Chapter 9
Alex, Ellie and Jack
"In the Middle of the Woods"
Elizabeth was the first to open her eyes, the side of her face resting on the dirt ground and in her view she could see the people who rescued her also lying on the ground, she pushed herself up and into a sitting position before looking at her hands, "So I can still open tears, but how?" she thought to herself. Elizabeth heard a groan and looked over to see Desmond waking up.
He rubbed the top of his head and looked at Elizabeth, "A little warning next time?" he said to Elizabeth.
"I...I'm sorry, I just..." Elizabeth began as Faith and Dante started to wake up as well, "I don't know how I was able to do it now," she kept staring at her hand, when her eyes focused on her bandaged finger she felt a strong headache that lasted for a few seconds.
"Whoa, Elizabeth, you're bleeding," Desmond told her, Elizabeth touched the bottom of her nose and just as Desmond had said, she was bleeding.
Dante, who heard just heard Elizabeth, called out to her, "Hey, what just happened back there, I thought you said you couldn't open any portals," Dante said, irritation was heard in his voice when he apparently Elizabeth can use her ability, but when he looked up his irritation was gone when he saw blood was falling from the young woman's nose.
"I said I couldn't take you home, and I meant it," Elizabeth stood up, "I just wanted a chance to make things right, to help all of you reach home," she saw Faith waking up just in time to hear Elizabeth speaking, "Out of my desperation, I must of forced myself to open a tear, but only to transport us far away from the Control's men," Elizabeth felt wobbly and had to hold on to a tree for support, "I'm telling you all the truth." she said rather weakly.
The three could see that ability Elizabeth did was legit and not to mention did it drain Elizabeth's energy, Desmond stood up and walked up to Elizabeth, "You feeling okay?" Desmond asked her in concern.
"I just need to rest for a minute," Elizabeth said, Desmond nodded in understanding and as he helped Elizabeth sit back down, he saw something in the corner of his eye and looked to his left to see another figure lying on the ground.
"Oh sh**," Desmond cussed when he recognized the figure, Dante forced himself to get up despite the soreness as well did Faith, they walked over to where Desmond was looking at and Faith had the same expression as Desmond while Dante looked angry.
Lying on the ground on his back was The Living Weapon, Alex Mercer.
The rising and lowering of his chest shows that he's breathing, which is actually more bad than it is good, for this is the same man that can transform parts of his body into a weapon and the same man who nearly had beaten Dante, a hybrid of an Angel and Demon, though Dante would argue that it's because without his other weapons that he was at a disadvantage.
But now, it was Alex who was at a disadvantage, and that led Dante to walk over there even when his entire body is aching due to the attacks he received from the Living Weapon himself.
"Wait, Dante, you can't just try to fight him now," Elizabeth said but the Nephilim still kept walking.
"I'm not going to fight him while he's down," Dante said, "I'm just going wait for him to wake up, get up, and THEN I'm going beat him down."
Elizabeth called out to Desmond, telling him to try and stop Dante, Desmond looked at Elizabeth like she was crazy but with her eyes pleading desperately, he sighed and went jogging by the Nephilim.
"Listen Dante, I know your pissed off at the guy who you pretty much almost lost to," Desmond attempted to stand in front of Dante to stop him but ends up being shoved aside, "Look man, do you think he had a choice!"
That stopped Dante and Desmond flinched when the hybrid turned to him but Desmond kept talking, "He didn't, he didn't have a choice to fight you, neither did I when they fried my memories nearly to crisp, and neither did Elizabeth when they had her bring us here, so if your just going to beat him down over something that wasn't in his control then-"
"Alright, alright," Dante spoke up, stopping Desmond in his rant, "I get your point."
Although Desmond had surprisingly managed to get through the Nephilim's head, he was a little mad over the interruption, he was on a roll there.
"But what about what Elizabeth said before?" Dante pointed out and looked at Elizabeth, "You said that there was something bad about him."
Elizabeth shifted as she looked down, grabbing hold of her bandaged finger, "I said that from what I heard about Mr. Mercer was that how his story ended," Elizabeth dragged on for a few seconds before speaking again, "He didn't turn out good in the end."
"Meaning?" Dante questioned.
Elizabeth went quiet and then finally spoke up, "Meaning that he started as a good guy in saving humanity from a deadly virus, only to end up wanting to destroy humanity by using the same virus."
Silence surrounded her with only the exception of the breeze and the rustles of the branches from the trees.
"And you wanted Desmond to defend that guy?" Faith finally spoke up.
"Somebody sure has an issue in wanting to play either the hero or the villain," Dante commented.
Elizabeth looked Dante in the eye, "Yes, what he attempted to achieve in the end was wrong but we still need take him with us, ALIVE," Elizabeth stretched out the last word.
"And what makes you think that he wants US to be alive when he wakes up?" Dante challenged Elizabeth.
"Just, trust me I-" "Trust you," Dante interrupted.
"Lady, I barely know you, and not only were you the one who brought us here but a friend of mine could be trapped in there with those guys doing who knows what, and you're expecting to me to just let this guy live after hearing what he did?" Dante said to Elizabeth.
Faith and Desmond can only observe as the Elizabeth and Dante stared down at each other, seeing that Dante has a point and would of agreed with him if the thought of it hadn't disappeared when Elizabeth took a step closer to him, wiping away the blood coming from her nose, she straighten her back and looked at Dante dead in the eye.
"I know that I'm responsible for bringing you of all here, but as Desmond had said before, I didn't have a choice, whether you decide to believe me or not let me tell you that I tried to fight back, I tried to escape, and I was willing to let myself die then to have them use me to imprison people like you, like Desmond, like Faith and even those who are like Alex, I may not know everything-" though once she did used to know everything "-but I know enough to help all of you get back home, so we can either go on and not like a single thing about each other or we can just yell at each other long enough for The Control to come here and take us back."
Dante didn't say a word as Elizabeth kept talking.
"So you, and all of you, can decide to follow me, and believe that what I'm saying is the truth, or we can just go on our separate ways, with no idea just what kind of a world we are in, alone and powerless." Dante frowned at Elizabeth pointing out his dilemma but his feature tgen softened when Elizabeth has a point.
"So what's it going to be?" Elizabeth said to Dante and then set her gaze at Desmond and Faith, letting them know that she's talking to them too.
A long breath holding minute passes by as silence once again took its place, Elizabeth had to take on the stoic face but inside she was terrified as to what decision these people will make, she has to take all of them with her, she has to, but she also knows that these are independent people, and so it is their choice alone to make, even when the expected answer is desperately called for.
"Do you know if my sister is back there?"
Elizabeth looked back at Faith, "My sister, we were together when they came and we got separated," Faith explained, "Have you seen her, she should look a little bit like me." Elizabeth shook her head
"No, you were the only one who came through, no one else," Elizabeth said, she then turns to Dante, "I haven't seen anyone else either when you were brought in, or you Desmond."
Another minute of silence went by and Elizabeth was starting to feel agitated, with every minute that passes, The Control could be getting closer to them.
"Okay."
Elizabeth felt her heart jump when Faith spoke up, "If my sister isn't back there, there's no reason to go back then, and since I have no clue where I am, I'll follow you."
Elizabeth felt herself feeling less tense, "Yeah, me too." Elizabeth turns to Desmond, "I still don't remember what happened before I got dragged here, just that I was helping my friends, and they definitely must be going crazy over where I am," Desmond walked up to Elizabeth, "I still don't know what's going, and even if you do, I would still have to get back home, so count me in."
Elizabeth let out a faint smile before turning her attention to Dante, "And you Dante?" Elizabeth began, "Will you trust me?"
Dante stared at Elizabeth for a few second before responding, "Not really, but it's not like I know my way around here, and even if I do go on my own, I get the feeling that compare to what I faced, this is a lot bigger then what I'm used to."
Elizabeth felt her heart lighten, "So?"
Dante shrugged, "Yeah, I'll follow."
At last, Elizabeth was finally able to breathe, this is good, with everyone on board, she should be able to take them back home easier once she finds Columbia, now just leave the part in which she has no idea where exactly should they go out and it should be...well...something not as bad.
"So, where should we go?" Desmond asked.
Well damn.
Before Elizabeth could make a lucky guess in which way to go, Dante spoke up, "Well, first of all, what should we do with him?" He pointed at Alex's unconscious form.
"Oh, yeah," Desmond eyes widen in realization over the fact that there was still the Living Weapon to deal with while Faith studied the not human man, ready to put up the defense or make a run for it if he wakes up.
"Well, we shouldn't leave him here, he's in just as much trouble as the rest of us," Elizabeth said.
"Sure, but didn't you say that he's not a good guy?" Dante said.
Elizabeth thought for a moment and then said, "Well, think of it this way, if The Control were to get Alex back, then they'll only send him after us, and I don't think even you can handle Alex better than last time in your condition."
Dante scoff but made no arguments, when someone's right, they're annoyingly right, "I think one of us should carry him," Elizabeth suggested.
"Not it," Desmond said while raising both of his hand.
"I'm not carrying him," Faith said, not only does she not want to carry the Living Weapon, but she can barely stand as she is.
All eyes went to Dante who just sighed, "Fine, but if he stirs I'm dropping him." The Nephilim went to the Living weapon and had Alex on his back, even though his body ache and it became worse when carrying Alex, he could just bare the pain until they find restraints to keep him from attacking.
"Alright, now which way do we go?" Dante asked Elizabeth, and this is when the bad news comes in.
"Um, well, about that-" before Elizabeth could explain, Desmond shushed her and everyone else.
"Someone's here," he said.
Faith put on a defensive stance, Dante pulled out his pistol while Elizabeth had a panic look on her, they couldn't have been found already?!
They heard someone cursing out of realization that this person has been discovered and then heard the person spoke up, "I'm not one of them, I'm just like you guys!" It sounded like a girl.
"Come out!" Dante said, at his command, a little girl with brownish red hair, wearing a red shirt with black sleeves and jeans on, a bow around her and carrying arrows in her backpack with a long gun behind it.
"Easy there," the girl said, "I'm not one of them."
Dante lowered his pistol at the sight of the girl but not all the way, he gave a look to the rest which all had an unsure look on them, "Anyone else with you?" He asked.
The girl shook her head but then looked down, "Well, there were these two guys, some weirdos, they brought me here and then just vanished on me," the girl explained.
Elizabeth perked up at the mentioning of these two weirdos, she then walked up closer to her, ignoring the cautious look the other three were giving, "Do you know what they look like?"
The girl nodded, "Kind of freaky really, they dressed the same, like twins."
Elizabeth's eyes widen, "What were their names?"
Ellie looked at the young woman before her before answering, "Robert Lutece and Rosalind Lutece."
Elizabeth let out a breath of relief, at least those two strange people were safe, who knows what would happen to them if they were captured, she looks back at the three-save for fourth member who was unconscious. "It's alright, she's not with them."
Faith and Desmond lowered their guard a little and Dante placed his pistol away, though is still cautious over the girl, Elizabeth looked back at the girl, "What's your name?" She asked.
"Ellie, my name's Ellie," the girl answered.
"Nice to meet you Ellie, call me Elizabeth," Elizabeth introduced herself, she then introduced the others, "This is Dante, the guy he's carrying is Alex, that's Faith over there, and that's Desmond."
Although Ellie caught on everyone's name, the name she caught on the most was Elizabeth, "Elizabeth," she repeated, "You're the chick who sent me to that wasteland!"
Elizabeth flinched in surprise, "What?"
"Do you have any idea what I had to deal with there, you scared the sh** out of me sending me over there!" Ellie said.
Elizabeth had no idea what Ellie was talking about until she realized that she has hears of the name Ellie before.
"You're doing great as always Elizabeth, next up is a special little girl, she actually has a similar name to yours, her name is..."
"Ellie," Elizabeth sounded, she was disgusted by the memory of the cruel doctor but quickly tosses it aside and looked directly at Ellie with an apologetic look, "I'm sorry for sending you through all that, I just couldn't let them get you," Elizabeth apologizes.
Ellie calmed down a little after hearing Elizabeth's apology and nodded, "Yeah, well, thanks for that, I'm guessing you really did save me, whatever it is you were trying to save me from."
Elizabeth nodded and then looked back at the group, "A while ago, before Faith was brought in, I had to do everything I could do in saving as many people as I can, in one of my attempts to prevent those to be taken in, I had to send Ellie here somewhere away where they can't get her directly," Elizabeth looked at her feet in shame, "I was desperate, I had to do something other than being the lock pick that unlocks doors and let those barge in and kidnap whoever they're after."
Ellie had Elizabeth's words stick to her head, "Being the lock pick that allows thieves to come in and steal important stuff," this was more or less what the Lutece Sibling were talking about.
Elizabeth looked back at Ellie, "I'm sorry, and if your wondering if I can send you home right now, I can't, I'll explain everything to all of you, but right now, I don't thinks its safe to stay in one place for too long."
"She's right, we got to move now," Faith agreed.
"But, where do we go?" Desmond asked, he, Faith and Dante looked at Elizabeth, Elizabeth knows that that question was meant for her to answer and she wasn't too thrilled about that.
"Hey, if you're looking for a place to hide in, there's this building," Ellie pointed with her thumb behind her.
"A building?" Faith questioned.
"It's a small one, I tried getting in but its lock, looks abandoned though," Ellie said
"Then let's get going," Dante said, wanting to have Alex off of his back already, Elizabeth went over to help Faith stand up and walk, she asked Desmond to help her which he did, and the two helped Faith walk with Faith's right arm around Desmond and her left arm around Elizabeth.
The group, with the new added member that is Ellie, headed deeper into the forest, the forest had a couple of dead trees with barely any leaves, the ground they were on was dirt red with a few shrubs, it was like a forest barely alive in the middle of the desert.
A few minutes has gone by with Ellie in the lead and the group was able to find the small building Ellie was talking about, the building had cracks all over it, little windows were broken, a small tower sitting beside the small building lay bent and broken over the roof, a white door was seen, it had a few cracks on it with worn out paint.
"This place looks like it hadn't been used for years," Desmond commented.
Makes you wonder just how long were they doing this," Elizabeth said quietly it not unheard.
Ellie walks up to the door and pulled on the handle, "See, locked, maybe if we have some tools..."
"Or I could just shoot it open," Dante suggested.
"Sure, and let the sounds of bullets be heard for miles, letting those guys know where we are," Faith pointed out, when it looked like another argument was about to take toll, Elizabeth held her hand up.
"I can try to lock pick it," Elizabeth said, "Does anyone have a hairpin or something thin and made of metal?"
Ellie removed her backpack and started searching through it, "Will this help?"
Ellie handed a hairpin to Elizabeth and Elizabeth took it and went for the door, a keyhole was seen below the door handle and Elizabeth wasted no time in pick locking it.
It was barely five seconds before the group heard a click and Elizabeth successfully unlocked the door and pushed the door handle, opening the door.
The group entered the small building and a hallway was seen inside, there were cobwebs in the corners of the floor and on the ceiling and a row of light bulbs above them all the way to the end of the hallway.
A total of seven doors were on the wall to there left with each door having their own sign. "We should check in each door," Elizabeth suggested.
The first door had a sign that says "Break Room" and Elizabeth went to check it with Desmond, both of them still helping Faith while Ellie went to the second door with a sign that says "Camera Room" and Dante went to the third room with a sign that reads "Engine Room", Dante opened the door with Alex on his back and upon entering the room, something caught his eye, "Huh, that might help."
With Ellie, she entered the Camera Room and just as the sign says it , a dozen tv screens were shown at the end of the room on the wall, all turned off, a long table was placed below the screens with two chairs, Ellie went over to the table and saw that there was something written in red on it.
"Must not stop, must not look back, must not not keep going, must not let them get you, must not, You MUST NOT fight alone."
Ellie figured that this was written by some mad man, and yet the way its written it was as if this was meant for her and the others to read, but wouldn't that mean that someone was here before them and knew that they would come here?
After finding out that nothing else is in the room, Ellie went to check on the others, at her first meeting with them, and although was very cautious around them, they didn't seem too bad, especially after she managed to listen over just in time for Elizabeth's speech.
She really hopes that Elizabeth would be able to bring her back home just like what she said before. Ellie first went to check over where the man with the red coat went and when she saw him in the engine room, she was surprised to see Dante surrounding the hooded man in chains and around a machine that has gears and red buttons all over it.
"What are you doing?" Ellie asked Dante.
"I'm not just going to keep carrying him," was Dante's response.
"Okay, then what's with the chains?" Ellie
"I hate to admit it, but if he goes rogue on us, I won't be able to stop him, I don't think these chains would even help now that I think about it," Dante explained.
Ellie looked at the man in chains, feeling a bit frighten of him right now, "What do you mean?"
"Look kid, why don't you go check on the others, I'm staying here and keeping an eye on him," Dante said.
Ellie didn't like to be called a kid but also didn't want to stay a minute longer in the room, she turns to leave but not without saying, "Cool sword," it really was a cool sword in Ellie's mind and thought it be polite to say it, must of been Jack's politeness that affected her.
Dante smiled with pride and held on the handle of his sword.
Ellie went into the Break Room, inside was a round table in the right, a four chairs, and a small kitchen in the corner where Desmond is, she saw Faith laying on a green couch with Elizabeth beside her, Elizabeth was sitting in a chair and had a med kit In her hands, tending to Faith's wounds, "This might hurt a little," Elizabeth pressed the cotton ball with the rubbing alcohol on it on Faith's shoulder, Fairy didn't show any reaction but did felt the sting from the alcohol in her shoulder, the attack from The Big Daddy was like being hit by a truck, at least she's still alive.
"Hey," Ellie said, bringing the attention of the two to her, "What happened?"
"Just got into a fight with..." Faith tried to explain the description but she figured the girl wouldn't belief it until she sees it herself, hopefully it won't be so soon, "I don't know how to describe it, just hope that we won't come across it again."
Ellie didn't like the sound of it and wouldn't wish it upon them either, she turns to Elizabeth, "Where did you get a med kit?" She asked.
Elizabeth looked to the round table, "I just found it sitting there, there's enough for Dante too so when I'm done helping Faith, do you think you can go get him?" Elizabeth asked.
Ellie shrugged, "Sure, if he doesn't kick me out, by the way, what's up with the guy he's tying chains around?"
Elizabeth and Faith both had grim expression on them, "Well, Mr. Mercer-"
Suddenly a loud noise of someone banging was heard as well did everyone hear Dante, "Whoa, calm down!"
Elizabeth stood up and ran out the door with Ellie, Desmond and Faith, who was still hurt but managed to gain enough strength to walk again, following behind.
They head for the room Dante was in and saw what the commotion is all about, Alex was awake, he was on his feet and Claws were formed in his hands.
"Hey easy," Dante tried to reason but Alex wouldn't listen and tried to break the chains off, but to his surprise, he felt unusually weaker than before.
"Mr. Mercer, calm down," Elizabeth stepped in, unlike her, Ellie, Faith and Desmond backed away.
"Are those claws?" Ellie asked quietly, no one answered for her but she could see it clearly for herself, who and what is this guy?
"You know what, fine, you want a fight-" Elizabeth stopped Dante.
"No, just," she breathed in and the out, "Let me try." Everyone had a panic look on her when she went closer to the man in chains, ignoring the part in which she's the only one who knows a way out, none of them wants to see her get killed.
Elizabeth took a step closer, "Mr. Mercer, I know you must be confuse," she began but before she could go on, Alex spoke up and for the first time did Ellie felt her skin crawl in hearing the Living Weapon's tone.
"Oh don't worry, I know plenty, especially who you are, Elizabeth," Alex said.
Elizabeth was surprised to hear that but didn't back off, she put on her brave face and tried to talk calmly to Alex but the Living Weapon could see it through.
"Then, you know what's happening?" She questioned.
Alex rolled his claws around despite being in chains, "More or less, I now know that we're in a different world, that you are responsible for those humans and non-humans captivity," Alex said.
"So you were still awake even when you're under their control?" Elizabeth questioned.
"Not always, I just got the information from those guards that I ate, hazy but I know that after being free that these new memories I have aren't my own," There were times when Alex could see what he was doing and not control his own movements and other times when its just darkness he sees, one thing is for sure, when Alex consumed those guards for health commanded by the doctor himself, he obtained their memories which were like a dream to him in his influential state.
Ellie freaked out when she caught in the word ate, "The f**k, did he just say ate?!" Alex follows the voice and Ellie felt a chill in her spine when her eyes met with Alex's cold ones, Faith saw this as a sign to get Ellie out of there and so pulled Ellie away from the Living's Weapons sight and into the Break Room.
"If that's true," Elizabeth continued even though she too felt a chill in her when Alex casually mentioned his ability to consume, the way he says it makes it sound like he just had a light snack, the thought made her sick, "Then you know, that they'll be after us, and I'm the only one who can send you and everyone else home."
Alex raised an eyebrow, "Really, so you're going to help me get back home, do I have your word for it?"
Elizabeth heart raced when she heard him say that, she hadn't thought of it that far, sending this man home would be like dropping a nuclear bomb in his world, even though its not her world, there are still peoples lives who are at risk, the casualties caused by this man is unthinkable, how could she set him free to his world knowing that he'll only try to bring humanity to extinction again.
Alex scoffed, "I thought so, no, you're just keep me tied up and not let them use me to get you all, your just going to give me an empty promise and then try to get rid of me in the end," key word "try", as if they could ever try to get rid of him without expecting the consequences in crossing with Alex Mercer, he sat back down, now knowing that anymore efforts is futile due to his low strength, "Lie just to get what you want, you humans are all the same."
Well, except for Dana, Dana was the only acception, even though in the end she betrayed him too.
Elizabeth couldn't think of anything to counter that, when it looks like she couldn't find anything in her mind to say, she felt a hand over her shoulder and looked up to see Dante beside her, "Well what did you expect, for someone who played the hero and then suddenly turn into the bad guy, you sure aren't a straight thinker."
Alex frowned and glared at Dante with the intent to kill in his eyes, Elizabeth was surprised to see that of all people, Dante was here by her side and defending her, what gave him a change of heart? Perhaps his heart wasn't as hard as she thought.
"And if you actually want to go back to them, sure, go ahead, we'll just leave you here for them to find you and you'll be back in that mindf**ked state again," Dante said.
Alex didn't say another word as he studied the man before, call it a hunch, but Alex has a feeling that this man is actually more than what he appears to be. That's when he remembered, he fought this man, it was hazy but he remembers that he had fought Dante, and in their battle, Dante managed to go at him with speed that's beyond human, had the strength that goes above to human capabilities, and upon looking over Dante's wounded shoulder, he would of died in a minute if he was human, which only confirms his suspicions, Dante is not human.
"If it means anything to you, I prefer not to go back there," Alex said to Dante.
"Then I guess your stuck with us," Dante said.
"One question, how are you going to return to your home world?" Alex questioned.
Dante shook Elizabeth a little much to her surprise, "Well with her help, we'll be on the right track."
Alex studied Elizabeth and caught a glimpse of uncertainty, he smirked, "Are you sure about that?"
It was Dante's turn to frown, "Did she actually say she knows which way she's going to take your little group?"
Dante had to fight the urge to look at Elizabeth for confirmation, he did felt her shoulder tense which was a confirmation on its own.
"Me on the other hand," Alex said, "I actually have an idea on which way to go."
"Yeah sure," Dante cut in, "And you'll only help out if we set you free, right?"
Alex didn't respond but he didn't need to, Dante released his grip from Elizabeth's shoulder and went for the door, "Not happening," Before he left, he turns to Desmond, "Hey, watch over him for me."
"Wait, what?" Desmond said and didn't have the chance to protest before Dante already left, Elizabeth looked at Alex for a few more seconds and then turned around to follow Dante, leaving Desmond behind and watching over the chained Living Weapon uncomfortably, it only got more uncomfortable when Alex studied him and not moving his gaze away.
"F**k you Dante," Desmond thought.
Elizabeth caught up to Dante as he checked to the other doors, the next door leading to the bathroom.
"Dante," Elizabeth called out, "Thank you for, what you just did."
Dante shrugged, "No sweat, unlike him, your not an ass**le."
Elizabeth frowned at his vulgar language but is still thankful nonetheless, she really hadn't that far ahead, now she has no idea what to do with Alex, He's a threat if he comes with them and he's a threat if they were to leave him behind, Elizabeth didn't want to do the last part, its not about Alex coming back to get them, but the way he was beating the scientist from before so ruthlessly, Elizabeth was beginning to wonder if those who are captured are getting worse treatment than she was, Elizabeth didn't want to think about it or it would only have her guilt grow more.
"So, is what he saying true?" Elizabeth stopped when Dante asked and she looked to her feet, "I got the destination, I just don't know where it is."
Dante didn't say another word for a moment and then sighed, "Well, until we know where to go, we just got to keep moving."
Elizabeth nodded in agreement, "I'm sorry for not mentioning it before, I had to get everyone together so that not one of us should ever get caught."
"Strength in numbers, yeah I get it, just be sure to let us know anything that's important like that next time." Dante's calm demeanor surprised Elizabeth, she thought for sure he would of been mad at her, Dante saw Elizabeth's expression.
"Don't be surprised that I'm not mad, I'm pissed that you didn't mention it before," Dante said, "But I understand why you had to do that." Dante stopped and turned to face Elizabeth.
"Look, you just got to realized that all of this doesn't fall on you, don't think that you're going through this sh** by yourself," Elizabeth was taken aback at Dante's words but nodded.
"You're right, I should of realize that," despite Dante looking like a punk, and he might actually be one, Elizabeth was pleased to see this side of the bad mouth Nephilim, the side that looks at the bigger picture.
Elizabeth and Dante passes by the other doors, with the signs that reads "Storage Room", the room with a sign that says "Basement" and a door that leads outside.
"I'm going to go through here, why not go back with the others?" Dante suggested.
"Actually, how about the both of us goes back, that wound isn't looking too good," Elizabeth pointed at his shoulder.
"It's fine, it'll heal on its own like it always does, its healing a little slower than usual but I'll be fine," Dante reassured.
Elizabeth didn't look convinced and it took Dante a second time in reassuring the young woman for her to go back to the break room. Elizabeth passed by the engine room and giving Desmond a sympathetic look from being there to watch over the intimidating Living Weapon.
Elizabeth made it back to the Break Room only to find Faith talking Ellie who looked a bit calmer after her experience in Alex's ability.
"What kind of place is it like?" Ellie asked.
"It's pretty bright in the day and night, and with all the obstacles the city has all over, its a paradise for parkour," Faith said, Elizabeth smiled as the two converses with one and another.
"Your home sounds pretty cool," Ellie said, Faith frowned.
"Well, it has its flaws, and unless there's a better home waiting somewhere, I'm pretty much stuck there, with my sister even," Faith explained.
"You guys in a tight spot?" Ellie asked.
"You could say that," was Faith's response, "Which is why I have to get back home as soon as possible."
"And you will," Elizabeth spoke up, gaining Ellie and Faith's attention, "I can promise you that I'll get you home, but here's the situation," Elizabeth explained in admitting that she has no knowledge of which way to go but swore that their destination is in Columbia, the city in the sky, Ellie's eyes widen.
"Whoa whoa, wait a minute, your saying there's a whole city in mid air?!" Ellie said.
Elizabeth nodded and Ellie sunk back into the couch, "And here I thought that it couldn't get any more bizarre."
Faith agreed, the idea of a floating city wasn't an impossible dream, with money and technology it might actually be possible, but that kind of advancement would take hundreds of years even by her world's standards, it was just unbelievable that there is actually a floating city out there, though Faith would only believe it if she's seen it herself. After Faith thought of this, she begins to wonder where the rest of the group are.
"Hey, where those two guys go?" Faith asked.
"Dante went to the basement and Desmond is watching over Alex," Elizabeth said.
Faith got out of her seat, "Well, let's see how the demon is doing," she would made a sarcastic remark of the half-demon part if she hadn't notice the fight between Dante and Alex, no human could of survived that attack from Alex's blade and not die from either shock or blood loss, because of Dante surviving that kind of blow, Faith is starting to believe that he is a demon.
"Hold on, what's this about a demon?" Ellie said, Faith explained it to thus gaining a reaction of shock from her as they walked down the hallway, passing by the engine room, Desmond stopped Faith in the middle of the hallway.
"Switch with me," he said, Faith stared at him questionably, "I know he's not going to do anything but that guy is seriously freaking me out."
Faith looked at Alex and then back at Desmond, "Alright, Elizabeth and Ellie are heading to where Dante is," she said and entered the engine room with Desmond leaving and following Elizabeth and Ellie.
"Hey, so, you holding up okay kid?" Desmond asked Ellie.
"I'm fine but do you think you can just call me Ellie, and not kid?" Ellie asked him.
"Yeah sure," Desmond answer.
And the three headed for the basement without saying another word. Back with Faith, she sat down with her back on the wall as she stares at Alex Mercer, looking over the chains to see if they were secure. Just looking at the man is making her feel tense, she can feel it in her to run away, to get as far away from this man, and what made it worse was that she knew why she had this feeling.
Alex stared back at the woman, though she was very cautious because of hum, she didn't show any fear in her eyes, he was certain that she had witnessed what he was capable of and yet here she is watching him with no reaction, for a human which he can tell isn't so foolish, he was impress by the gaze, but it didn't made it less annoying that she's watching him like a guard dog. What's more irritable however, was the fact that he had lost most of his powers, he knew it as a feeling which didn't settle with his mood, for now he has his regeneration ability, the ability to consume and to bring out his Claws. Perhaps by traveling with these humans-save for the man in the coat-he might be able to regain his powers, and once he does, he'll consume every last one of these members, and hunt down the men who made him into a slave.
For now however, he will just have to feign his powerlessness.
Back with Elizabeth, Ellie and Desmond, the three headed down to the basement where they were all caught off guard over what they have found there.
In the basement were dozens of beds surrounded by glass, they were all empty but it became clear that these were use to put dead bodies in, names were engraved on a small metal plate on top of the glass.
Ellie read the name, "Lee Everett."
"What's all this for?"
Elizabeth looked uncomfortable for a minute, "If this is something done by The Control, I actually don't want to know." She says, knowing it would only remind her of her guilt, though there was no reason to be guilty actually, Elizabeth has never heard about this building before, there were so much that The Control hid from Elizabeth that Elizabeth herself wouldn't ever know if it was daytime or nighttime.
Ellie cast Elizabeth a confused expression but then looked back at the sealed bed, there was a small box inside, seeing that there was a handle on the glass, Ellie pulled it up and the glass door flipped back to the other side, Ellie reached for the box and took a closer look at it.
It was a tape recorder, on its side there was a thin paper that reads "#27-Thoughts and Memories-Lee Everett"
Ellie pressed the red button on it and the tape played, loud enough for Elizabeth and Desmond to hear.
"I was a professor who taught history for over six years at the University of Georgia. I had a mother, father, and a brother living in our hometown of Macon, Georgia, looking after the family business. I was later convicted for murdering a state senator who had an affair with my wife, and was going to serve a life sentence before the police car crashed. And that was just the start before all hell broke lose. As I made my way to get help, I was met with dead people walking on their own and trying to take a bite out of me, even the police officer who I was in the car with acted just as crazy. I find myself in this house with nobody in, at least that's what I thought, until I met a little girl hiding in the tree house, her name is Clementine, and she was a survivor, I couldn't leave the girl on her own so I decided to look after her. Together, we met with other survivors, and later on, I found out that I lost my entire family, at one point I had to kill my own brother who was dead but walking, making me the last surviving family member.
Me and Clementine have been on a journey for survival, she seen things no kid should ever experience, but in this world and the way it is now, no ones going to give a damn over whose suffering, and that's why I've been protecting her with everything I had.
That little girl's in my care. We've been through more together than you can imagine. Anyone who tries to get between me and her, is gonna wind up dead.
But reality hits harder and burns more than how a walker's bite could feel, and I know that for experience, in the end, Clementine had to take care of herself, and to prove that she can do it, I asked her to shoot me so that she won't see me as one of them, and she did.
I wish I would of been there until I was old, to see her grow, I'm just going have to live and die with the thought that she would grow old, and still keep moving."
The tape ended and Ellie felt a strong nostalgic after hearing the guy's story, whoever this Lee guy is, he reminded her of Joel and wish that she and Joel would of met this Lee and Clementine, she begins to wonder what it would be like if they were a group together, it was just a thought, an idea she knew would never come true.
But that was to little importance compare to what Lee had just said.
"Did you guys notice something weird about what he said?" Ellie asked the other two.
Elizabeth nodded, "He said that he was shot, and sounded like he just died, but that's just impossible, how can they interview and record a dead man?"
Ellie looked at the tape, "Maybe he was a dead man walking?" She shrugged.
Elizabeth caught her sarcasm but still frowned, it just didn't make any sense over how a dead man was walking, was this Lee character not thinking straight, was he drugged just for him to speak and got his thinking mixed up? As she thought it over, Desmond spoke up.
"Hey," he began, "Did that Audio Diary sound more like...a memory to you guys?"
Ellie and Elizabeth looked at him questionably and Desmond shook his head when he saw the looks.
"Nevermind."
Ellie and Elizabeth glanced at each other and decided to not ask him but Elizabeth kept what Desmond said in her mind, believing that he might to be on to something but isn't so sure herself.
As if The Control had the technology to enter and extract information from the human mind of the living or the dead.
Elizabeth stopped when she thought of it, was it possible? Was that how they've done it? Elizabeth has heard stories of the people they were after, she thought that it would be near impossible for people from other worlds to be captured by people who have no experience in the world their entering in, and yet they were captured with ease and with little to no injured men, they were prepared, they had knowledge of the people they were after, but how did The Control obtain that knowledge?
"Dante!" Elizabeth got out of her thoughts when Desmond called out to the Nephilim.
"Thanks for leaving me behind with that blade guy ass**le," He said, Dante had his back at the three, he was in front of a bed with the glass dome and simply stood there, not even responding to Desmond's call.
"Hey, you listening?" Desmond said, he was starting to get concern over Dante's silence and went up beside him.
"What's wrong?" Dante didn't respond, he had a stern expression on him as he stared at the bed before him, Desmond followed his sight but didn't understand what makes an empty bed so interesting.
That's when he red the name engraved on the small metal plate on the glass.
"Nephilim Vergil."
Desmond looked back at Dante who he know just realized was clenching his fist.
"You know the guy that was in here?" Desmond questioned.
Dante stayed quiet for another minute as Elizabeth went up to him.
"Dante?" Elizabeth said.
Dante took in a breath and sighed, "Yeah I know him, he's my brother."
Desmond and Elizabeth took a step back in surprise over the new information.
"Hey, I found out what this place is." Ellie came in who just a minute ago took off when she caught a board with papers pinned on it.
"Apparently this is where they put all the dead bodies in."
Dante flinched and so did Elizabeth and Desmond, "There's like these documents over what's going on here, it's pretty creepy," Ellie shuddered, she then noticed the tension that's coming from Dante, she gave Elizabeth a wondering look and Elizabeth held on to her shoulder.
"Dante's brother was here," Elizabeth explained.
Ellie was shock to hear that and looked at Dante who had his back to her.
"Oh, I'm-I'm sorry, I-I didn't know," Ellie said.
Dante presses the bridge of his nose, "Get out."
His tone was harsh but his voice cracked, Elizabeth ushered the other two to follow her and the three people went upstairs, leaving Dante by himself.
When Dante knows for certain that he was alone, he went searching around the basement. There was no way, it shouldn't be possible, if this was a place to put dead bodies in and Virgil's name was on one of the beds, that would mean he's dead,Dante doubted, he shouldn't be, but then again he did impaled his twin brother with his sword but he was so angry and all he saw was red when he and Virgil fought, but would that mean that Dante-
No, he has to make sure, it was possible that they made the bed for Virgil as a preparation in case they found him-ALIVE is what he's hoping, no, not hoping, is positive that that is the case.
He searches through containers that had accessories inside, necklaces, rings, patches, old bandaged wounds, etc.
He knew that Virgil had to still be alive, if his is then the thing he was searching around for wouldn't be here, Virgil had to be alive otherwise-
Dante stopped when he opened the last small container, he reached his hand in it, and pulled out a necklace with the blue crystal.
Virgil was here, he was in that bed made to preserve bodies in, that means Virgil was brought in dead, and Dante knew that it was him who killed Virgil.
"Sh**," Dante sat on the floor and kicked the container to the wall where it broke easily, accessories leaked out but Dante didn't care about that, Virgil was here, why he was here didn't really matter to him, what matter was he came here in a body bag.
Virgil must of died over the wound Dante inflicted, he might punctured Virgil's heart with his rebellion, he didn't really mean to kill, he wouldn't say he "loved" his brother even though Virgil said it, but Dante didn't want him to die, he might have wanted that when he fought with Virgil and entered a frenzy but Kat managed to snap him out of it, and now here is, feeling not guilty, but is angry over the fact that he helped The Control get to him easier.
"I shouldn't have said that in front of him, I really didn't mean to drop it like that," Ellie said.
"It's okay Ellie, you didn't know," Elizabeth said, "But it's best for now to leave Dante alone."
Ellie nodded in understanding and as the three headed back to the break room, passing by Faith who actually offered to stay longer, and all sat on the couch.
"Anyone know what time it is?" Desmond asked.
Ellie saw the little windows above them on the wall, getting on the couch, she looked out to see if it was near nighttime, she saw pass through the branches of the trees that the sky was colored orange meaning the sun is beginning to set.
"It looks like it'll be nighttime soon and-" a shadow passing by deep within the forest caught her attention, she jumped down and took a step back.
"Ellie, what's wrong?" Elizabeth asked the startled girl.
"I-I just saw something out there," Ellie said.
Desmond and Elizabeth got off the couch.
"I swear, it was pretty far but I know that someone is out there."
The two looked among each other then back at Ellie, "I'll go tell the others, you two stay out of sight, we're leaving here as soon as possible," Elizabeth said, she then ran out the door to go tell the others.
Ellie looked at Desmond, "What, you guys know whose coming?"
Desmond nodded, "A couple of bastards that tried to us in cages, now I know how the animals in the zoo feels," Desmond said, attempting to ease the girl's panic with a few jokes.
"Well then we should try to keep those bastards away," Ellie reached for the Winchester Repeater.
"Whoa kid-" "Ellie!" Ellie corrected Desmond.
"Ellie, you're not going out there, just wait till Dante shows up and maybe instead of fighting-"
Desmond was interrupted when sounds of multiple beats hitting the ground was made outside, it was then soon followed up by what sounded like a horse neighing, Ellie went up to the couch and look out the window again and what she saw had her eyes widen.
"No way," Ellie jumped back down and ran out the door.
"Hey wait ki-Ellie, stop!" Desmond ran after Ellie, the two were outside and before Ellie could go any further, Desmond grabbed her arm and stopped her.
"Are you insane you could...of...been..." Desmond spoke slowly as he took in the new comer's appearance, he was man with mustache, had long dark hair, a sandy color coat with a white shirt underneath and wore a red bandana around his neck, he hat a cowboy hat, a Winchester Repeater on his back and is sitting on a white horse.
The new comer, who had just arrived after seeing the small abandoned building and coming to investigate, saw the little girl and his eyes widen in recognition.
"Well I'll be, Ellie is that you?"
Ellie couldn't believe her eyes as the man got down from the white stallion.
"Jack?!"
Everyone's finally here, thanks for the reviews, I've been so inspired after reading them, as for one review saying what character should go together, well the reason why I chose these characters specifically is that not only is Elizabeth the very core of the whole story in which she can open portals to other worlds, but these characters are from the video games I've recently started knowing and enjoyed the their story line, as random as it is to put these random characters in together knowing how much they don't fit together, that's actually the whole point, and they actually have a bit more in common than what appears to be.
And that's why I chose these characters, not because of the important roles they'll play that fits their character but these are the most unlikely team that has ever or never been thought up to put together.
So anyway, thanks again for your reading and please leave a Kind and Honest Review, see you soon.
Next time on The Last Of Hope...
An Infected girl, a World Traveling Young Woman, a Nephilim, a Runner, an Assassin, a Living Weapon and a Cowboy, riding in a cart in the middle of the desert, what's going to happen, find out in the next chapter coming soon.