Dirt & Grit
Chapter 9
I can't move.
All I can feel is the twitching of my toes and fingers as I push through the pain that feels like an elephant stomping on my back.
How did I get here? Why am I here? Where is here?
I smelled burning wood and cooked meat that smelt familiar like leather being tanned over an open flame. But where did I smell it before? I felt the pain dull slightly as I tried moving my arms. I found only resistance as they were wedged by my side, trapped by whatever pinned me down.
No! I can't be stuck! Not again!
The memory of putrid breath and monstrous strength putting its weight on my back danced through my mind as I tried to scream but couldn't as my throat felt dry and sore. The only noise that came out was a hacking cough and my increased breathing.
Calm down! Calm down! CALM DOWN!
I repeated in my head to stop panicking and try to think of a way out. It barely worked as I started to refocus on what I needed to do.
Get out of here, and to do that, I needed to see where I was.
I tried to open my eyes that fought me every second to prevent me from looking around at the mess I was in. I eventually managed to blink my eyes open and immediately wished I had kept them shut in sight of the destruction that I was witness to.
What...what the fuck happened?
What was once a luxurious manor was now rubble; bodies-no corpses of armoured men and women were littered around the grounds. Limbs, organs and faces were separated, destroyed and crushed from their owners. The fire spread out around the perimeter and near me as I could feel the heat singing my face making me uncomfortably hot as I tried wriggling my head away.
All I could feel was a sense of familiarity from the sight and a mild disgust from the senseless death. Deep in my mind, I was disturbed by my lack of disturbance of the carnage.
What happened here-
-Wait...
I felt like I was missing something...something important-
-No, someone important.
My eyes shot open.
NEO!
I searched the area as fast as possible from my position but couldn't make out any sign or shape of her around me. I started to hear the dull crackle of flame and voices murmuring.
My head felt like it would split in half from the noises drifting into my skull as I began making out...people? I tried pushing again to get the weight off of me so I could try and find Neo and get the fuck out of here.
"-earch the area again, somebody killed Rice before us, and I want to find out who."
Who's that?
The voice was unrecognisable, but its harsh tone and demeanour made me struggle even harder to escape the mess I was in.
Fuck. Come on, you stupid body! Move it already!
Grunting and groaning, I eventually felt something give way above me, as indicated by the bits of rubble dropping beside me. But I was tired and hurting, so I was outlasted by the wreckage above me, as indicated by my dropping back to the floor.
Fuck.
I tried to swear, but all I could do was cough out more dust as I hacked out blood flakes and dry vomit. I closed my eyes in response to the agony while waiting for it to end so I could try again. I gave one last heave and tried pushing with all my strength to get myself out.
The weight disappeared, and my back felt nothing but the air above me as I could finally breathe properly. I took in greedy gulps of air as I celebrated my freedom but then felt the hair on my neck start crawling as I felt something standing over me.
I had no time to find out as a rough hand clasped the back of my neck and hauled me up, choking me while I did nothing as my strength had completely left me.
"GHAK!" I cried as the hand tightened.
"Hey, Boss! I found something!" The deep voice called out, waving his other hand, which held a rifle tightly in his grip.
I tried to turn and get a good look at him, but my neck felt like lead, so it was a failure. I noticed movement before me and saw a tall figure striding through the flames. The black tactical armour he wore contrasted the fire around him, making him appear more menacing as he got closer, but what I noticed were the black bull mask and long red blade unsheathed in his hand, dripping with blood.
The hand on my neck tightened even further, and I gasped in pain as he approached until he stood a few feet away from me. I tried to swing my arm around to hit the fucker choking me in the fucking face, but it was pointless as I couldn't reach him.
"Cunt!" I gasped out while clawing at his hands.
"Drop him, Diego." The man in front of me commanded, which the other guy followed, immediately dropping me to the floor, which I hit hard, causing me to cry in pain as my knees buckled underneath my weight.
I had no time to nurse my wounds as the red blade rested underneath my chin, making me look up at the bull-man. I couldn't make out his eyes, but I could feel the venom coming from his gaze as he tilted his head.
"We do not have much time before the police arrive, so I'll make this short, brat," The blade tip pushed a little further into my neck, "Were you the one to kill Navin Rice?" He asked bluntly as I swallowed.
Navin Rice? Who the hell is Navin Rice? I don't know-
-Oh shit.
Memories from not long ago played through my head as the fight with the mayor was refreshed in my mind. My body winced as I remembered the wounds he had left on me and Neo-
"Neo!" I shouted before clutching my side in agony as it felt like my insides were torn up; I looked back up to the masked man who glared at me, "W-where's Neo? Tell me where-"
"Quiet!" The man interrupted before he retracted the blade from my neck and proceeded to boot me in the stomach, making me gasp and vomit in my mouth as I lay on the floor, clutching my abdomen.
"I don't know who this Neo is, but I'm going to assume it was your accomplice who helped you assassinate Rice," He crouched down as the other man – Diego – hauled me up by my arm, making me clench my teeth so as not to let out another scream. "I'm going to ask you one more question, and depending on how you answer, it may or may not save your life."
I glared at him as he stood back up.
"Did you kill Marilyn Rouge?"
I could only look at him in confusion, and he must have guessed that I had no idea what he was talking about as he nodded to the other man again, making him squeeze my arm and causing me to yell out.
"AH! FUCK I DON'T KNOW!"
"She was a Faunus woman who was to be married to Rice," I felt a sense of dread building in me as he described her, "She would have been pregnant with his child."
No.
"We found her with a bullet in the chest," He leaned into my face, "Ring any bells?"
No, I –
I watched as the door opened fully to reveal a beautiful woman holding a hand over her chest and the other clutching her stomach, holding a pile of pictures.
She looked lost as she stared at her blood-covered hand and then back at me.
"I…" I tried to find the words, but they escaped me as I replayed that scene repeatedly in my mind.
I…I wasn't trying to…
I couldn't move my arms, but it didn't matter; my whole body felt numb.
She was…trying to…
I looked back towards my target as his hands reached up, clutching at his throat as he coughed out blood. He fell to the floor, trying to reach out to me, tears streaming down his eyes.
I stared numbly at him as he tried clawing his way to me, trying to wheeze out any word he could before collapsing to the floor with a thump, blood pooling around his head and creating a crimson puddle.
He was…They were just…
I tried to think of an excuse as I thought of their glazed-over eyes gazing at me. Accusing me of what they thought I had done. I couldn't keep a straight head, and it felt like my ears would explode from the ringing.
They were in the way!
I didn't have a choice!
They were supposed to have had aura!
Oh god, I'm so sorry!
DAD, HELP ME!
I just want my Mummy…
Why did I come here?
She was going to have a baby….
IT'S ALL NEO'S FAULT! SHE DID THIS! SHE KILLED THEM!
Please…wake up already….
I KILLED THEM.
A baby's cry echoes in the dark of my mind calling out for its mother but finding no comfort.
MURDERER.
I felt a dull sensation, and my eyes drifted to the impact of my knees against the floor, where I felt the faint ache of pain.
BABY KILLER.
I saw a stranger wearing a bull mask raising a sword above me. Its red sheen glowed from the flames of the area.
Is he going to kill me? I guess that's okay….
I closed my eyes only to hear still the desperate cries of a baby calling out for its mother.
I don't think I want to be around anymore….
I waited for the blade to come and end the crying in my head.
I'm so tired…
*BANG*
My eyes shot open to see the swordsman swiping his blade upward away from me to protect himself from the noise. I looked to the floor to see a bullet sliced cleanly in half on the floor on either side of him. My eyes drifted upwards to see the source of the gunshot.
Matted and sweaty pink hair framed a bruised, bleeding face with only a single pink eye open and the other swollen shut. The rest of the girl's outfit was torn in different places revealing more cuts and injuries, but what stood out the most was the severe bruising around her throat which turned a purplish-yellow colour.
Recognition clicked, and standing before us was Neo, gasping for breath while holding a smoking pistol and clutching her side with a bloody hand.
My mind was a mess as I took her in.
Relief.
Neo! She's alive…thank fuck…
Panic.
She's hurt! Please don't die Please don't die Please don't die Please don't die Please don't die….
Anger.
SHE GOT ME INTO THIS FUCKING MESS. IF IT WEREN'T FOR HER, I WOULDN'T HAVE…I WOULDN'T HAVE…I WOULDN'T HAVE…
Guilt.
I didn't want to hurt them…please….I didn't mean it…please stop crying…
However, all I could settle on was a weak plea;
"Please…save me…" I pathetically whispered to her as she locked eyes with me. Her mouth moved, but no noise left as she tried to speak, only letting out small gasps and raspy breaths.
"Hmm, I assume you must be Neo, then?" The man in the bull mask questioned as he held his blade to the side. He looked over to the other man behind me, where he nodded, causing him to start walking around to flank Neo from the right, who switched her aim between them to keep them in her sight.
I could barely move as I slumped over to my side, where I caught sight of the other man wearing a metallic black dog mask and a machete in his other hand stained red and dripping with the guts of the slaughtered guards of the manor.
"…ah…ah…uh…" Neo gasped out noises as she tried replying to the masked man, who tilted his head as he stopped moving to examine her, which she responded to by pointing her gun at him more fiercely.
I wanted to tell Neo to run, but my mouth was numb, and I couldn't find the courage to speak up.
I just want to go home…
"What's the matter with you?... ah, I see," He flicked his blade out to the side before sheathing it as he circled her from the left, "You've had your larynx crushed." He explained, as her eyes widened as her other hand left her waist to touch her injured throat reflexively.
"I saw many soldiers have this happen to them from shrapnel wounds," His shoulders relaxed as the other man stopped moving, "My sympathies, human, you'll probably never speak again for the rest of your life." My eyes widened as I looked at Neo's eyes starting to well up before turning into a scowl as she put the gun directly at him getting ready to pull the trigger.
My instincts screamed at me as I tried crawling over to Neo to try and get her away from this maniac.
Run Neo…Run!
He tensed again as he held the grip of the sheath blade while crouching, "But for what it's worth, it won't be your problem for long." He finished as time slowed down while he drew his blade.
"RUUUUUN!" I screamed as loud as I could for Neo to hear; she glanced at me with fear written all over her face as she began firing off all the rounds in her pistol as the swordsman sped towards her, a trail of crimson aura following him.
The bullets sailed past as he got ever closer, moving so fast that I could barely keep up as I tried to stand up to do anything to stop him.
My knees betrayed me as they buckled under my weight, making me smash my chin onto the seared ground.
I could only watch helplessly as he got closer, as her mouth opened in a soundless scream while peddling backwards.
"NEEEEEOOOOOOO!"
PLEASE, NOT AGAIN.
*CLANG*
A tall figure appeared, blocking the red blade of the bull-man while wielding a familiar longsword; the new figure disconnected itself from the clash making the bull-man leap backwards.
I wiped the dirt out of my eyes to witness a familiar man standing there with a scowl and a longsword clenched in his hands.
"M-Myron…" I whispered, feeling like I would start crying at the sight of him.
We-we're saved…
I saw Neo collapse to her knees as she began hyperventilating at the sight of him while swallowing as hard as possible to try and control herself. Myron did not say a thing, however, as he stood in front of Neo, guarding her against the swordsman.
The bull-man stood back up to his full height while sheathing his blade again, gripping the hilt, ready to strike again. I looked to the right; the man in the dog mask stopped moving and tensed up his body as well getting ready to attack Myron as well.
Myron only responded with a glare and a savage grin as he brought his longsword into a low guard, pointing towards the bull-man who mirrored the gesture by bringing his sword into the same position.
Silence for but a moment before the bull-man spoke.
"…Well now, this is a surprise," He started as he turned his head towards his teammate to nod for him to move, making the dog-man continue prowling to Myron's right side. Myron did not acknowledge it as he continued focusing on the bull-man, "I didn't realise Gypsys were involved in this at all, especially a man such as yourself…."
"…Myron 'Black Hand' Aldis."
Black Hand?
I looked over to Myron, where I noticed he clenched his sword harder at the name, and his face looked even more savage as his eyes glowed from the flames around us.
He looked truly monstrous.
"Well, now, that's a name I haven't heard in a while and a voice I haven't heard from in some time," Myron spat off to the side as he stepped slightly towards the right, "Adam Taurus."
The Bull-man – Adam – began chuckling as he swapped his guard for a high stance above his head and took a step further towards Myron, who in response swapped feet stance.
"Ah, you haven't forgotten me after our last spar, my Rival? You honour me." Adam replied as he continued watching Myron.
"Hard to forget a psycho stalker like you, so you're welcome, I guess," Myron stated as they stood still, watching each other for the first move.
I could hear the faint sounds of sirens.
"Stalker? Why? Because I wouldn't let you escape from my sight?"
"You followed me across Remnant for two weeks because I killed a couple of you Black Claw nutcases." Myron explained, "I've had ex-girlfriends less clingy than you."
"Blood must be repaid with blood Myron; I think this is something you know well."
"Yeah? What's that gotta do with killing two kids, then?"
I watched the Dog-man bounce on the balls of his feet as he watched Myron while twirling his machete. The bloodlust was unbearable as I watched on, and I looked over to Neo, who had managed to sort herself out and began rummaging through a nearby dead body for any ammo.
"Boss, we need to leave." The dog-man stated as he looked around him, "We can meet her later, but we need to – "
"Quiet, Diego," Adam cut back in, pointing his blade at Diego. "Do not interrupt me again if you want to keep your tongue."
Diego quieted down but still kept hopping up and down in nervousness.
"In answer to your question Myron, well…I've already answered it," He crouched slightly, "Blood must be repaid with blood."
"Ah, so these two accidentally killed someone you were mates with, then?" Myron asked as he also lowered his body slightly, "You know that happens, right? It's all just part of the business."
Adam snarled, "More than that! They murdered her! And I will have this debt repaid."
I could barely move my legs, and I prayed that I wasn't crippled so that I could get to help Myron if I could.
Come on…Come on….COME ON, MOVE!
"So, who was she then? Sister? Ex-girlfriend? Wife? Come on, man, don't leave me in suspense here," Myron smirked even harder as the ground slightly cracked beneath him, "Why're you having a bitch fit about this?"
Adam sneered, "She called herself Marilyn Rogue, the recently engaged Faunus to Rice, that bastard who didn't even know what he had," He began talking to himself as he clenched his fist, "He stole her from us – from me! She was supposed to have come back with me!" He pounded his chest, "ME!"
"What the fuck are you talking about, you nutcase? What the fuck has Marilyn Rogue got to do with this?" Myron interjected with a lost look, "Wasn't she just some trophy wife?"
I tried pushing myself up again as I regained sensation in my legs, allowing me to kneel on the ground while blood dripped from my head onto the ground and my knuckles.
"Gah…fuck…" I muttered while trying as hard as I could to push myself up while keeping my eye on the interaction that was about to blow up.
"Her name was Aonani Belladonna, not fucking Marilyn Rogue!" Adam shouted as he sheathed his blade and began tensing up, "And if I can't get my pound of flesh from them," He pointed towards Neo, "Then I will get it from you."
"Then come and get it, you fucking Cocoșul." Myron spat.
At first, nothing happened as they continued staring at each other.
The distant sirens slowly became louder.
And then the ground exploded beneath Myron's feet while I felt the after wind from Adam's charge as they clashed in the middle, trying to overpower the other with their blades. I watched as Diego charged in from the side to blindside Myron raising his machete above his head a blue Aura coating his body to enhance his strike.
"MYRON, WATCH OUT!" I shouted before coughing violently as I began wiping the tears from my eyes.
Myron glanced behind him and disengaged his blade from Adam before ducking under his next swing and responding by booting him in the stomach. Adam blocked the kick with the flat of his blade but still went skidding back while trying to keep his balance. Myron then stepped backwards, narrowly dodging Deigo's attack and swung his blade down on Deigo's back, slamming him into the ground and shattering his Aura.
"GAH!" Diego gasped before he rolled out of the way to avoid Myron's boot smashing into the ground where his skull was.
He didn't move fast enough as Myron then booted Deigo in the stomach in one motion from the stomp, causing him to fly towards Adam, who had already begun sprinting towards Myron getting ready to quickdraw his blade. Adam cleared Deigo's body which smashed into a busted wall where he groaned and rolled onto his front while trying to pick himself up.
I watched as Adam drew his sword faster than I had ever seen. Still, Myron had already gotten his own sword up to defend himself as they crossed blades, creating sparks between them as they continued cutting and slashing at each other, trying to end their fight in one blow.
I could watch in awe at the fight and Myron's skill; even someone like me could tell that Adam was no pushover from the way he moved, but Myron…Myron was on a whole other level than me. My fists clenched at the thought, but I shook my head and looked towards Neo, huddled in a corner, clutching her throat while opening her mouth to say something.
I crawled and stumbled over to her while listening to metal clashing against each other and the grunts and hisses they let out. I couldn't see what was happening, but I noticed movement from the corner of my eye to see Diego standing up from his collapsed position and getting ready to rejoin the fray. I turned to warn Myron but stopped short as Deigo had already made his move, trying to slice Myron with his machete as Adam stuck his hand out to stop him.
"DIEGO! GET AWAY-" He started, but it was too late; Myron spun away from Adam and with his free arm turning a metallic black, with one smooth movement, he thrust his hand towards Diego's chest, easily piercing the armour and flesh beneath and bursting out through the other side in a show of viscera and spinal bones.
Diego made no noise as he grasped at the offending appendage smearing blood over it, before trying to reach for Myron limply. Myron twisted his hand vertically, and with an Aura-charged limb, he yanked upwards, completely splitting Diego in half as he collapsed to the floor; organs and bones scattered around the now split torso with a pool of blood staining the boots of those standing nearby.
I watched as the corpse twitched for a moment before falling completely still. I glanced over to Neo to see her smiling savagely at the sight of the dead man, making me cringe at her reaction, which she seemed to notice as the smile disappeared from her face when she noticed me.
Who is this?
"…Diego, you fool." I heard Adam's voice cut in as he twirled his blade, I couldn't see his face due to his mask, but he sounded…sad at Diego's death as he got back into his fighting stance, "You are just as vicious as when we last met Aldis. I always thought the stories of the gypsys being such skilled killers were just that. Stories."
He got crouched low again as his red aura swirled around him, looking as though it was ready to lash out at the nearest target.
"I will not underestimate you again, Blackhand. I can promise you that." He stated as he unsheathed his blade in a slashing motion towards Myron, releasing a wave of red crescent energy to cut him in half. Myron raised his black hand to create a barrier of Aura in front of him, which shattered immediately, creating a small implosion of colour to block his sight. Adam burst through the small cloud to swing down on Myron's skull, which he blocked with his black metal arm and swung his other arm with the sword to cut down Adam.
Adam kicked the sword and used it as a platform to launch from as he performed a bicycle kick to Myron's chin, causing him to grunt as he stumbled backwards but still managed to bring his longsword up to parry away Adams's red blade coming to his throat.
"Is that all Taurus? Come on! Show me that you won't die like an animal like your pal there!" Myron snarled with a bloodthirsty smile as Adam only growled and increased the intensity of his attacks, making it so that I could see a blur of steel clash against each making a horrible screeching sound with each connection.
I was so enthralled by the fight that I jumped when I felt something bump into me. I looked over to see Neo slumping against me as her skin became paler, and her breath was shallower as she gasped for air.
My heart clenched as I reached out to her, "Neo?"
She could only flick her eyes up at me before clenching them shut as hard as she could as a shimmer of pink began surrounding her, signalling that her aura was recharging.
I guess she's just resting.
The sirens and shouting of distant voices were becoming louder, and I could feel my hands becoming clammier at the thought of being caught by the police.
I killed people.
I threw a hand over my mouth as I tried to hold the vomit in my mouth as the image of the two people I killed flashed in my mind again. I swallowed as much as I could and tried to ignore the burning, stinging sensation in my mouth.
Something cold gripped my hand, and I saw a small pale hand gripping my other hand, squeezing it in reassurance. I looked up to see the owner looking at me in sympathy, with tears shining in her eyes.
It should have made me happy to see her showing care for my well-being, but all I could feel was…
…Disgusted.
It's her fault this happened…
My hand reflexively yanked away from her, and I scooted a bit away from her and immediately regretted it as her face fell, and she turned away from me to hide her expression. I reached out to her to apologise and-
"GRAAAH!"
I spun my body to see Adam slumped against a burned wall with his sword in his sheath and looking up at Myron, who had his longsword at his throat. Taking in their appearance further, I saw Myron was covered in cuts and bruises while Adam's black armour had been torn and smashed in different sections revealing the bleeding flesh of the man beneath.
But what stood out was his bull mask now shattered off on one side of his face revealing red and black spiky hair, a horn and a cold icy blue eye that glared with malice fully directed towards Myron. It was finally over.
He-he won!
I could feel the weight on my shoulders lift as Myron stood victorious over him. It was finally over! We could finally get out of here! Now Myron just needed to kill him too, and then-
I paused.
Why do I want him dead? He didn't do anything wrong to us…We wronged him.
I looked at Myron and thought only moments ago of the brutal way that he killed Diego earlier. It was…too brutal for what was called for.
I watched Adam breathing heavily and felt my stomach twist into knots as I wanted to say something, anything, to get Myron to spare his life.
My mouth refused to open.
"Well, *cough* it seems your skills have rusted a bit since we last fought, Myron. By now, you would have killed me with only a few scratches on you." Adam drawled out as he shuffled his back up the wall to get more comfortable.
Myron spat out a glob of thick blood to the side as he focused on Adam.
"Nah, I didn't get rusty; you just got better. That's the problem with talented guys; the sky is the limit with you fuckers," Myron raised his blade behind in preparation for a swing, "It's better if I get rid of you guys now than you be a problem later. Thankfully it was just you two."
"Heh." Adam chuckled under his breath.
Myron cocked his head, and I also didn't understand what was so funny about losing your life.
Has he lost it?
"You wanna share the joke, or you gonna leave me wondering what it was for the rest of my life?" Myron asked, still getting ready to swing.
Adam looked up with a savage grin, "Who said it was just us two?"
Huh?
A loud bang echoed behind Myron, where I spun my head to see a Faunus woman standing atop a pile of smashed-up rubble, holding a smoking rifle aimed towards Myron. I numbly followed the trail back to Myron to witness a gaping hole in his lower left abdomen the size of my fist. Myron gingerly touched it and examined the blood before dropping his hand back down.
He grinned as blood dribbled out of his mouth.
"Well…shit."
There was no time to process what had happened as Adam began to move; his hair and body began to glow with dark red lines as he began to unsheathe his blade.
"MYRON!" His name ripped out of my throat before I even saw what happened as Myron pivoted back around to face Adam to try and block his next attack. But he was too slow.
Myron was too slow on the draw as a thundering wave of red crescent energy shot from Adams's blade, going straight for Myron. The light of the attack was blinding and caused me to shut my eyes momentarily. The sight that awaited me made me wish I had kept my eyes shut as I heard a dull thud land before me.
My vision became blurry as the bloody lump that landed in front of me was an arm. A heavily tattooed arm that had just been separated from a shoulder. My throat ran dry as I stared at it, trying to make it disappear.
A-Autumn?
Coughing made me look up to see Myron kneeling with both knees on the ground, hacking up blood as he looked over to where his arm was before looking back up at me.
I wanted something else in his eyes; anger, disgust, hate, anything but…the same kind look he had when we first met.
"Very good, very good now copy my swings slowly." I got ready to copy him, "And when I mean slowly, I mean to make each movement as methodical as possible." He told me as I looked at him in confusion.
"What does methodical mean?" I asked.
He thought, "It means to follow the exact technique I showed you." He explained gently, "Now come, follow what I do."
For the next ten minutes, he continued showing me the beginnings of swordplay, including basic guard, attacks and counters.
Following his instructions, I could feel my sword swings and movement become less tense. I became less tired as I swung and found myself getting excited as I felt like I was making progress somewhere.
I turned to look up at him, seeing him with a smile, "Feels good, yes?" He asked as he patted me on the back. "Keep at it, brat. You'll be a killing machine in no time." He said, walking away.
"Names Myron, boy! I'll see you around camp." He called back.
I watched him go until he was nearly gone.
"…Thank you!" I shouted at him.
He waved his hand back.
That smile wouldn't leave his face as Adam loomed over him like a reaper; the savage grin went from his face to something more solemn.
"…Sorry about this," Adam said quietly, "This isn't how I wanted to win, but at the moment, I didn't have a choice."
Myron waved him off with his other arm as he coughed up more blood, "Ah, don't worry 'bout it; I woulda done the same, honestly." He replied in a wheezy voice.
Adam huffed in amusement.
M-Myron…
I tried to reach for him, tried to stand up on my two feet to reach, but once again buckled under my injuries. He only shook his head at me.
Please don't take him…
"Hey, kiddo's let me give you some-some *cough* Advice before I kick it," Myron clutched his hand over his open wound as his skin turned paler, "This is some prime wisdom I'm gonna drop so-so listen carefully…."
"Myron, stop talking! Let's just leave already-" I started before he raised his hand at me and let out the brightest grin he ever had.
"Hey, Grit, let's go fishing later! Pretty sure I saw this huge salmon swimming about!" Myron called as I sat around the fire with Neo and Rozalia.
"Huh? Really? How big was it?" I asked as he stood right in front of me.
"Have a guess." He said with a cocked eyebrow and a cheeky smile.
I started widening my arms.
He shook his head.
I widened them further.
He shook his head again,
I was in disbelief as I went even further.
He shook his head again.
I pointed a finger at him, "You liar!" I accused.
He shrugged his shoulders and pulled me into a headlock before dragging me with him.
"Me? A liar? How dare you! I'll show you," He pointed with his other free hand towards the lake, "Onward, my stupid fishing bait!" He shouted as Neo cheered and Rozalia laughed.
I grinned as he dragged me along before I realised what he had said.
"Bait?!"
"Țineți mereu capul sus, nu vă veți găsi răspunsul rostogolindu-vă pe pământ."
He stated as his face betrayed nothing but a kind smile as we made eye contact before he turned back towards Adam, who raised his sword in a piercing stance.
NO, NO, NO NONONONONONONONONO
"Hey, Adam *cough* *cough*, you mind letting these kids go after you're done? As you said, you got your blood from me." He asked as Adam immediately nodded.
"Of course."
"Thanks."
"Myron, please," I begged as I crawled towards him, trying to stop it as I tasted salt on my lips, "Please, PLEASE don't kill him; I'm begging you!"I begged Adam as they both ignored me.
Myron looked up towards the night sky, blood pouring down his mouth. Adam's blade went further back in preparation.
"STOP IT!"
"Sorry, Rozie," Myron whispered to the wind.
"NOOOOO!"
Helplessly I watched as Myron's life was snuffed away in an instant through the blade piercing into his heart; he let out a final gasp before slumping forward as the blade was retracted.
Gone.
Gone.
Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone.
Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone.
GONE GONE GONE GONE GONE GONE GONE GONE GONE GONE GONE GONE GONE GONE GONE
GONE!
I reached out towards him, unbelieving of the reality that was happening. It couldn't be happening.
Why Myron? Why him? Why not me?
Why wasn't it me?
He was so far away, and I couldn't reach him.
Why can't I reach him?
"Should I kill these two brats now that the human is gone?" A muffled woman said.
"No." A deep voice replied.
"But Adam they- "
"I won't spit on his honour more than this; we are leaving now." The voice was fading, "Grab Aonani and let's go; the wardens will be here soon."
Go? Go where?
"…as you wish, Adam."
I looked up to see the murderer trying to leave.
He can't leave.
The ringing began.
He won't.
It got louder.
WE WON'T LET HIM!
It was deafening, and the only way to get it to stop was to silence the source. I was already off my feet and leaping towards the source, ready to rip his fucking horns off!
My hand's were so close to its throat, but I began choking as my breath was snatched away from me. I glared into icy eyes that stared right back as my back hit something solid.
The ringing became dimmer.
Again.
It was quieter now.
And again.
Silence.
And again, until I nearly started blacking out as my brain felt like it would spill out of my ears. I tried clawing the arm holding me down and tried to scream, but my vision began to darken. The pressure disappeared as I gasped for breath before a hand clamped around my mouth, preventing me from speaking.
Taurus hovered above me as he leaned into my face getting as close as possible as he whispered.
"The only reason I don't gut you two is because of his sacrifice," He pointed next to him, but I refused to look. He shook my head as he forced my attention to him, "Do not spit on his honour. Otherwise, you will shame him." He let go of my head, and the surrounding sounds returned to focus, with the once-distant sirens becoming even louder.
My eyes rolled on their own as I tried to refocus my attention on where I was. My head lolled to the side, where I saw Myron's corpse face down, looking towards me.
With that same smile.
I choked as I crawled over to him on my belly. I didn't want him to be gone; he shouldn't have died.
It wasn't supposed to be this way.
"A warning before I go," Taurus's voice cut in, and I numbly turned to him, "If you survive this night, know this; I will kill you next time. Keep that in mind."
I blinked, and they disappeared as the sirens became louder.
…I wish you would just do it now.
I reached out to touch Myron. He was still warm to the touch and looked as though he was just asleep.
I shook him.
"H-hey Myron…you can wake up now…he's gone, you saved us." I shook him again, "Come on, Myron, stop messing around! Let's go already…." I begged.
He didn't move.
I tried swallowing the lump in my throat and fighting the pressure behind my eyes, but it was too late.
He was gone.
"I'm so sorry, Myron…I didn't mean for this to happen; please come back," I gasped for air while burying myself into his back, "Don't leave me!"
I felt a presence fill the space next to me. Looking to my left was Neo soundlessly crying as she tried gasping out words she couldn't say.
Neo…
She did this…
Neo.
THIS IS HER FAULT.
NEO.
SHE KILLED MYRON!
NEO!
I was already above her, my hands wrapped around her throat as I began choking her. It was her fault this all happened! All of it!
"YOU DID THIS! IF I JUST DIDN'T LISTEN TO YOU!" I squeezed harder as she tried slapping me away as the tears slipped down her face, "NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED!"
"IF IT WEREN'T FOR YOU, I WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE A MURDERER! IF IT WASN'T FOR, I WOULD HAVE- I WOULD HAVE," I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to fight off the sound of the crying baby.
She stopped fighting and slowly became limper.
PUNISH HER.
"IF IT WEREN'T FOR YOU, MYRON WOULD STILL BE ALIVE!" I screamed in her face as she gasped for any breath she could.
I stared into her dulling pink eyes.
"I had nothing until I came here," She leaned back from my hair, "Now I have so many people I care about that I would consider my family; Rozalia is like my mum, Myron is like my uncle, Amon is a like a dad to me and..." She squeezed me tighter.
"...I care about you." She whispered, and I froze.
"And the thought of losing any of them...well, it hurts," She loosened her grip on my back and cupped my face to look at her, her pink eyes shining in the dark, "Seeing you upset like this breaks my heart, I don't want you to cry Grit."
"I want you to be happy for yourself; I want you to be comfortable around here - around me."
She leaned down to kiss my forehead, and it felt like a searing mark, and I subconsciously held her tighter.
"I know it can't replace what you lost, but..." She yawned slightly, "...try and give it a go around here."
I couldn't give her an answer.
I felt so...tired now.
"Hey, Neo?"
"Yeah?"
"Can you stay here tonight? Please?" I mumbled.
"...Of course I can." She replied, holding me tighter in the dark.
I choked back a sob while I tried to fight back against the memories.
"You stupid boy!" She shouted while pushing me, "I wasn't crying because he died!" She choked back a sob as she hugged me.
"I was crying because I thought that could have been you!" She said as she cried into my chest.
Me? Why would she care if...
I only looked down, confused at her, "Why would you care if it was me?" I asked, not understanding how I was making her cry like this. "I hurt you, didn't I?"
She shook her head and looked up at me, "I don't care about that; I just wanted you to come with me to be safe, and-and-and when you ran off to go fight, I was-" She took a shuddering breath. "-So scared that you had just run off to kill yourself for no reason!" She finished in a low whisper as she hugged me harder.
She kept crying into my chest as I sat there dumbfounded at what she told me. I felt like I was going to be sick, and it was getting hotter in the room.
I tried to move, but she held me tighter, "Promise me you won't do that again! That you won't leave me behind like that again!" She started raising her voice.
I didn't know what to say, "I-I-I-." I couldn't find the words.
She shook me, "PROMISE ME!" She yelled as she moved her hands up to my face.
My grip weakened as she began greedily sucking in air while I leaned back, biting my lip as hard as possible.
I…I…I…
She came right up to my arm, gingerly touching and poking it before a smile was slapped on her face.
"So, you do want this to be your family, then?" She beamed.
I shook my head, "No, I don't." She looked confused as she switched her gaze back and forth from the tattoo to me.
I sighed, "No, this is your family, Neo." I moved my tongue around my mouth, trying to find the right words. "This place -These people- are important to you, and you, Myron, and Rozalia are important to me, so…" I looked straight into her eyes, "…It's important to me too." I finished waiting for her reaction.
She said nothing for ten seconds before pulling me into a gentle hug and whispered into my chest: "Thank you, Grit…" she snuggled deeper into my chest before letting go.
My face felt incredibly hot as I shifted onto my back leg, "No problem, and I'm sorry for earlier. I didn't mean it."
She waved her hand, "Ah, it's all right, water under the bridge, am I right?"
I let go of her throat as she scurried away from me wide-eyed while trying to say something I couldn't understand through her gasps. We both stood up at the same time and stared into each other's eyes.
I love her so much.
I HATE HER!
I don't blame you at all…
THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!
I ground my knuckles into my forehead as I tried to fight the voices from battling it out. I didn't know which one of them would win.
Hate or love.
I slowly looked up at Neo, feeling filled with venom at the sight of her as she looked back at me, fear filling her expression.
"…leave," I whispered as she recoiled as though struck, "Leave and never come back."
Stay with me.
"I don't ever want to see you again!" I picked up a charred book, "You ruined everything! You killed him!" I screamed at her as she stumbled back.
I can't live without you.
"Do you hear me?! I said LEAVE!" I threw the book at her, hitting her straight in the chest as her face fell; she looked down at the book before looking back at me.
She stepped towards me, and I stepped back.
"I said, LEAVE! If I ever see you again, I'll kill you! Just like the rest of them!"
I love you so much.
I couldn't breathe as she reached a hand towards Myron's body as tears slipped down her face before she stopped and turned around.
Don't go.
I scowled at her as she looked at me one last time before disappearing out of the wreckage and into the night of the city.
I collapsed to my knees, losing all my strength to say that to her.
She's gone.
I dry heaved onto the ground, and I wanted to chase Neo into the dark and tell her to come back. Tell her I didn't mean any of it; tell her that I love her so much.
But another part of me recoiled and hissed at the thought of it. My head felt like it was going to split from all these thoughts.
What do I do now?
Myron's Dead?
Where's Neo?
I DIDN'T MEAN ANY OF IT!
I HOPE SHE DIES!
I'm so sorry, Myron…
WE'RE WEAK! PATHETIC! YOU HAD IT ALL TAKEN AGAIN!
We have nothing…it's all over.
I WANT TO GO HOME.
"Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up, SHUT UP, SHUT UP!" I punched the floor as hard as I could to get these fucking voices just to be quiet!
"SHUT THE FUCK UP!"
My only reward was darkness again as I screamed into the void.
I awoke at the bottom of a hill; the soft grass tickled my fingers and nose while the smell of flowers brought me back into focus.
"W-where am I?"
I looked around to see nothing but the void dominating the sky. Inky darkness blotted out all light, but the green hill still kept its shiny colour.
"It's about time you woke up, son." A distorted voice spoke from above me.
I looked up to a dark armoured figure standing atop the hill holding something in his arms. His glowing silver eyes glared at me from the top as I stood there paralysed.
"D-dad?" I whispered, "What are you doing up there? Hang on! I'm coming to you!"
I began climbing up the hill but couldn't find a good grip as it became steeper and slicker the closer I got. The peak seemed to be getting further and further away from me as I climbed.
"I can't get a good grip! Help me, dad!" I desperately shouted up to him as he stared down back at me.
"No wonder you can't, not with all that blood, at least."
"Huh?" I saw the green hill transformed by the slick red blood pouring down the peak, "AHHH!" I screamed as I lost my footing and slipped backwards down.
"You think you can overcome this with that much blood on your hands? What a joke."
Bloody hands grasped from the bottom of the hill, trying to pull me back into the void.
I gasped before trying again but failed as I continued slipping and falling.
"Please, dad! Help me get to you!" I begged as he shrugged.
I looked behind me to see Autumn and Mum reaching out to embrace me. I tried climbing faster, but the hill got even larger.
"Sure." I sighed in relief, "Maybe this will help." He tossed something from his hands as it rolled down the hill.
My heart froze as the cries of a baby followed it down, getting louder until it stopped in front of me. The pale corpse of a baby opened its eyeless sockets and began screaming at me.
"GAH!" I shouted as I fell back into the grasping hands of the murdered, "NO! LET GO OF ME! DAD, HELP ME PLEASE!" I screamed at him as he still stood there.
"You think you can stand as tall as me? Don't make me laugh, Grit," He turned around to walk away, "You are too weak to even stand on your feet. Pathetic child."
Fingers clambered into my mouth as the faces of Aonani and the guard pushed their fingers into my eyes and ears scooping out whatever they could as I screamed.
I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY
They couldn't hear me as Aonani pulled into my stomach, wrenching out my guts as the hands pulled me deep into the bloody lake.
'I'm so sorry….'
"GAAAAHHHHHH!" I shot up immediately, screaming before calming down as I tried taking in where I was. The smell of pine wood and smoke filled my nostrils, along with the damp smell of grass from recent rain. I noticed that I was covered in bandages on every inch of my body, and that moving felt like someone stabbing a thousand needles into my skin.
Am I…back at camp?
"Finally awake, huh?" A deep voice said to my left as I turned to see the culprit, as I winced from the pain.
Amon sat there in a chair, smoking a cigarette as he usually did while he waited for me to say something. I didn't understand what had happened for me to end up here back at the camp. Was it the same as the last time I had to be rescued?
However, that wasn't something I cared about as a new feeling emerged in my stomach. Anger.
"...Where were you?" I muttered as he leaned forward a bit.
"What's that?" He asked.
"I said where were you!?" I shouted before clutching my ribs as a searing pain shot through them.
"I think the better question is," He leaned completely in my face, "Where were you?"
I couldn't respond as the pain was too intense even to speak.
"I remember telling you two: "I'll meet you back near the alleyway where I first reappeared." Now does that sound like I'm the asshole? Or am I just not getting it."
I looked away in shame as I could not refute his point. He tapped the ash of the cigarette onto the ground of the caravan before leaning back and taking another pull. An awkward silence dominated the room, and I didn't know what to say as he sat there waiting for me to speak.
"Where's Neo?" He asked, breaking the silence.
I shrugged, "...Gone." I replied lamely.
"Gone? Gone where?"
I shrugged again.
"Wow, you're a real encyclopedia, you know that, right?"
I didn't move.
"...Anyway, do you mind telling me the full story of what the fuck happened and how it ended up with Myron dead and Neo missing?"
I sniffled a bit as I remembered what had happened and tried to choke back any more sobs in front of Amon. I wiped my eyes as I tried to find the words to describe what had happened.
I saw something from the corner of my eye being offered to me. I saw Amon offering me a cigarette from his pack, with one sticking out as an open invitation. The sadness subsided but didn't disappear as I stared confusedly at the cigarette and back to Amon, who shrugged.
"Take it; it'll help cool you down." He insisted, and I took one out of the packet before putting it in my mouth. I looked around for a lighter, which he provided, flipping it open from its weather-beaten metal case to produce a flame.
"Don't suck in too much; only give it a second or two and breath in with your lungs." I followed his instructions feeling the smoke wafting down my throat before I began slightly coughing it back up, holding it away from me.
"Heh, it's the first time that always gets you," Amon said as he watched me switch between coughing and clutching my ribs in pain or sometimes both.
"You know your old man was the one who got me into this shit? Started when I was eighteen when I met him and haven't stopped since." He took another pull from his cigarette before exhaling in a cloud of smoke, "Bastard sure did pull a fast one on me."
It tasted disgusting, but at the same time, I felt myself slowly becoming more comfortable with it.
Is this why they do it?
"...The reason I couldn't make it there in time was that someone I used to know held me up for a while," I watched as he clenched his free hand into a fist, as his knuckles turned white.
"Who?" I asked.
"Just some old parasite that doesn't know when to die." He growled before shaking his head to calm down. He looked back over at me.
"So," Amon began, "You ready to tell me now?"
I nodded and began retelling what happened from when he had left us to the end of that fateful night as Amon listened quietly. When I finished, he said nothing but stood up and massaged his forehead.
"...Goddamit, Myron," He whispered, and I swear I saw him wiping his eyes before he turned back around to me with the same neutral look on his face.
"...So what now?" I asked, afraid of the answer, as he looked up to the ceiling before looking back at me.
"Well, now, you've gotta rest up, and then I'll let everyone know the plan. We've got to have Myron's funeral soon and then pack up camp to get the fuck away from Vale as fast as possible." He dusted off his shirt sleeves and dropped his pack of cigarettes on the bed, along with a spare lighter.
"You keep that," He pointed at them, "It's gonna help you get through the next few days." He began walking away, and I just couldn't let it end like that.
"Wait!" I called out as he stopped to face me with a raised eyebrow.
"Do you hate me? For what happened to-" I swallowed the lump in my throat, "-For what happened to Myron?" I asked in a quiet voice.
He sighed and shook his head.
"Of course I don't, Grit." He replied, and I could be taken aback by that.
"B-but why?"
He looked away and back to the door, his hand hovering over the handle.
"For people like us, Grit, going out that way - to die protecting what you love," I swear I could see his shoulders depress, "That's like a dream come true."
He opened the door before turning around one more time with a smile, "Get some sleep, brat. You're gonna need it."
The door closed, and the room became darker, with the smell of cigarettes keeping me company along with my thoughts.
I wanted to think about what Amon said, but all I could hear were Myron's final words to me;
"Țineți mereu capul sus, nu vă veți găsi răspunsul rostogolindu-vă pe pământ?" I whispered to myself as I took another pull of my cigarette before exhaling the smoke as it wafted into the air.
"...How can I find the answer if I don't know the question?"
Myron...Neo...
My head dropped into my hands as I began to weep and taste my salty tears.
"...I'm sorry...Please come back..."
Only soft cries replied to my question.
BREAKING NEWS
THE MAYOR OF VALE ASSASSINATED
MANOR DESTROYED
GYPSY & FANG ALLIANCE?
Late last night Mayor Navin Rice and his fiance Marilyn Rogue was assassinated after a heinous plot occurred, resulting in the deaths of them and many of the security personnel that was hired to protect them. Police are still searching through the wreckage, but sources indicate that Rice's autopsy report was that he was shot to death in his own office by assassins before having his home destroyed by a bomb. Bodies were found at the crime scene belonging to notorious gypsy Myron 'Blackhand' Aldis, a deserter from the Valian Military, after having slaughtered unarmed civilians in a clandestine military operation in southern Vacuo. Also found on the site was Diego Sand, a Dog faunus who belonged to the White Fang as a senior member before being excommunicated.
Reports suggest that Diego was a member of the 'Black Claw' a secret splinter group from the White Fang that deals in assassinations and acts of terrorism in the name of Faunus equality. Multiple questions have risen because; 'Are the white fang allying with the Gypys to take over the kingdom?' 'How did they even get past the gate?' and 'Why did it take so long for the police to arrive at the scene?' The council are currently refusing to give any answers for the moment due to the ongoing investigation but has promised 'swift and brutal justice'. The 41st Vtyal festival has been cancelled due to these events resulting in an uproar from many businesses, domestic and foreign.
Rumours have reported that the Wardens have begun mobilising to track down the nearby Gypsy camps and exterminate them for good. We reached out for comment for the Warden Commander of Vale but received no comment.
This is Lisa Lavender reporting for VLN; stay safe out there, people.
Translations:
Cocoșul = Cocksucker
Țineți mereu capul sus, nu vă veți găsi răspunsul rostogolindu-vă pe pământ =
Always keep your heads up; you won't find your answer rolling on the ground.
Author Note: Woah! Crazy shanababanza! A quick few notes to anyone confused about what's going on.
1. I've increased Adam's age and made him an older veteran instead of that weird creepy incel stalker shit we got in RWBY. I mean, come on! What a waste of a character with huge amounts of potential! Although that's just RWBY, bring in potentially awesome characters and have them do a 180 personality shift and start schizoposting HARD.
2. I will still incorporate bits of Adam's relationship with Blake but keep it strictly a mentor-student vibe, at least in regards to him...with Blake...well, we'll have to see what she thinks (No, I'm not gonna going to have some weird pedo thing it'll just be like an unrequited crush on an older figure that you know will never go anywhere, and she'll get over it. The main series had way too much of a groomer feel and made Adam look like a nonce.
Wow, reading that, I truly realise they did Adam SO dirty.
3. Added a few OC characters that will be critical to the story later. CONSEQUENCES!
4. Finally I just want to give a quick shoutout to ODSTFRymann, you da GOAT frfr, I really do appreciate your reviews and everyone else who does put them in.
ALL CRITICISM IS WELCOME! I LOVE ATTENTION!
Now before I go a question for you all:
Gay testicles? You think about that.