Chapter 67
Chrome/Liam
Up to speed on what they did and why, Liam stared at the unconscious Nora. As per the plan, Penny had taken off towards Amity, leaving Weiss, May, Blake, Ruby, Nora, Chrome and the rescued Liam in the Manta.
"Where to?" May asked, breaking the silence.
"Take us to the Schnee mansion." Weiss said. "My family should have the supplies we need to help Nora."
"Got it."
Within just a few minutes, May landed the Manta outside the Schnee mansion. Everyone climbed out with Liam carrying Nora in his arms.
Approaching the front door, Weiss tried to turn the knob but it was locked. With a sigh, she knocked on the door.
After just a few seconds, Whitley opened it. Upon seeing Weiss, Whitley frowned.
"You've picked a fine time to return, sister."
Weiss rolled her eyes as she just walked in, ignoring Whitley's words.
"Things are already bad enough after what you did to father, now you want us to harbor fugitives too? Our family has a reputation." Whitley crossed his arms in annoyance.
"That'swhat you're worried about? Yourreputation?" Blake said.
"I'm just saying that we've already lost all the house staff, andmother locked herself in her room." Whitley said.
"Maybe you haven't figured out what's going on, Whitley, but we're busy trying to saveAtlas." Weiss stated.
Ruby steps between the two.
"Look, our friend is hurt. We just need a place to lay low while she rests, and then we'll be out of your way." Ruby gestured to Nora who was still being carried by Liam.
"Fine. What do you expectmeto do, then?" Whitley asked.
"Look for anything that might help her, please. Pain meds, something." Weiss requested.
Whitley let out a sigh.
"Yeah, okay."
With that, he walked off.
Turning to her friends, Weiss gestured towards the staircase.
"This way."
Liam followed Weiss while the others lag behind. Blake walks up to Ruby, noticing she has a concerned look on her face.
"I'm worried about Yang." Ruby said. "I hope she's doing okay."
"You can always try calling her."
"That's just it..." Ruby tilts her scroll to Blake, showing Yang's contact ring out. "I have been."
Marek
Slowly coming to, Marek's vision was rather blurry. Trying to sit up, Marek winced in pain. Looking down at himself, multiple bandages were wrapped around his torso.
"Wha-"
"Mother's Hound broke a few of your ribs when it brought you home, little brother."
Looking to the door, Shadow stood, his arms crossed.
"I told mother this was a bad idea." Shadow continued. "I know you're gonna try to stop us."
Marek tried to stand but his left hand was cuffed to the bed.
"Mother used her powers to heal you, but only slightly." Shadow said.
Marek, ignoring the pain in his chest, spoke.
"Salem is going to destroy the world, you know that, right?"
Shadow rolled his eyes.
"I doubt that." He turned around to leave, but paused in the doorway. "One of mother's Seers will be watching you closely to make sure you don't try anything." Just as he said that, a Seer grimm made its way into the room. "I do hope you try something, though. I'd love a reason to knock you out myself."
With that, Shadow left.
Some time later, Chrome
Inside one of the many rooms in the Schnee mansion, Nora may on the bed while everyone else talked about what to do. Everyone except Chrome.
Wandering the halls of the large building, Chrome wanted to see his biological mother again. They weren't able to finish their conversation last time.
Pretty much going room to room, Chrome finally stumbled across the room Willow was in. With the door cracked ever so slightly, Chrome was able to see Willow, sitting at a desk, lift a bottle of liquor to her lips.
Seeing this made Chrome feel uneasy. Even though he didn't know her all that well, he didn't like seeing the person who brought him into this world drowning her sorrows in booze.
Willow didn't even hear the door creak as Chrome pushed it open a bit more. With her back facing him, Chrome knocked on the door three times, startling Willow.
Looking back at Chrome, Willow immediately dropped her bottle as she rose to her feet.
"Mind if I come in?"
Willow didn't say anything as she walked over and pulled Chrome into a tight embrace.
"I'm so, so happy to see you safe." She said, her eyes watering.
Chrome returned the hug.
After a few short seconds, the two pulled away. Looking into each other's eyes, Chrome could see how bloodshot Willow's were. Dark bags were under her eyes and she looked absolutely exhausted.
"M-mom... Still feels a bit weird to be calling someone I recently met 'mom'." Chrome shook his head. "I wanted to see you since we didn't get to finish our talk."
"O-of course." Willow turned around and walked over to one of the chairs that was around a small table. Following her lead, the two sat down. "Wh-what'd you want to talk about?"
Chrome glanced at the bottle of liquor that was spilled on the floor.
"What's going on, mom?" Chrome asked.
"What do you mean?"
"The drinking." Chrome said. "It's not a regular thing, is it?"
"N-no." Willow shook her head, averting her gaze from Chrome. "No, just needed a distraction from... everything."
Chrome could tell she wasn't telling the truth.
"What's going on?" Chrome asked. "You look like you haven't slept in days."
Willow shook her head.
"It's nothing. I'm fine."
"Please don't lie to me." Chrome said. "What's wrong?"
Willow, her body trembling as she tried to fight the tears that threatened to flow down her face, shook her head once again.
"It's nothing." She said, her voice breaking. "It's just..." her lips quivered as the tears began to overflow. "This is all so much..." she buried her face into her hands, letting out her emotions.
Chrome had no idea what to say or do here.
"I-I-I've failed as a parent." She said through her sobs. "There are so... so many things I should have done. So many things I could have done right. I should never have given you up. I should have raised you. But I let my-my fear decide for me."
Chrome's cat ears folded back, his eyes softening while his mother spoke.
"I was worried what Jacques would have done if he knew about you." Willow continued. "I was scared. And after I gave you up, I neglected my duties as a mother to my other three kids."
Willow was spilling everything she had kept bottled up for almost eighteen years.
"I don't even know how to begin to ask for forgiveness." Willow said.
Chrome sat in silence, having no idea what to say.
Wiping her eyes, Willow looked to Chrome.
"I'm happy I got to see you again."
"I feel the same." Chrome said.
The moment was disrupted by a knock at the door.
Looking over, Liam stood in the doorway.
"Hey, Chrome. You got a sec?"
A few minutes later
After finishing his talk with Willow, Chrome and Liam were walking the halls of the Schnee mansion.
"What's up?" Chrome asked.
"Weiss and the others filled me in on what's going on." Liam said. "That everyone split into two teams. Yang, Oscar, Ren, Jaune and Marek working to help Mantle and the rest of you working to get a distress call out to Remnant, which worked, by the way. The message got out, but it was cut short."
"Okay..."
"Anyway, no one's told me where Nicci is." Liam added. "I've asked, but they all got this weird look on their faces."
Hearing this, Chrome stopped walking, catching Liam's attention.
"Nicci..." Chrome said softly. "She's, uh, she's dead."
Liam was stunned by the news.
"What? How did-" Liam let out a breath.
"Cinder." Chrome said. "She killed Nicci right in front of me."
Liam ran a hand through his hair.
"You're joking..."
Chrome shook his head.
"Anyway," Chrome wiped his eyes. "What, er, what's the news on Nora?"
Liam took a few seconds to gather himself.
"Nora... she's, uh, she's doing fine, but she'll need a, a doctor." Liam replied.
"Right..."
Liam, not knowing what else to say, turned around and began walking away.
"I'm getting tired of this shit..."
Liam
Instead of heading back to the others, Liam walked into one of the many rooms. It felt strange, exploring Weiss' home by himself.
Spotting a balcony at the opposite side of the room, Liam decided to head out for a bit of fresh air.
Leaning against the railing, Liam stared out at the dimly lit sky. With the Grimm possibly attacking any second now, Liam wanted to get whatever moments of peace he could before shit hit the fan.
Hearing a gentle knock behind him, Liam glanced back to see Weiss standing in the doorway.
"So, this is where you went off to." Weiss said as she joined him.
"Just needed some time to myself." Liam said, returning his gaze to the horizon. "So, Salem's out there, huh?"
"Yeah..." Weiss nodded.
Liam let out a sigh as he folded his arms over the railing.
"Hey, Liam?"
"Yeah?"
"Can you promise me something?" Weiss turned to face Liam.
"What?" Liam met Weiss' gaze.
"Don't-"
Their conversation was suddenly cut off as the doorbell rang.
"Were you expecting visitors?" Liam asked.
"N-no."
Heading back inside, Weiss and Liam went to the front of the mansion to see Ruby, Blake, May, Chrome and Whitley standing in the foyer. Along with them was a short old man.
"I'm glad you rang, young Whitley. Now, where's the patient?" The old man asked. "I understand it's urgent."
"She's in Weiss' room." Whitley replied.
As Klein walked passed Weiss, he tipped his hat before ascending the staircase.
"You called Klein?"
"That girl needs a doctor." Whitely said. "I didn't do it for you."
Whitely gasps as Weiss steps forward to hug him. After some hesitation, he sighs and embraces her back. Their moment was interrupted when a loud crash echoed from outside.
"Did you call anyone else?"
Whitley shakes his head. Liam walks over and opens the door to find a smoking crater in the manor walkway. He, Chrome, Ruby Weiss, and Blake run out to seePenny crackling with electricity and covered with neon green fluid lying in at the bottom of the crater. Penny catches sight of her friends and weakly reaches out to them.
"I'm... sorry."
End of chapter 67
