Chapter 2
Sounds echoed around the room, reverberating off the walls, and knifing through Erik's head. A women was speaking over the PA, and students were pushing past him, trying to get out of the arena. He fought his way through, his head slowly clearing. He still couldn't make out the words, but he couldn't help but notice the red tint the arena was tinted in. He saw Ruby up ahead, and, gripping his forehead, made his way towards her.
She was staring straight at the centre of the arena, eyes fixed on something. Erik laid a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, you alright? I thought I heard you scream…" he stopped, surprised, as Ruby turned into him and buried her face in his shoulder. He hesitated, but slowly put his arms around her comfortingly. He looked to where she had been staring, and his eyes widened as he saw the torn, robotic body of Penny. "Oh my god…" he whispered to himself, and unconsciously held Ruby a little tighter.
(Switch)
The Griffins had been selfish. They'd allowed the other flying Grimm to go on ahead, staying slightly behind to spring their trap. They had been supremely confident that they would be able to kill the human with their tactics and prowess. But they never expected this.
Row walked through the room, brushing the dust of slain Grimm off his brown duster jacket. His dark red hair was coated in the stuff, but his pale blue eyes were alive with excitement. His body was sore, but his mind was alight with the pleasure of finally being in a battle again. He made his way to the biggest of the Griffins, obviously the alpha of the pack, and caressed its face. It was too weak to even raise its head. Row unsheathed a dagger, long and thin, translucent as a shard of glass. He admired it quickly, savouring the turquoise veins of smoke winding through the blade in a beautiful pattern. He thumbed the hilt, raising it in his fist above the Griffins head… and plunged deep within its brain.
The Griffin let out a blood curdling scream that made Row wince. It tried standing up, but its wounds were too severe. It stumbled, collapsing in front of Row, led by the firm grip on the dagger embedded in its skull. Row observed its eyes as they closed, watching them slowly open and shifting in hue. The burning orange of its hate filled eyes pulsed, gradually tuning the same shade of turquoise as the dagger. Its red markings did the same, burning intensely before settling down in a calm blue.
"Stand"
The one word uttered by Row trembled the Griffin. Through obvious pain, it stood, fighting the wounds that had almost killed it. "You don't have much strength left, but it should be enough" muttered Row, swinging up onto the neck of the Griffin. It wanted to growl in protest, but the control its new master had over it was absolute. "Come" Row commanded "follow the group. We're going to Beacon." And with a mighty beat of its wings, the blue Griffin obeyed.
(Switch)
Thump.
Pyrrha could feel her heartbeat. It was the only thing she could feel. Looking at the torn body of the girl in front of her.
Thump.
The look on her face… she couldn't get it out of her mind. The surprise… the shock. Pyrrha could do nothing but stare at her body.
Thump.
Was she a murderer? The… remains… in front of her were clearly robotic. Had she been a cyborg? Pyrrha had heard of robotic replacements for limbs, but for the whole body? Was her mind still salvageable? Or was she…
Smash.
"Pyrrha!"
(Switch)
Erik was rooted to the ground as the huge Nevermore smashed through the roof, showering Pyrrha in glass. She didn't move a muscle as it swept down with a demonic screech, it huge, ugly orange eyes fixed on her. Jaune screamed something, then launched himself towards her at a frightening pace. He snatched her just in time, as the Nevermore's razor sharp beak closed around the empty space left behind.
Erik gasped, and Ruby looked up at the scene unfolding in front of her. "We have to do something" Ruby sniffled, gradually pulling herself together, distracting herself with the urgency of the situation. "You're right" Erik said. "I think…" Ruby replied. "I think I have a plan."
(Switch)
The Griffin slowed, its eyes drooping. It's glide steeped, arcing towards the ground, until Row realised he was no longer flying. He was falling.
He had made it to the city, en route to the school, but now it looked as if his ride had failed him. He tightened his grip on the dagger, planning his escape from the wretched beast that was starting to disintegrate. He readied himself as he drew level with a building, then in the split second he did, he launched himself towards it, simultaneously pulling the dagger from the Griffins head. He grunted with exertion as he caught the edge of precipice. He hung for a moment, admiring the Griffin as it clung to life for a brief second, before hitting the ground and, finally, dissolving into smoke.
Row pulled himself up onto the building rolling onto his back, allowing his body to rest for a moment. He hadn't slept in about a day now and he could feel his fatigue building. He pulled himself up, not allowing his muscles to grow sore, before standing and surveying his surroundings. In front of him, three people were standing, talking. One seemed to be recording the city, and it was only now Row noticed the sheer destruction present before him.
Buildings had collapsed as wave after wave of Grimm had decimated the outer city. Row couldn't see any bodies, so hopefully it had been evacuated, but still… the damage would take months, if not years, to repair. People's homes were utterly destroyed, and beyond that, the carnage was still going on. Row regarded the trio in front of him again, this time a lot more wary. Whoever they were, they're blatant apathy to what was going on was… unnerving. Suddenly, one of the women, dressed in red, said something before walking away from them. Row ducked down behind some cover, but she didn't look his way. Instead, she walked to the edge of the building and… seemingly flew away, carried by some sort of impressive power.
Row's eyes hardened, reflecting the turmoil of his heart. He knew what she was, he'd sensed this type of power before. A Maiden. He ignored the other two, they were irrelevant. Instead, he followed the women in red. It was time he got some answers.
(Switch)
The Nevermore stood in front of Erik, screeching and thrashing. Even with all the hunters pinning it down, and all the damage it had sustained throughout the battle. "Quickly, take its head off!" Erik shouted to the two with the great swords. "We can't! " One shouted back, "Its moving too much, you have to hold it still!"
Erik sighed in exasperation, and ran up to the face of the Nevermore. He leapt into the air in front of it, avoiding its beak as it snapped shut where his head had been. Erik stabbed one of his daggers into its eye, planning to drag it to the ground and hold it there. But he underestimated the Grimm. It through him like a rag doll, screaming in rage and pain. "Hurry!" called a blue haired Hunter on its back "we can't hold it much longer." Erik landed painfully, the breath rushing out of his lungs. He gasped and grabbed his chest, coughing in agony. Suddenly, he felt a comforting hand on his shoulder. He looked up, and came face to face with his old friend Emmet.
Emmet smiled, before standing up and calmly walking to the beast as it thrashed and cried. He walked right up to it, and stared into its eyes, his own alight with a glint Erik hadn't seen before. The Nevermore lowered its head threateningly, its beak clicking in anticipation and hunger, drawing level with Emmet's gaze. Emmet reached out his hand and placed it on the Grimm's beak tentatively, whispering a single word to it… then strained his muscles, pushing the Grimm's head down into the ground. It squawked in surprise, but it had been completely immobilised by the pressure on its beak, a pressure so strong it felt cracks forming around Emmet's hand. The bird panicked, but it couldn't prevent the sweeping broadswords from shearing through its neck. Erik smiled. He could always count on Emmet when things seemed hopeless.
(Switch)
Row had quickly lost the women, but he hadn't let that stop him. He knew her path was leading her to the school ahead. He'd spent ages carefully traversing the streets, cursing every time he had to hide from a pack of Beowolves or an overhead Griffin. After what seemed like an hour, he reached the school, just as a red haired girl pushed a blonde boy into one of those handy lockers, and sent him flying off. She stayed a moment, then turned and walked into the school. Row followed, completely sure that she was here for the same reason he was, to kill the maiden. Row also knew with absolute certainty that he would be the one to interrogate and finally kill the maiden. Even if he had to kill that girl first.
(Switch)
"You look for Ruby, I'll meet with Blake!" said Yang, running off to find her friend. Erik turned to Emmet "Is the rest of EGLE here? " Emmet nodded in reply. "Go get them and follow Yang. I don't want her wondering around the city looking for a psycho killer alone." Emmet nodded, and ran off to collect Leanne and Grin.
(Switch)
Yang heard a scream. "huh?" she said, focusing on the building with the smashed glass. She jumped through the glass, and saw Adam standing over an injured and bloody Blake. "No… please, don't!" cried Blake, as Yang leapt towards Adam in anger. He couldn't help but smile. His sword flashed through the air, cutting through muscle, sinew and bone. Yang's wound wept aura as she collapsed in a heap by Blake. Blake screamed. She couldn't help it, or hold it back. Adam opened his mouth, probably to say something smart. But he didn't get the chance.
A throwing knife flew them the air, and Adam was forced to duck. He turned sharply to the source, regarding the three figures stood before him. "Well, that wasn't very nice was it?" said Grin, picking her nails with another knife. "Why don't you act like a gentleman for once in your miserable life and let these poor ladies go?" Adam smiled again, turned and swiped at Yang. "NO!" yelled Leanne, running towards him, but much too late. Blake leapt in front of Adam's blade, and it cut, cleanly, through her neck. Her eyes widened as her head tumbled through the air. Leanne screamed.
Then Blake's face faded, and her body along with it. Everyone stared, confused, as Yang's body faded into black too. Grin felt an arm on her shoulder and turned, "Thank you" said Blake, carrying Yang under her arm.
Grin couldn't see Adams eyes, and couldn't really read his expression. But she could feel the heat and anger rolling off of him in waves. He raised his sword and pointed it straight at Grin. "I'm going to give you three seconds to get out of my way. If you don't move…" Adam crouched slightly, falling into a battle pose. "Then I'll go through you."
Grin smiled, and looked at Leanne, then back at Emmet. They readied their weapons, Leanne slipping her shotgun into an axe, and Emmet drawing the sword and shield off his back. Grin spun one of her knives around her knuckles, letting them crackle with static. She gave Adam the grin that had given her her name. "Three" she said. And Adam charged.