Chapter 4-3 Hilda
With the water drained, and the Drowned Houses no longer under the waves, the Winters and child decided to look for the herbs to cure Alice of her poison. First, Ethan went back to the Duke's and stoked up. Hilda managed to get some Lei he could use for upgrades and bullets. "It appears the freshwater is no longer in the air. I assume you succeed in draining the village?"
"Yup!" Hilda answered. "Now we just need to find some blue herbs for Alice!"
"Out of curiosity, you wouldn't happen to have any on you, do you?" Ethan asked, praying they could get the herbs from the Duke and not have to make any other stops.
"Sadly, I'm all out of those colors. But if it's blue herbs you're looking for, might I suggest checking the Clinic?"
"Clinic?" Ethan repeated. Where was there such a building around here?
"You mean Moreau's clinic?" Hilda responded, which caused Ethan to turn to the child as she explained. "Lord Moreau owns a clinic in this part of the village. He helped many villagers whenever they were sick."
"Then there might be some herbs there." Ethan believed. Hilda nodded, thinking the same thing.
"With the water drained, we can go there no problem!" Hilda stated. With their destination in mind, Ethan finished his purchases and the two headed out of the Gatehouse and back to where the Windmill was. They could see the rest of the houses now that they were no longer drowned. That wasn't the only thing they noticed. Crawling from the depths, the large fish monster slowly trudged down the pathway, while Ethan and Hilda watched from afar so he wouldn't see them.
"My precious water! No!" He cried out in his monster tone, walking away from them as if he didn't take notice of the pair, despite the multiple eyes on his body.
Ethan held onto Hilda to keep her safe until he was gone. "Looks like he's still around. At least without the water, we'll be on an even play field now…"
The child could only watch the third Lord walk off, as her features twisted into that of sympathy. "He sounds hurt…" It wasn't just pity Hilda felt for him. The man-fish climbed up a few rock ledges until he was no longer in the line of their sight. Ethan was not as mutual to her feelings.
"Come on, let's find those herbs and get back to Alice." Ethan declared. He grabbed her hand and ran off around the Windmill. They could see the rest of this side of the village, now that it was drained. Some puddles laid in the mud, but they were nothing. Barnacles lined the walls of rocks and house walls, but better than any leeches, frogs or spiders. There were plenty of dead fish, probably suffocated from the lack of water, or from the pollution of what was in the liquid. They walked inside of the house, which was ransacked and moist. It smelt of rotting lake creatures, but that was the least of their problems. "So, any idea where the Clinic would be?" Ethan decided to ask, so they knew where they were going.
"If I remember, the clinic was near the Windmill Alice and I went down to get to the mines." Hilda responded.
"Is it far?"
"I think there's a shortcut, but we will need to go down to the other side of this house…" Hilda answered.
Ethan hated the thought of going so far just to get the herbs, especially when his sister was running low on time. Still, the faster they strive towards their destination, the quicker they can get to Alice with the antidote. Hilda walked around the house, opening drawers, looking under furniture and checking every corner to find something of value or interest. She managed to find a note which was stuffed inside of a drawer. Hilda was amazed it survived the conditions of this underwater village, especially when the text was still plausible to read. Ethan went over to where she was as Hilda picked the letter up and began to read it.
"October 1st, Weather: Sunny.
Mother Miranda brought me 5 people from the village, as I asked. I put them to sleep with an elixir. Once put to rest, I injected a Cadou in different parts of their bodies.
Subject 1: Stomach
Subject 2: Ribcage
Subject 3: Pelvis
Subject 4: Spine
Subject 5: Brain
I am looking forward to experimenting on how the Cadou grows inside of a human, and determine which area is best suited for the parasitic mold.
October 2nd, Weather: Cloudy
4 of the subjects are dead, it would seem the Cadou did not find them worthy and dissolved the tissue, muscle and even bones of where they were planted. Subject 5 however, is almost a Lycan. The brain is the best place to insert these Cadou. I sent it to my lab on the mountain for further testing.
I have failed once again. Mother wants strong vessels, but I can not get any for her. I will need to continue my research for her quest. Meaning I will need more people from the village."
Once Hilda was done reading, Ethan shuddered. "This reminds me of a book I read back in high school. About a scientist who did animalistic experiments on an island."
"This letter looks pretty old… the corners are all yellowed out." Hilda noted as she checked the sheet.
Ethan nodded in agreement. "Well, looks like we know where the Lycans came from. I guess it makes sense if Miranda was trying to find a body for her daughter to be reborn in." Upon hearing that, Hilda slightly crumbled the note as her hands twitched. Ethan didn't notice this though, but he did look over at the child. "You said you and Alice found those maidens in the castle? Ones that Lady Dimitrescu were experimenting on, right?"
"Yes…" Hilda answered as she looked up at Ethan.
The older Winters rubbed his chin. "Then that must mean that Miranda and the Lords were experimenting on the villagers for a long time. Lady Dimitrescu and Moreau were definitely happy to do the bidding. What about the other Lords? Donna and Heisenberg?"
Hilda shook her head as she began to answer. "Lady Beneviento did use the Cadou on the children she adopted, but only for them to become dolls so they could live with her."
Ethan was once again disturbed by that notion, even though it did explain a few things about the Beneviento estate. "I don't see how Miranda would be happy with a doll… what about the last one?"
"Lord Heisenberg?" Hilda asked. "Honestly, he doesn't come to the Village often. I hardly ever see him. He's always within his factory walls. I can hear the scraping and hammering of parts. I've always wondered if he actually sleeps…" Ethan turned back to Hilda as she said that. The way she phrased those words, it sounded similar to what he heard in the church when he entered the Village. Hilda noticed his eyes staring at her, and it made her a bit uncomfortable. "Did I say something wrong?"
Ethan bit his lip, tempted to question her. However, his eyes landed on a silver case across from the drawer and near the giant hole in the wall where a field was below them. He opened the case and saw a M1911 - High-Capacity Mag nestled into the cushion. Ethan grabbed it and combined it with his handgun, giving him more room for extra bullets. "Come on, we wasted enough time." Ethan decided to drop the questions he had, he figured he would ask later when there wasn't a deadline.
The Winters went through the hole and dropped down onto the wet ground. He waited for Hilda and helped her climb down. They saw the state of decay this village had suffered. Moss and barnacles had grown on the walls of both houses and solid rock. A foot or two of water refused to be dried out, dead animals, mainly fish, were laid to rest. The smell didn't help either, making Ethan cover his nose. "This is why I was never a sea-food guy." He grumbled. Hilda found a few scraps and helpful items that they could use, stashing them in her satchel. The place seemed quiet, which made Ethan raise his guard up. He kept Hilda behind him, keeping his eyes peeled as he knew something was coming.
Hilda stopped in her movements, which made Ethan turn to face her in question. Before he could ask, a growl was heard followed by the sound of splashing and wood cracking. Hilda pulled Ethan to a small corner as Moreau in his monster form was walking around, trying to find his prey that escaped him. "I'll make you proud, Mother. Watch me!" Moreau called out.
"This fish doesn't know when to give up…" Ethan grunted in annoyance. A boss fight was the last thing he needed to deal with, but it looks like they didn't have any other choice. The Winters placed Hilda against the wall of a house under a roof and took out what materials she had picked up. "Stay here, I'll take care of Moreau and then we can leave."
"No! It's too dangerous!" Hilda warned him.
Ethan wasn't arguing. "Trust me, I know what I'm doing." He hoped. "Guess I gotta do this." Taking out his shotgun, he ran off into the small maze as he was prepared to take on this amphibian. He could see the body of a human man within the mouth of the fish, as if he was trapped in the body of a hideous beast. Still, Ethan felt no sympathy. He was one of the reasons that his daughter was brought here and divided up. As well as the reason why his sister is poisoned, and now Moreau was preventing Ethan from getting the cure she needed. "Bring it on, you monster!" Ethan cried out, taking a few shots at the fish. He shot three rounds with the shells, but they seemed to have bounced off the thick hide of slime and eyeballs. The Winters realized this right away, the skin was too tough to penetrate. But he must have some weakness, a soft spot that could take damage.
Before he could figure out where, Moreau curled his mouth flaps inward before opening them. He released a waterfall of green ooze, aiming it right at Ethan. The Winters dodged most of it, but some droplets landed on his hand. He hissed in pain, looking at his skin as steam was coming off of it. So that gunk that Moreau was puking up wasn't just bad food. "Take… take that!" Moreau cried out as his human self was exposed. Looking at Ethan and mocking him, which the blond hated. In a fit of frustration, Ethan took a chance and pulled the trigger, firing a bullet out. It landed on the human figure within the mouth, causing it to howl in pain as the man held his head in just as much agony. As Ethan watched this, the gears in his head turned as he made the realization. The human body! That was the weak spot on the monster! If he could keep shooting at it, then Moreau would be defeated. "Don't look at me that way!" Moreau pleaded. Ethan aimed to take another shot, which hit the target with grace. Unfortunately, this only angered the creature, as he approached the human and flung him backwards.
Ethan quickly grabbed some liquid medicine and poured it on his arms and hands, making the burns sting less. At least he knew what he needed to hit, and he had plenty of ammo. "D-Don't run!" Moreau called out as he opened his mouth, already spewing out some of the green acid. Ethan took a chance and shot the human trapped in the maw, causing the monster to howl in pain. "Stop!" Moreau pleaded, practically begging. Ethan didn't budge, he got another three shots towards him, only two landing on the weak spot while the last hit the hide. The Fish King hopped onto one of the houses, getting away from Ethan. At first, the Winters believed he was going to jump on Ethan like a wrestling match. Instead, he began to make gurgling sounds before spilling his toxins into the air, making acid rain. Ethan hissed as some of it hit his body, causing him to seek immediate shelter under some roof tiles. "I'm not stupid!" Moreau cried out, as the droplets ceased. Ethan ran off from his shelter as Moreau came down and began to make his way towards Ethan. He couldn't keep running, he needed to end this fight so they could move on.
Ethan looked around the area, trying to find something else he could use to slow Moreau down so he could get more headshots in. His green eyes took notice of a red barrel with a fire hazard symbol on it, similar to what he saw during his Lycan fight. Aiming his shotgun, he pulled the trigger and launched a bullet at the object. Flames and sparks flew as the fire grazed Moreau's skin, causing him to cry out more. For a water monster, he was really vulnerable to fire. Ethan managed to get three shots in, grunting as he wondered how close he was to frying this fish up. "You're the reason… Mother doesn't love me…" Moreau cried out, throwing house materials around to try and hit Ethan, which he missed.
"Yeah, I think you're the real reason she doesn't love you!" Ethan shouted back.
Moreau climbed up to the roofs again, which signaled Ethan to hide under one of the shelters. The Fish King puked out his acid rain, and covered some pathways with his enzyme walls, making the field much smaller for Ethan to run around in. Even though it seemed like a setback, Ethan believed if he was trying to block the pathways, he was becoming desperate due to being low on health. Besides, a few bullets and those things would fall apart. Ethan used his hand gun bullets on the enzyme wall next to him. After about four rounds, it started to dissolve, with a few leeches coming out. The Winters quickly stomped on them so they wouldn't prove a distraction. Only for Moreau to jump down and send the human flying once more. Ethan scrambled to get up, turning a corner as Moreau launched more of his acid his way. Within the corner of his eyes, he saw another fire barrel lodge in between the wall of some wood and scrap.
Moreau began to follow Ethan through the pathway, which he wanted. Once he was close enough, he aimed and fired at the barrel. Once again, Moreau found his side covered in flames as he exposed his weak spot. Ethan started to shoot at the human in the mouth, firing about four rounds in total. "S-stop picking on me!" Moreau cried as he found himself withering on the floor. Ethan reloaded his gun, running off so he could gain some distance between him and the monster. Moreau managed to pick himself up and began his pursuit towards Ethan. "Please Mother Miranda, I'm trying."
The human man turned on his heels, aimed at the mouth as Moreau was ready to spew out more of his acid. Once he had a clear shot, Ethan fired and hit the guy in the maw, causing the amphibian abomination to lose his balance and flop to the ground. Unlike the last times, Moreau wasn't able to get himself up as he was struggling to take care of his wounds, he was weaker now. "You! You!" Moreua looked up at Ethan, as the Winters reloaded the shells into his shotgun.
"Finally out of breath?" Ethan aimed the barrel right at the face of the human part of the monster. At least it was almost over, and Ethan can finally put this creature out of his misery.
While the battle was escalating, the spectator of this could only watch through her eyes. Hilda saw what was happening, but she could also feel the pain that Moreau was going through. It was terrible. And now, with Ethan ready to deliver the final blow, the young girl couldn't stand by any longer. She ran over from where she was and held onto Ethan's jacket. "Ethan, wait!"
The man did not move from his position, trying to shove Hilda away so she wouldn't get hurt. "Stay down, kid. Let me finish this." He was dead set on finishing this monster off, one less obstacle to worry about and to help them move forward.
"Nooooo! I don't want to die! Ohhh… it hurts so much!" Moreau complained as he held his human head while the body of his fish self was flopping.
"This is what you get, you disgusting freak!" Ethan grunted, ready to pull the trigger. No sympathy was in his voice or features, he was not taking any more chances.
"Ethan please!" Hilda begged once more, but her words were not getting through to the old man. Even though she knew the deeds that Lord Moreau had done, she didn't believe that such a fate should fall onto him. Especially when he had been suffering just as much his whole life, and was only doing these tests because of Miranda herself. But Ethan didn't see that, all he saw was the monster that was responsible for taking his daughter away and for poisoning his sister. His anger was justifiable, but that wasn't a reason. The child stood in front of Moreau, her arms wide open as she was now Ethan's target. "No! I won't let you!"
"Kid… step aside." Ethan was not asking, he wanted her to get out of the way so he wouldn't shoot her.
Hilda shook her head. "You can't! I know he did bad things, but he was only following orders."
"Orders or not, it doesn't excuse what he's done!" Ethan argued.
"I'm not moving!" She was starting to grow desperate, and even just as angry as Ethan was.
Ethan cocked his shotgun, aiming it to try and find a spot to shoot Moreau without hurting Hilda. The child knew that Ethan was not going to let up until the third Lord was gone, one way or another. But she wouldn't let it be through the use of weaponry. "Last chance, step back!" Ethan warned her as he kept his finger on the trigger, already planning on firing.
Hilda's face shadowed over, as she had one of seriousness. For the first time since Ethan had been with the child, she showed a face of a twisted nature. Not a cheerful, curious, fearful or even confused expression. But one that showed she was putting her foot down and was not happy. "Ethan. Stop!" Her tone was now the one being demanding, as her green eyes glared up at him. It was those words that made Ethan feel a shudder in his spine, which spread throughout his body. The Winter's hands began to shake, dropping the weapon as he felt his nerves and muscles no longer obeying his own. He couldn't even ask what was going on, as he found himself on his hands and knees while his eyes kept to the ground.
The child turned back to Moreau, stepping over to the fish man who looked up at the girl. He still squirmed around in fear while his body was losing strength. "P-please…"
"It's okay… I won't hurt you." Hilda promised as she was close to his mouth, where his human part was stuck in. She gave him a sympathetic smile as she reached her hand over to him. "I know it hurts… but I can fix this."
"W-why…?" Moreau asked as he looked at the child, confused as to what she meant and her plans.
"Because I know what it's like to be mocked at by others. People that don't think you're worth it because you are different from them. But you are still a Lord, no matter what anyone else says. You deserve better…" Hilda kept that smile, her small soft hand rested on the head of Moreau. The monster was no longer squirming underneath her, but rather had a still, calm demeanor as the shriveled man looked up at the child. Even though he didn't know a lot about the girl, he didn't seem to go against her words. "Please… let me help you." Hilda smiled at him while she kept rubbing his head gently. It was the first time someone truly showed Moreau any kindness in his life as a Lord.
Ethan wasn't able to watch any longer, as he soon felt his eyelids growing heavy just like the rest of his muscles. Why wasn't he able to control his body? What happened? It was all he could ask before he found himself face first in mud and water. His body shut down as he fell asleep while he couldn't register anything else.
