fricking idea how many nerves you have in your legs!?
Nope, and don't want to either. Can't you let them heal by themselves?
Hime, nerve damage doesn't heal so easily. Without me, you wouldn't even be able to feel them anymore.
Wonder if that'd be a bad thing.
I placed my back against a tree, the bark feeling cold on my skin, and let out a shaky breath. In the end, maybe leaving right there and then was a bad idea.
I'm starting to agree too. Guess waiting a day more wouldn't have killed us.
It could have, though. Who knows? With everything that happened, they would've probably try to execute me.
Point taken.
"Well, well, look who finally stopped running"
"Fuck my life" I groaned, passing an hand over my tired face.
Tyki walked out of the shadows with a smirk, and I could now sense Road sitting on a branch above me.
Why didn't we sense them sooner!?
Even if we did, you wouldn't have been able to flee.
True. So what, I let myself get kidnapped?
You can't exactly do anything else. Don't worry, they'll have to go through a lot before getting their hands on my memories. And who knows? Maybe you'll have news from Bookman and Lavi.
Too tired to fight back anyway.
"You seem in a bad shape, Milady" remarked Tyki, crouching in front of me.
"I'm hungry" I replied. "And tired. So, so damn tired… are you kidnapping me? 'Cause if you do, then I demand a nap before we get down to business"
"You seem rather… okay, with this" he blinked, taken aback by my sudden willingness.
"I can't fight, can't activate my Innocence and can't even walk" I pointed out, hitting my damn responding legs. "I don't exactly have a choice in the matter. And honestly? Better you than Apocryphos"
"Agreed" Road shuddered a little, landing next to me. "He gives me the creeps"
I snorted at that. No matter what we could say, Noahs were much more humans than we gave them credit for. Of course, forgetting their powers, kind-of immortality, their thirst for blood, sadistic tendencies and trying to plunge the world into chaos.
Hime, you're getting delirious.
Shut up.
"So, do I get a piggyback?" I asked, raising my arms to Tyki. "But no pervert move, or I'll rip off your balls"
"Should say that to Sheril" he huffed, pulling me onto his back nowadays.
I felt my eyelids drop as I was lifted from the ground, but fought against the sleep trying to overcome me.
It wasn't working.
"Rest, Onee-san" smiled Road. "While you still can"
"Yeah" I yawned, settling more comfortably on Mikk's back. "Rest… sounds good…"
Her childish giggle was the last thing I heard before slipping in darkness's embrace.
Okay, some might think that was a bad move on Ary's part, but seriously: she can't walk, fight or fly away. Trying any of these would have worsened her state, drive her past exhaustion or injured her beyond repair, seeing as Gabriel needs energy to heal her.
So yeah. Allen disapeared God-knows-where, and Aryane got "kidnapped" by the Noahs.
This marks the end of Hallow and now, the storyline will be my own. I won't follow the manga, seeing as it hasn't been updated for so long. but no worries, I've almost finished writting anyway -three chapters left to write- so you'll get many updates!
Question: The Noahs are obviously going to try to get their hand on Gabriel's memories. How do you think they'll do it?
Reviews!