A/N: Chapter 65 of REKT. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or teams of RWBY, they belong to Rooster Teeth and Monty Oum. What I do own are the characters and teams of my OCs: REKT, GTSY, KACE and DAZE. I also claim Ingrid, Teo, Reina's parents and aunt as well.

Special thanks to the reviewers and to the readers who Fav/Alert this story, I really appreciate it.


Chapter 65: Inner Turmoil

In Patch...

Yang took precautions to avoid taking steps outside her home, anxious and scared of a certain red-haired huntsman coming for her life. Taiyang and Efram tried their best to coax her out, using excuses such as staying inside is bad for her health and such, but she outright refused. She spent most of her time taking refuge in her room, secluded and sitting upright in her bed while staring outside at absolutely nothing.

Sometimes she would attempt to skip her meals, refusing to come down even when Taiyang called for her. Extremely concerned and fearing for her dwindling health, both he and Efram tried different methods to get her to eat. One actually worked for a bit: they would leave her meal outside the door, letting her come and take it when she felt like eating. Then the next morning they would find whatever bowl or plate they originally had food on to be wiped clean.

This continued for a few days...that is until Yang stopped eating all together. Zwei noticed it first when he padded up the stairs to check up on her, sniffing at the food left exactly where it had been placed. The corgi ran down to alert the other two men, who assumed it was because Yang was tired and didn't have the energy to get up and get her meal. Then they realized after another two days of untouched food that she wanted to skip meals again.

"Come on now, don't be like this. Where's the sunny little dragon I know and love? There's no way she'd miss out on her favorite meal!" Taiyang finally decides to go to above and beyond, attempting to spoon feed his daughter like he did when she was younger. But she just gave him a disinterested look and refused to budge or open her mouth. He tried again but every time she refused to eat. He sighs, putting down the fork, "Yang, I know you're in a lot of pain, but don't take it out on your body."

She stares at him with a blank expression, long enough for him to stop trying and leave the room. The worried father ambles into the kitchen, uneaten food in hand, and places the dishes on the counter top for later. Efram shuffles in afterward, a towel draped over his neck from a workout outside. Noticing the concerned expression on the older male, he quickly pours himself a drink and sits down to listen.

"Uuuuuuugh...I just don't know what to do with her. I want to be there for her but it's like she doesn't want me to...such a pain in the ass!" He sighs, burying his face in his hands and let out another agonizing sigh. The huntsman stayed quiet, lending the distraught male an ear to listen. "She can't go on like this forever. What would her mother say if she were here?"

"Has Yang ever shown this kind of behavior before when she was younger? Perhaps a withdrawal or something to that nature?"

"Nope, this is actually the first time I've seen this thing. And honestly...it's scaring me more than the time she had a meltdown at the barber shop just for a tiny haircut." Taiyang snorts with laughter, reminiscing of the past memory. "The poor fellow still has nightmares about it. I felt extremely sorry for him...I'm willing to bet there's still scorch marks in his shop."

"That explains the reason why she doesn't like to get her hair cut...or allow anyone to touch her hair." The huntsman remarks, taking a sip of water. Then he says, "I...wasn't too sure how to deal with someone who has this state of depression. Yang's the first person to actually show this kind of behavior."

"You too huh? Shoot, she might as well get all of us worried at this point." Taiyang ruffles his own hair with annoyance, angry that he felt useless and unable to do much else to help his oldest child. "I don't...I don't want to see her hurting herself any longer. She could end up dying."

"I won't allow that to happen. Let me try to have her eat something a little lighter, perhaps something heavy would upset her." Efram promised, and only took a couple pieces of fruit. He knew Yang was starving, but perhaps seeing a fully loaded meal wasn't appealing to her."

"I pray that you're correct." Taiyang said, watching the other male disappear to the upper level. Then he looked at Zwei who sat near the doorway, tongue sticking out. "Go on then. I know you're worried too." The corgi let out a short bark and trotted towards the steps, his little stump of a tail wagging all the way.

"Yang? It's Efram, I'm coming in." Taking a deep breath and steeling his nerves, he entered the room. The blonde was still in bed looking out the window. But when she heard the voice and turned to see him, she didn't even show the slightest emotion. It was like the male was looking at a husk that was what was left of Yang Xiao Long. "Hey you, I brought you some fruits to munch on. You must be starving, but I figured we start of nice and easy."

"...thanks, but it's unnecessary..." Even her voice sounded tired and worn out, like she hadn't used it in a long time. Yang really did let herself go. "You're wasting your time...looking after someone like me."

"Yang..."

"Why can't you and Dad just leave me alone? Just like the rest of them..." Now there was a bite to Yang's tone and the huntsman stiffened at the hostility. The blonde brawler was letting her darker emotions show and it obviously hurt her deeper than any of them could imagine. "They're out there having the time of their lives, fighting Grimm or whatever and I...well, I'm stuck here in the god damn bed...With not one person from my team by my side...not even my own sister who left to go on her own journey."

"You can't really blame them for –"

"Blame them for what exactly?! That their teammate, the one that cracks all the puns and things, has been reduced to a pile of uselessness?!" There was a brief fire in the eyes and Efram swore a little bit of Yang had come back. Then it was extinguished and the look of despair settled in. "No, you're right...I couldn't possibly blame them for not wanting to stand by a deformed, unable to function, useless teammate. I'd just slow them down...all I am is dead weight."

"Yang, you can't keep hurting yourself. No one blames you for what happened." Efram says, knowing that Yang was in a very dangerous state of mind. "It was out of your control. It wasn't your fault."

"What do you know? You've never experience the pain I'm going through now!" Her voice was raising and she was agitated with him being in the same room as she was. Efram had to tread carefully and navigate the dark waters of the brawler's mind. "First was the tournament, I did beat that guy Mercury but I got framed for committing an act I didn't do! My whole team had their name slandered and we got disqualified. I doubt anyone could look at me the same way...not after what I did."

"That wasn't your fault."

"Then there's this crap of my right arm!" She angrily waved her stump of an appendage. "Waking up after a few days, only to realize that an arm was gone, was a low blow. I'll probably have to learn how to use my left hand for everything."

"It's doable Yang, it just takes practice."

"I'd rather take my chances with an Ursa in the woods." She snorts with annoyance, not wanting to think about it anymore. "At least that thing would let me pummel it to death. And don't you dare say I can't do that with only one arm. I still have my two legs that can kick."

"I wasn't going to say that beating an Ursa with one arm isn't feasible..."

"I could see it written on your face. You didn't have to voice it out loud for me to know exactly what you're thinking. Every day I lay here in agony, and every day I think about what it was I could have done differently. What if I was faster, what if I could have done something to show that I was no monster. But everything isn't lining up and deep down I know that I'd probably end up in the same place as we are here." She looked away with a scowl, unable to look him in the eyes anymore. "So you can just shut up and not sympathize with me! I've seen a lot of it on Dad's face when he's in here. You two aren't doing me much help except reminding me of my failures."

"Your directed anger is unnecessary and I'm sorry for being the one who has to take the brunt of it... but, this isn't about me. It's more about you and your well-being." Efram says, keeping his eyes on the brawler before him. He felt for her, and it hurt him seeing a friend going through such a turmoil. In fact, he was more worried about the sunken cheek bones and dark rings under the eyes more than the hostility in her voice. Yang wasn't giving herself enough rest and eating to heal. "I may not understand fully what you're going through, but I have an idea."

"Having an idea is not the same has going through the same experience." Yang spoke softly, her eyes now focused on something outside the window. It was like her anger dissipated into thin air, or rather, retreated back underneath the surface only to bubble over again. "It's not the same...I tell you it's not the same."

"And I understand that I will never be able to experience the pain that you are now. But that doesn't mean I'm not battling against my own set of pain and problems. Everyone has it differently, but we can all come together on the same page." He releases a sigh, a little tired even. Who knew getting into an argument would sap a lot of energy out of a person. "Get some rest, it's late. Perhaps if you're still hungry, I can get some left overs from downstairs. You didn't want to show up again for meals, and you've been skipping out on the food outside..malnutrition is pretty bad. Starving yourself isn't going to magically kiss the pain away."

"Whatever..." Yang sighed, drawing the blanket up to cover herself. Her stomach let out a distinct rumble which she promptly ignored. Efram wanted to say something else, but decided against it. The depressed huntress wasn't going to listen anyway, and the more he attempts to push her the more closed off she'll become, and he really didn't want that. Taking his cue to leave, he walked towards the door and opened it.

"Everyone worries about you, Yang. I hope you'll always remember that." with that, he closes the door quietly. Looking down when he notices Zwei sitting outside, ever so patient. The corgi didn't move a muscle, almost like a guard dog with his ears on alert. He turned only when the huntsman addressed him. "Come little buddy, let's give her some peace and quiet."


Inside Yang's dream...

The blonde once again found herself standing in the barren school grounds of Beacon, wearing nothing more than an orange tank-top and slack pants, the very same outfit she wore in her first dream. She glances down at her right hand, opening and closing the fingers and took a deep breath. She knew she was in a dream, but she wasn't ready to admit that she lost her dominant arm in battle. Her feet began moving on their own, at a slow and steady pace, almost like they were weighted down by cement.

Strangely, in her dream, there were no noises of Grimm or shouting students, there weren't even any noises of gunfire form Atlas soldiers. It was just a bare campus with no signs of life form except for her. Or so she thought...

"Caw!"

"You..." Yang turns her head to the right, watching as a black bird dip out of the sky, and landed on the railing not too far away. It ruffled its feathers, focusing its beady eyes on the huntress. "It's been far too long since I last saw you."

"Caw!"

"...where is she?" As if the bird knew who she was referring to, it flapped its wings and took off in another direction. Yang followed, keeping the bird in her sights. They continued walking, in the bird's case flying, until it took to the trees and disappeared. Yang took that as a cue to stop, waiting patiently by the forest's edge. She didn't have to wait long, as the rustling of some bushes told her someone was coming her way.

"Yang." Raven spoke as she stepped out, coming to a stop before her daughter. Crimson eyes immediately honed in on the right arm, a look of understanding and something else the blonde couldn't identify passing through them, before they went back to the pair of lilac orbs. "You...seem different. Appearance wise, you look the same as the first time I saw you...but something changed. Could it be that appendage?"

"Gee, way to be observant. But yeah, shit went down." Her daughter all but scoffed with bitterness. She was understandably mad, and Raven didn't blame her for it. "Guess it would be too much to ask for a second save from you."

"I told you already that it was a one time only deal." Raven narrowed her eyes, knowing that Yang was harboring a lot of ill feelings. "That is my policy and I already used it when you were on the train about to get stabbed by a mute. Nobody gets a second chance from me, not even my own child."

"...I wish you didn't use it that time then..."

"Had I not intervened, you and your faunus friend would have been killed. I wouldn't be standing here talking to you if you died."

"But you aren't actually here, you're just in my dream." Yang fought back the tears, not because she didn't want her mother to see, but because she knew Raven didn't deserve to have tears shed upon. "You left me. You left Dad...you'll never be here when I needed you the most."

"Yang, you're a grown girl. You don't need me to always protect you." Raven smirks, "Look at you now, it seems you never needed me. You turned out just fine."

"I needed you when I was a child, Mom. Since you ran off without saying anything and Dad just drank himself silly, I had to pull my weight and Ruby's. I was thrown into a situation and place that I never asked for! ….I never got the childhood that I wanted."

"Sometimes tough things happen in life. When they do, you just suck it up and march on with your head high and proud. Don't be so passive, fight through the hurt for what you want." Raven paused, then says, "Isn't that what you did? You sacrificed your arm to protect your partner."

"...she was hurting...she was hurt by him..." Yang held her right arm with her left, remembering that frightful night. "I didn't...I couldn't let her be hurt anymore. So, in my rage I attacked...and I lost. The same way I lost against Mercury in the tournament and got my entire team disqualified."

"You didn't lose that match. I thought your teammates and friends told you already, stop being so hard-headed." The blonde looked at her mother with surprise. "Hell, I was proud when you broke his damn prosthetic limb with your fist."

"You were...you were watching? That entire time?"

"Of course I was. I see everything." The dark-haired huntress sighed, planting a hand on her hip and frowned. "Yang, I may not have been the kind of mother you wanted to be proud of. But, I've always kept my eye on you. I even kept my eyes on my own brother, and every single person you've made friends with. I see them all."

"Then...why after all those years...why didn't you let me find you?" Yang asks her, wanting that answer more than anything. Well, that and why the woman left in the first place. "When I was younger, when I took Ruby to the abandoned home in the woods...why didn't you show up then? Qrow had to come and save our asses from my mistake...I could've killed Ruby back then..."

"Back then...I didn't want you coming after me. I warned my brother of your antics and you are lucky he showed up the way he did."

"So you already saved me twice."

"My rule applies to myself, not anybody else. I've helped Qrow multiple times, but him saving you because of a tidbit I fed him does not count. Me saving you on that train by myself because he couldn't was the only chance you got. You should already know that." Raven pinched the bridge of her nose with annoyance. "Look, all I wanted was for you to live a life where I could be out of the picture. I was ashamed. I was a coward...and I didn't want you to know..."

"Know what?" Yang watches as her mother turned her head to the side, her eyes narrowed in thought. "Please! You have to tell me!"

"This place is no longer safe. Yang, you need to leave."

"No! Mom, you have to tell me!" Yang places her hands on Raven's shoulders, pleading. "Please, don't leave me in the dark! I need answers!"

"Answers to what? Are you that worried...Or maybe...you were more worried about me!" In an instant, when Raven turned her head around, Yang found herself staring right at Adam. The huntress did a double-take, eyes wide with fright. Her mother was nowhere to be found, it was only him and her and her right arm had been reduced to a stump. Not even a bird feather lay on the ground. "You can't escape from me."

"AHHHHHH!" Yelling out of fear, the blonde turned on her heels and ran as fast as she could in an attempt to flee. It didn't matter where, all she cared about was getting away from him. The courtyard was a blur and she felt as though she was running towards nothing. The scenery changed so fast, and she found herself standing in nothing. Taking large gulps of air she tried to find a way back home, or to awaken from the nightmare. It was to no avail.

"I thought I told you...You cannot run from me." Adam's voice resonated around her, and she watched as he approached her out of the mist.

"Let me go... you aren't real..." Yang said over and over again. "You aren't real... you aren't real..."

"Guess again, human," In one step he was in front of her, hand on the hilt of the red katana that found itself buried to the hilt in her stomach, and exiting out the back. She retched, eyes glancing down to where the weapon pierced through her. Then she felt his lips next to her ear, the evilness of his voice seeping through down to the bone, "This is as real as it's gonna get. But I'll find you no matter where you hide. And when I do..."

In one fluid motion he sliced her body in half and Yang felt herself falling into darkness. Her voice no longer worked, her senses were failing, and all she could do was look into the eyes of her killer.

"I'll be sure to kill you for real."


Back in the blonde's room...

She bolted awake with a startled gasp, nearly screaming her lungs out. Sweat drenched the sheets, and she was trembling violently. It was nighttime, window drapes pulled aside to let the moonlight filter in, but she didn't even want to glance at the shadows on the wall. If she did, she'd felt as though Adam was going to charge right on through, drilling the red blade straight into her body. Speaking of which, she quickly lifted up her shirt, glancing and checking to make sure she wasn't hurt. There were no wounds, her abs were as fine as they were.

"Easy, easy now..." Efram's voice floated near her ears and she glanced at him, pulling down her shirt to cover herself. It was only then did she realize that she wasn't the only one in the room, and she wasn't okay with it. He knew her distress and kept his voice as calm as possible. "It's only me...there's no one else in your room besides us. Well, Zwei's probably gonna be sleeping on the bed with you."

The blonde looks over to see the corgi looking at her with a sad expression. When she reaches out her hand, he immediately trotted to her side, letting her run a hand through his fur. At first it was tentative, as if she was afraid he wasn't real and she was still imagining things, but then she relaxed and the petting became firmer and more confident.

"Wh-Wha...What happened?" She asks with a small croak, but instead he offered her a glass of water. Thanking him, she stopped petting Zwei and held the glass the best she could – her hand was extremely shaky – before downing the liquid.

"You were screaming, almost pleading with something. It was the worst your father or I have ever heard from you, most of the time you slept well...I think. But this was the first you had ever vocalized your pain from a dream." The huntsman explains once she finished drinking. Taking the glass, he set it on the ground so it wouldn't break. Yang proceeded to pet Zwei for therapeutic reasons, vaguely registering the silk fur passing through her fingers.

"Efram...what's happening to me?" She finally asks him after a few minutes of thinking, letting her hand come to a rest. Zwei licked her fingers as a thank you for the pets. "I feel...feel so horrible. Every day and every night it's the same thing over and over, like a merry-go-round inside my head. He's always been on the forefront of my mind...and she's always gone. Ran off, more like it."

"Who is he? And who is she?" Efram asks, gesturing for her to continue. He had a moment's rest since he last was in the room, only to bolt upstairs the minute he heard her screaming. Yang desperately needed help, and they both know it; the huntsman was even willing to give up some of his sleep time for her. The blonde angrily shows him her left arm, the black ribbon always wrapped around it and ending with a small bow.

"You know exactly who she is, and I know you were there when she explained a little bit of her past back on Mountain Glenn." She snarls lightly, putting down her arm and proceeding to wiggle her stump of a right arm next. "He...was her ex-partner. And he did this to me! In that instant...it was too fast for me to comprehend...All I remember was a flash of red, and then I fell into darkness."

"Yang, no one could have predicted that to happen."

"She could have. She's been with him longer than I'll ever know, so she should have known what he was capable of. I was just...too heated in the moment to care about my own being."

"Why do you think she didn't tell you?" He questions her, folding his hands over his lap. "There's...not much about Blake that we know, well apart from you. You were her partner after all."

"Seems like I didn't know her as well I originally thought. But she still left me behind, without so much as a note. The only thing left of her is this ribbon." Yang all but glared at the object. Then the fire in her eyes dimmed and she sighed, "It just...it hurts too much for words. Why couldn't she just stay with me? When I needed her the most...she's almost as bad as the mother who gave birth to me."

"But Blake was with you since she came to Beacon, and from what I could tell, she was willing to put her trust in you. This wasn't the first time she ran away from her problems."

"...do you think she thinks of me a part of her problems? Another thing that was worth running away from?" Yang asks, almost afraid of knowing the answer. Efram shook his head vehemently.

"Yang, I don't believe for a second that Blake thinks of you as a problem. To her, you were probably the best thing that could have ever happened to cross into her life. When you got hurt in the worst way possible, she was perhaps filled with a lot of guilt because she couldn't protect you from her past. So, in order to protect you, she ran. If you ask me, it wasn't a very good plan because now both of you are hurting." He stood up and proceeded to walk towards the door, intending on giving her some alone time. "Well, that should be enough. Try to get some more rest, I'll let your dad know that you're doing okay for now. And Zwei will keep you company."

"...will I ever get better?" She asks him, taking a minute to glance at the sleeping corgi by her side.

"I believe you will. I know you will. Even your father believes you'll make it through." He says, looking over his shoulder at her and smiled. "The only one who needs to believe in that...is yourself. Good night, Yang."

"Wait...before you go..." He looks over at her with an eyebrow raised in questioning. "Could you...bring me something to eat?"

He smiles in response and nods his head.