Chapter 16 "The screams of the dammed."

Part 3" The world in flames."

Rei Ayanami entered the lower levels of Nerv with drowning anyone attention. When she first started wondering of Nerv people will usually drow their attention towards the blue haired girl but after a while and probably some pushing from the Commander everyone got used to her.Gendo had given her the freedom to wonder around where ever she liked as long as didn't interfere any of his main plans. So entering the cells won't be a hard task, at least that's what she thought.

All the cells were empty except for one. They were two guards guarding the gate and two others wondering of in the distance. When she headed towards the cell the two guards stopped her from continued forward.

"Let me pass I have permission from the Commander to see him."

The guards didn't say anything nor did they moved from their position.

Doctor. Said Rei to herself. She was about to try again convincing the guards but before she could react Lilith took over her body.

"I will tell you again boys, let me pass and your lives will be spared." Said Lilith with her playful yet malicious voice.

Again the gaurds didn't react nor moved instead one of them just spelled a cold: "Go away."

Lilith sighted as a response and said .

"Kill yourselves."

And without a second the guards took their knives stabbed one another until their both dead. When they both dropped to the ground, Lilith gave Rei control of her once again.

"Did you really had to do that?" Asked Rei.

"Hey, I gave them a choice besides I won't take shit from any Lilin." Answered Lilith.

The other guards took notice of what happened and came over to the scene. When the guards saw the bodies they immediately started firing in Rei position but the bullets kept stopping midway through.

For Rei it was just a simple thing to raise her AT field but the guards show this as something unatural.

After loading all their magazines they realize that it was a lost cause and kept their distance from the girl.

"I just want to talk with the prisoner and nothing more. It will take a minute or two."

The guards taken over by what happened before their eyes simply nodded and kept their guns ready despite their uselessness against her.

"Thanks for the understanding." Said Rei as she entered the cell.

"You didn't need that bloodshed Ayanami. You are better than this."

"It wasn't me besides I am not the Ayanami that you were familiar in your world Shinji."

He raised his head sadly.

"Shame, because you still sound like her." Said Shinji

It has almost a day since the guards took Shinji away, Asuka still can't get this scene out of her head. She had tried to chase them that day but they block her midway through. When she returned to the main lobby she saw a devastated Misato waiting her saying only one thing.

"Let's go home." Said with a cold voice.

Asuka didn't say something and followed Misato. On they way home Misato was completely silent.

"So... what exactly happened with Shinji?" She asked so she can break the silence between them.

"That's non of your business." She said coldly as before.

Asuka was surprised at that response, never in her life (and previous one) did Misato ever respond that way her or Shinji.

At first, Asuka thought it was the sock from taking Shinji away, but she remember that Ritsuko had called Misato to her office and started making her speculations.

When they arrived home even the presence of Pen Pen did put a smile to Misato's face. Without a word she went to her room and shut the door completely. She has yet to come out of her room.

After a while Asuka tried to cook something for the two of them but nothing ever came close to what Shinji was usually cooked, so simply got a delivery.

She went to where Misato's room was and knocked the door without answer.

"I guess this how Shinji felt when he saw the wall of Jericho. Unable to move forward or do something." Said Asuka to herself as she simply place a ball of ramen in the door. Some time later, when she passing through to she saw the ball empty without any left overs.

She then, decided to try her luck again and entered Misato's room. The room was a mess, everything was all over the place and Misato was sleeping over in her desk.

Asuka didn't wanted to wake up Misato but she was worried about her and didn't want to leave her in that state.

"Hey, Misato are you feeling better now?" She kinda knew the answer but that's her trying to light up the mood.

Misato then sluggish move from the chair and opened her tired eyes.

"Oh, Asuka this not best time to come to my room asking me this question."

"Maybe but I am sick worry about you ever since Shinji..."

"I DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT NAME EVER AGAIN." Misato cut her off.

Asuka was taken back with that response, she had never saw that reaction when she heard that name.

"What happened Misato ? Why are you like this?"

"I will tell you happened. Shinji betrayed us all, he is planning to use the evagelions to end the whole world."

"Shit. Ritsuko must have found a way to learn about Shinji past . I won't be surprised if Ritsuko told Misato the sides of the story that she wants other people to hear. So they try to use Shinji as an escape code." Thought Asuka to herself.

"So starting for today this name will never be heard in this house again."

"Yes Misato." Said Asuka with a defeated face. She didn't try say the their side of the story because it will either make her worse or she will straight up not believe it. Ritsuko had some evidence to back up her point she on the other hand has to relay on belief, something that she hasn't right now.

She then decide to go outside and take some air but she saw the sky she spotted more and more clouds forming in. "I better take an umbrella with me there is storm that's coming ."

"What made you come here ? I don't think it's because you are worried about me." Said Shinji as he tried to move the chains behind his back.

"I thought paying a visit to my dearest brother to see how it's going."

"Ha, I didn't know you were able make sarcasm Rei."

"It is something that I learned coexisting with your kind, but the real reason why I am here is more or less to take pity on you."

"Why are you doing this Rei? Why are you following Gendo's order when you know are just a pawn to his plans."

"I have seen and understand what the Commander tries to do and I welcome it. This world will much better in his hands. There won't be any pain or sadness anymore, everyone will coexist with each other. This is the perfect peace."

"That's where you are both wrong Rei. Without the pain and sadness there isn't point in living. I learned that the hard way."

Rei looked him with a disgusting look.

"You prefer a life of struggle and pain so that you hope some day to find happiness?"

"It is struggle that makes happiness better because without life loses it's value. With everything becoming painless everything that will achieve will be meaninglessness."

"I still don't understand where are you getting at but saying stuff like that from the likes you is pretty ironic."

"You might not understand now but I think you will in time and I am afraid when that time comes it will be to late for you."

"You are wrong, I will never understand your nonsenses and it is already to late for me my fate has been set from the moment that I was created." "At least you have the choice to decide what side you will be." Said Rei to herself.

As Shinji was about to say something back the sound of sirens echoed in the whole building.

"This probably an angel and if I am not correct it is most likely Arael."

Rei step up and head towards the cell's door.

"The Commander has informed me for this one, he wants me use the spear just like what happened with you and I am pretty sure he has plans for the second pilot."

Shinji upon hearing this he dashed towards Rei as much as his chains allowed him to do.

" Please, I beg of Ayanami help Asuka on this fight. She must escape from Ariel's light."

Rei looked back at him with confusion in her eyes. It was weird for her to be called with that name .

"I will do what the Commander have told me to do."

"AYANAMI WAIT." Screamed Shinji at the top of his lungs.

As Rei was walking out of the cells and ignored Shinji's voice her mind was puzzled at what Shinji said to her. "Why would he ever put faith in me after all I have done to him ? Why doesn't he hate me?"

"This day was already shit from the morning and now it has become even worse." Said Asuka to herself as she was using the buildings for cover up.

They put her first in battlefield so she can keep the angel busy while Rei will bring a weapon . Of course Asuka knew of what they were talking about but she played along so that she won't arise any suspicion.

If it wasn't for the nonstop rain pouring in 02 armour, Asuka would have thought that everything was frozen in time and she stuck in this place forever.

But, it is a good idea to use cover this time , maybe now she has a chance not get struck by the cursed light.

"Okay Asuka ,Rei is coming now prepare to your position.". Said Ritsuko over the vox.

Asuka mood was ruined even more upon rehearing Ritsuko voice after what a happened. She wanted to scream so hard that her lungs explode from air pressure but she had bigger things to worry about. So she simply answer with a " Roger." and preceded with the mission.

The mission was simple, she is going to take the attention of the angel while Rei is going to fire the Spear of Langinus to the angel. But this plan was more complicated in its core. She knows what kinda power the angel has and how it can break anyone's will with enough time, so she must be very careful this time. Plus,who knows what kinda of surprise this battle will reveal.

As 00 was entering the city with the spear in its hands Asuka took position with her rifle.

"I am ready for you fucker, I won't lose to you like last time. When I finish with your kind I will take Shinji somewhere else and escape from this hell hole. I won't lose my spirit because I know that someone out there loves for who I am not for what I try to show on people."

Rei then,started getting her position to throw the spear while Asuka decided to fire the first shot.

The shot was fast but yet calculated . It had managed to pierce the stratosphere within seconds. Unfortunately the shot didn't pierce through enemy's defence and got absorbed.

Asuka wasn't bother with that outcome, after all the perpose of the shot was to draw the attention not killed, so she prepared for the angel to answer.

But, eventually there wasn't any answer from the angel. Asuka was confused like never before, she was one hundred percent sure that shot reached its target AT field so then why hasn't react to this? She then decided to fire another shot just like the last one and she was met with the already existing silence.

But then Asuka a light coming from sky and as she was about to dodge it she realised that something was wrong. This attack wasn't meant for her.

Before Asuka could warn Rei, Rei was struck by the glowing light. Rei then, immediately screamed in pain and agony as the light was blind her view but also her mind.

"Get it out of my head. Get it out of head." She said repeatedly .The light was so strong for her had dropped the spear and tried run away from the light without managing to escape it.

Asuka could hear the all the yelling that was happening in main deck of Nerv but she ignored it because she was frozen in place for what just happened.

"Asuka take the spear now , this is the opening that we need to defeat the angel." Said Ritsuko.

"But what about her?" Asked Asuka.

" Leave her be, we have bigger target to prioritize now."

If Asuka had the old mentality she would have left Rei in this situation and throw the spear in order to take all the glory for herself later. But she is not that person anymore.

After all those pains and hardships she went through change her as a person. She doesn't have the same thirst for battle as before she wants this to end as quick as possible so she can finally start a new chapter in her life with Shinji.

So this time instead of attacking she will do the defending, just like Shinji did.

02 rushed to where 00 was and instead of taking the spear that was right there she pushed 00 from the light in order to take it's place like before.

"What are you doing? " Asked Rei in confusion.

"Just throw the damm thing , I don't want sit here all day." It was surprising how Asuka was able to keep a part of her sarcasm even in this situation.

Rei with a second thought took the spear throw it immediately into the skies. The spear managed to pierce the angel's defence, killing it in the process.

The day was saved once again, nobody will suffer from this angel again or at least that was most people thought in Nerv.

After the defeat of the angel Rei went in the change room to switch to her usual school uniform. It didn't take long for Asuka to arrive as well.

They both proceed to their business in complete silence, it was like none of them knew that there was another person in this room.

Asuka finished first and headed to the exit but Rei decided to break up the silence.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, I am fine." Answered Asuka.

Rei looked at in disbelief and took that answer as a 'no'.

"Why do you help me? You could have easily taken the spear and throw it just as the doctor Agaki said."

Asuka darkened in that comment and tried not looking Rei in the eyes.

"I was confused in the heat of the moment and didn't know what to do, plus you were the only one who can throw the spear so well." With that Asuka went to the door to exit this conversation as fast as possible.

"Don't lie to me, your eva is much stronger than mine, it would have been an easy task for you. So I am asking again what made you save me ?"

"Probably the fact that I don't hate you anymore." And with that Asuka left the room.