A thousand times we die in our life.

We crumble,

Break and tear apart

until the layers of illusion

are burned away

and all that is left is the truth

of who and what we really are.

Chapter 2

I slammed my hammer against a nearby wall, my head filled with anger and at the same time pleasure. I was going mad, I knew it, "No one should go through this!" I yelled, turning around and slamming another wall. The wall shattered as the entire room began to tumble down, "I will never forgive them for what they've done!"

I could hardly see in front of me, a mixture of blood and tears in my eyes. As I swung at yet another wall, half the room collapsed and I gained self control, trying to calm down. I was breathing heavily before a voice rang in my head, 'Hush my dear...you will get rid of all the Exorcist in good time...but for now, let us get out of this room. We still have one more person to kill, remember?'

My eyes widened at the soothing voice, but I stepped back and looked around the room. I spotted the door in the distance and winced slightly before I ran over to it and pushed against it, "It's locked from the other side..." I took a step back and swung my hammer against the door. It fell open and as I stepped out into the dark hallway, the room behind me collapsed; smoke and dirt filling the hall, "Now where are you, Mrs Koller..?"

Since the hallway lights where off, I knew it was the middle of the night, so I headed down the hall towards Mrs Koller's bedroom. As I walked slowly, I began to concentrate, surrounding myself with thoughts. I held up my hammer shaped hand and narrowed my eyes, "Show me five..." I whispered.

The hammer shrinked and then separated into five long blades as fingers. "Hmm." I moved them up and down, "Almost like claws..."

As I came to Mrs Koller's bedroom door, I had trouble turning the handle before I actually got it open. I left the door open behind me as I stepped in and walked over to Mrs Koller, snoring on her large bed. I gently slid my index finger/claw against her skin, making a small cut on her left cheek, "It's time to get up."

Mrs Koller's eyes opened slowly to look at my frightening appearance. Blood stained my body and hair, as well as my long sharp claws raised up to her face. She was about to scream when I smirked and swiftly cut through her throat. Her eyes widened as blood gushed out and stained her bed, "Never again...will you kill innocent people."

I wiped my painted claws against the fabric of her bed, cleaning my claws. I then turned around and walked out the door and back into the hallway. The smell of blood started to become overwhelming, but I resisted in getting sick and did my best to ignore it. As I continued down the hallway to leave the orphanage, I passed the orphan's room and stopped in front of the opening, looking at all of them sleeping. I stepped in curiously and walked over to Aron's bed. I looked down at him, about to brush the hair out of his face, but stopped, looking at my long claw and stepped back slightly, "Aron..." I whispered as tears began to fall from my cheeks, "I came back...but I can't stay...I'm a monster."

Blood was beginning to drip to the floor and my claws made a slight scratchy sound as they brushed against each other. I felt around my hair carefully, a few strands of hair falling from my head until I found the blue butterfly pin Aron got for my birthday. I placed it on the small table next to his bed ans smiled slightly, "Now you will know I came back..." I kissed his cheek and left the room, tears streaming down my cheeks.

Before I left the orphanage, I grabbed a large black coat, wrapped it around myself and pulled the hood up, covering my appearance. Since the sleeves where so long, my claws where hidden, but I could not hide the horrible stench of blood. I also grabbed some coins from Mrs Koller's room. I mean she didn't need them anymore, she was dead.

-That Night-

Wandering through the empty streets of England, I looked around for somewhere to spend the night. Passing by closed stores and dark houses, I spotted a hotel ahead and smiled, running inside. A bell rang as I opened the door and walked inside. There was a lady with short brown hair standing behind the counter and she looked at me suspiciously as I walked up to her, "Hello, I'd like to rent a room for the night."

"I'm sorry, but all our rooms are full."

I felt pleasure rush through me as I smirked and slammed my hand against the counter, "Excuse me, but I'm willing to pay, and I'm not leaving until you give me a room."

The lady looked shocked to hear that coming from someone like me. She paused as she opened a small book in front of her and scanned through the pages, "It...Its seems we have a room open, but its first class. Are you sure you can afford-"

I cut open a bag of coins swiftly before she looked up and threw it on the table, "That would last anyone a week in a place like this."

She looked up from her book and at the large amount of coins, "May I have your name?"

I paused, 'I cant tell her I'm Alya...what if she finds out I'm from the orphanage?' "I'm Alice..." I say calmy.

"Do you have any luggage's you need help with?" she asked writing my name inside her book.

"No, but first class does provide cloths and a shower, right?"

She nodded, "But of course, here is your key, number 64."

I smiled and swiped the key away from her quickly as I turned and headed for my room. As I walked in, I marveled at the large room; painted beige walls, a red carpet, a king size bed surrounded with pillows, and a large window off to the side which had a perfect view of England. The first thing I did was undress and wash myself off in the deluxe shower. After awhile I washed all the blood off and threw my bloody clothes away in the trash. Then I searched through the large closet of clothes containing multiple shirts, shorts, dresses and accessories of all kind. I decided to wear a long red sparkly night gown with frills at the sleeves.

When I was done, I walked back into the bathroom to look at my now clear appearance. For some reason though, I still felt a liquid run down my head. Curious, I looked at the mirror and my eyes widened as I screamed. On my forehead were star shaped scars indented in my skin, blood was running down. My claw brushed against the marks, feeling the indent, "What...What is this!?"

I grabbed the towel next to me and started to wipe the blood off quickly, taking bandages from the cabinet and began to wrap up the scars. I then stared at my reflection in the mirror quietly. Until a vision swept over me and I heard Rina's voice scream, "Stop! Stay away from me Noah!"

I held my head, breathing heavily, until my vision flashed again and I could see my shadow grinning at me. The same shadow with the glowing gold eyes and long sharp claws. Almost like a memory I saw blood splattering on walls and crys for help sounded again, "Stop!" I screamed, "Stop it!"

I shut my eyes hoping for the memories to stop, but they continued. They all rushed inside my head, breaking my mind that wanted everything to stop. Claws ripping people apart and the stench of blood once again swept over me, "No...No!"

I opened my eyes wide and looked at the mirror. I looked at my now changed appearance, terrified. My eyes shown a bright gold, my hair was now black, my skin had turned darker and the star shaped indents decorated my forehead. As I continued to stare at my reflection, I noticed that the figure in front of me was not reflecting how I looked like. The figure brought up one of it's long claws against the mirror and smirked at me, "You are a Noah, you must kill!" It hissed.

I stepped back as the mirror shattered and I closed my eyes, holding out my claws as in to cover my face. I felt my head bang up against the wall behind me as I fell to the floor, not realizing that I did not feel any pain, just emptiness...

I swung upwards in a sitting position, gasping for air, "It...it was just a bad dream."

I sighed, clenching my heart and looked around. I had collapsed on the bed, my claws still in their bladed form. I got up quickly and ran into the bathroom looking at my forehead. The bandages where wrapped tightly around my head, "Was...was it actually a bad dream?"

I walked back to my bed and sat down, staring at my claws, 'I have to at least get my hands back before I think of whats happened...'

I closed my eyes and concentrated, "Come on Innocence, disappear! Stop working!"

I sighed as nothing happened and thought back to how Rina used her Innocence, "If she told her innocence to activate then why cant I tell mine to deactivate!?"

Suddenly my hand shrunk and shifted back into normal human hands. I jumped up excitedly, "Yes! I did it" I smiled, "Innocence Activate!"

My hands turned back into sharp razor claws, as I marveled at the look and shouted, "Innocence Deactivate!"

I went back and forth, calling forth my Innocence and then stopping it, feeling powerful enough to control the substance at will. I twirled around, clapping my hands as I deactivated the Innocence. Soon enough though, I grew tired and stopped dancing around the room like a moron.

As I stopped, I felt something drop onto the my head like a raindrop. I placed my hand on top of my head as I shivered slightly, the hairs on the back of my neck standing at end. I paused as an aroma entered my nose. It smelled odd, but slightly familiar. 'How did I not notice this aroma before?' Another drop and I looked up slowly, covering my mouth as I gasped, my bright red eyes widening. I took multiple steps away until I had my back up against the wall, "How..?"

I slowly slid down the wall, my eyes not leaving the scene, "When..?" I whispered.

I was in total shock, trying to force myself to look away, but my eyes stayed locked on, "Who..?"

Above me, whose arms and legs where pinned up against the ceiling, whose short brown hair stained red, and had multiple deep cuts across her body was the lady at the counter from last night. She was dead, but her teal eyes where wide open as if she was looking at herself the same way I was. Blood slowly dripped down onto the red carpet, blending in. I didn't know whether to stay or run, "This couldn't have been-"

Rina's and Malkrives wounded bodies that wore cuts appeared in my head, cutting me off. But I felt pleasure in killing them though...they deserved to die! This women, she did nothing wrong. True she was cruel when I first entered, but she never hurt anyone! Why...Why would I kill her? I activated my Innocence, staring at the blades, "This is your work...How could you do this!?" I was yelling at my Innocence as if it was a person or as if it would talk back to me-No! I just wanted it to hear me. To understand what it did.

I deactivated my Innocence as I stood up, not wanting to look back at the scene. I changed clothes, knowing that the women was still there. I tried my best to try and forget about it, but no...I was scarred for life...

-0-

"Lord Millennium, why have you called us here today? Surely your not reassigning our prey." said a tall Portuguese man who was sitting down at a table with his arms crossed.

A small chuckle escaped Lord Millennium as he sat at the edge of his seat, looking over everyone that came, "Why of course not, Tyki." he paused, "I have called all of you here for your assistance in obtaining a particular person."

Road Kamelot, who had been working on her homework next to Tyki, looked up, "Lord Millennium, are you saying that we have another disciple?" she smiled as she shut her book.

"But wait, that cant be." said Tyki glancing over at Road, "Skinn is the only Noah that has departed, it isn't possible for Noah's wrath to recover that quick."

Lord Millennium folded his hands, "Right you are Tyki. True that there is a new disciple, but the first priority is to find the person first before moving on to other questions."

Devit's hand flew up from across Road's seat, "Oi, we can find the disciple, Earl."

Jasdero's head popped up from behind the seat and raised his hand as well, "Hee Hee!"

Tyki smirked, "You cant be serious, you can't even find Cross, how do we expect you to find the disciple?"

"Shut up Tyki!"

Road layed her head lazily on the table and gently raised her hand, "I'll go, Lord Millennium. I'm sure I have better luck then those two."

Lord Millennium chuckled, "Settle down now, since all of you are so eager, I'll allow you all to go out and obtain the disciple. Though you still must keep an eye out for your assignments."

"Yes!" Devit said as he smirked at Tyki, "We'll get the disciple first!"

Tyki raised a brow, "Shall we have a race, Jasdevi?"

"Oh, that will be so much fun" sang Road, clapping her hands.

"Then it's settled, first to find the disciple wins." Devit said.

Jasdero slammed his fist against his palm, "We'll win for sure."

Lord Millennium stood from his seat, drawing everyone's attention back to him, "Since there is competition, I expect the disciple will be retrieved with no harm done." he adjusted his top hat and turned away from the group, "Thank you all for coming.

-Alya-

I walked down the crowded streets, taking glances at the people that past her. She felt like a criminal that had left a large amount of evidence at the scene of the crime, 'I need help...when ever I'm not awake, I kill.'

She winced slightly, remembering what had happened and clenched her fist, 'Maybe if I went back to the orphanage, I could find Aron and-No, that would only put him in danger. I don't like being all alone...'

A soft voice caught my attention, 'Don't worry, dear, your not alone.'

My eyes widened as I looked around, but there was no one, "Who-Whose there?!" I yelled off into the passing people.

Some of them took a glimpse at me, giving me strange look and continued. I grew nervous, taking a step back and bumped into a man who shoved me aside. I fell down and watched as the man didn't apologize or even care to help me up. I glared, clenching my fist, but sighed as I stood up and took a seat on a bench, "I must have imagined it..."

'Actually, you didn't, Alya.' came the same voice.

"Wh-where are you?" I asked puzzled.

'I'm not sure, but could you stop talking aloud, you look like a loon.'

I stood silent, not knowing what to do, 'Am I going insane? I'm hearing voices...'

'No, your not going insane, but it's funny that you think that.' the voice laughed.

I then realized the voice was inside my head. It sounded like a young girl, not really a grown up, but about sixteen. Her voice was sweet and gentle, but at the same time terrifying, 'Who are you?'

'My name is Kyoki, meaning Madness. I am the fifteenth disciple in the clan of Noah.'

'Noah?' I paused, 'That's what Rina called me before I killed her!'

'Before I killed her. As a matter of fact, I also killed that doctor guy, what was his name again? Makids?'

'Makrides.'

'Ah, yes, too bad his helpers ran while I was busy tearing up his body. It would have been so much fun if they stayed.'

'You've turned me into a monster!'

'Not yet actually. You know those lovely scars aligned across your head? That means you're a Noah, or at least you're turning into one.'

I placed my hand on my forehead shakily, 'What exactly does a Noah do.'

There was a pause, 'hmm...that's not really the issue at the moment, Alya, weren't you listening to me earlier? The two guards got away, they worked for the Black Order.'

My eyes widened as I jumped up, "They're going to come after me!?" I yelled aloud, not caring who heard me.

'Hush, it's ok, the Noah are looking for you as well, I'm sure they will find you before any Exorcist-'

"Hello girl." came a voice from behind me.

I turned toward the source to find a man with long red hair; who wore a mask that covered the right side of his face. His outfit consisted of a gold trimmed jacket and a large hat atop his head. He looked at me with a smirk, "You seem to be talking to yourself."

I took a step back slightly, 'Noah?'

'Nu-uh...'

I took another step back slightly, 'Exorcist?'

'Uh-huh...he's a general...'

Madness does not always howl.

Sometimes, it is the quiet voice

at the end of the day saying

"Hey, is there room in your head for one more?"