Important AU: Last chance to give or come up with an educated guess.

I don't own RWBY or Call of Cthulu

In an unknown location, In an unknown time, somewhere in the Green Mountains.

The view opens up on Tommy as he was sleeping. As he sleeps a dreamless dream a hand crept towards his face. After hovering over him for a few moments it quickly slapped him across the face.

"Hey, Tommy Boy Now's not the time for sleeping." Maria silently hisses as she slaps him across the face for a second time. This time it got a reaction out of him.

"Ugh, wha-the?" Tommy remarks as he puts his hand on his head. Before the sudden shock of pain can be felt in his left hand. His fingers were purple, bloated, and sore. Thankfully not broken but he won't be able to use it for a bit. Worst yet, his hands were bound in rope so tight that they were chafing into his hands.

"Where the hell are, we?" Tommy asked as he looked around with his eyes slowly adjusting. It looked like a cabin of sorts, in it were a few figures.

"Daddy's Reservoir." A feminine voice replies from the corner. Looking over, she was a blond with beautiful features. However, days had gone by without basic hygiene care. She then crawled towards the two revealing her face in a clearer light. "What I don't understand. Is why are daddy's workers helping those… Walking dead men?"

It took a moment for Tommy to realize who this girl is. He then asked, "Lanai Strong?"

"Yeah, and who are you two?" The girl now known as Lanai asked.

"Tommy Colt. Blackwood Private investigator." Tommy said introducing himself to her

"Marie Winchester. Pinkerton Detective." Ms. Winchester said introducing herself.

"We were hired by your father to find you after the shoot out." Tommy said picking up where he last left off.

"Well, for a bunch of gumshoes. You did a terrible job of find me." Lanai remarks in a snobbish and irritated tone. "So now that you found me, how are you going to help me?"

She held up her bound hands to illustrate her point. She was definitely her father's daughter; still despite her tone she was right, being kidnapped wasn't part of the plan. Speaking of which, who were there captors?

"Well, before we come up with a plan. Who exactly are these 'dead men walking?'" Ms. Winchester asked as she checked her boots for any spare knifes.

"They are dead. Yet they still walk." A voice said in a panic tone. Looking over, it was a young man in a three-piece suit. If the two had to guess, he is Phil Jamison. By the way he was rocking back and forth. He was losing it. "I shot him. Not once, twice, heh not even three. Four times. Four times through the chest and they still walked with their guts out on the ground."

He then went silent as he gets in the fetal position while crying silently for his mother. Looking over at the other two another were in a similar state of shock. A man in a white yet dirty cowboy hat and a young kid crying silently. Both were wearing hunting clothes, so if they had to guess these were the Halls Alistar Lawson told them. Seems they were nabbed as well. The man noticed the two were staring and asked a hesitant question.

"Did you see a group of artists? We were snagged by their camp and I haven't seen them since." The man, Brian Hall asked.

"Yeah… they didn't make it." Ms. Winchester said with slight irritation in her tone. They removed every last knife or anything that could be used to cut these binds from her. "Found them tied to a pole with a pike sticking out of it."

"My god… they said that they brought them before their god." Brian said before realizing something.

"Now we're next." He said before breaking out into fits of tears and mad laughter as his son cries even louder. The two detectives looked at one another with a confused looks on their faces. The same question went through their heads. What did they mean 'Brought them before their god'?

"Well, why didn't you try and escape?" Ms. Winchester asked as she tried to squirm through her ropes.

"I wouldn't try that Ms. Winchester." A voice from above states. The two look up to see a shadowy figure looking down. They couldn't see his face much less the clothes he was wearing. However, the eyes were glowing a hue of green and the cracks in face emitted this same color as well. "My god wishes are at hand, though he requests the service of more I will end your lives without a second thought should you prove yourself… to be more trouble than your worth."

"Oh, and who the hell are you?" Tommy asked trying to get a good look at the speaker.

"A servant who will fulfill my masters wishes. The question is, will you join us in eternity among the stars? Or will you be destroyed?" Figure said as he pulls out an 1855 carbine pistol while pointing it at Tommy. The two stared off at one another before the figure lets out a chuckle. "Heh, won't be long now. So you might want to save what little strength you have left. For you will need it in a few hours, my master will arise and those who serve him faithfully will be rewarded."

The figure then leaves climbing over the wooden shack beams with ease. Leaving the group wondering what will happen next. The four that were there begin to panic and cry as the end approaches. Ms. Winchester was trying to come up with a way to get everyone out alive. Tommy, he noticed a slit in the wall. He looked through it to see the sun setting. As he watches it set over the hills, he thought to himself.

'Ruby, I hope you're doing a whole lot better than me. Cause I could use your help right about now.' Tommy thought as the sun disappeared behind the hills.

A few hours later. After dark, back on the hill.

The view changes to outside the cabin. In the small construction zone, nobody was seen. From all appearances it seemed that it was abandoned entirely. It wasn't till two familiar characters sneaked forward from behind a pile of dirt. Once by a few boxes the shortest figure grabs a lamp and strikes up a match. Revealing it to be Ruby. She held her the lamp up high as she motions for Marty to follow. They waited till they had the cover of dark so they could sneak in and free Tommy and Ms. Winchester. However, upon entering the exuviation site, they didn't run into anyone. Not even the guards where there. Which didn't exactly help Ruby or Marty's nerve. It felt like they were walking into a trap. As they move through the abandon camp, they came upon the building they saw the workers move Ms. Winchester and Tommy too.

Ruby taking the lead, slowly opens the door before entering. Inside she found nobody. It was a storage room for shovels and pick axes. However, something of noteworthy was a few sticks of dynamite left out haphazardly, to which she grabbed some in case she ever needed a fast exit or something. As she moves into the backroom, she found something familiar. A blue and grey striped tie on the ground. It was Tommy's, something Ruby got for him. As she picked it up, she noticed scratching in the wood. It was a message, made with a rusty nail.

"By the lake, hurry. -T.C" Ruby read aloud silently.

Realizing he was in trouble Ruby was about to exit when she heard Marty speaking to someone outside.

"Hey, stay back or would you rather end messy for you?" Marty remarks loudly.

Realizing something was up Ruby quickly ran out the door with the lamp in hand. There she see's a worker trying to grab Marty who was fending him off with a 2 by 4. Not wanting to draw to much attention she pulled out a small snub nose handgun from the inside of her coat. She prefers to use her beloved Crescent Rose. But in times like this, she needs to keep things a little quieter when it comes to a 50. Cal. So she built a new hand gun as a backup.

It was a strange double action revolver. The shortened barrel fired rounds from the bottom cylinder rather the top. It held five rounds in the chamber, using the 45. ACP rather than traditional 32 or 38. The metal was dyed red with a silver base. The handle made of ivory with a Rose vine wrapping design with her burning Rose emblem in the center. She named it, Silver Thorn. 45. Or S.T 45. for short.

"Hands up." Ruby said as she cocks the hammer back. "Don't think for a second I won't shoot."

Course when she said that part, she was meaning to shoot him in the leg. In all honesty she would shake like a leaf in the wind if she even thought about killing the man. Oddly he paid no attention to Ruby's threat. Rather, he turned to Ruby and walked towards her.

"I'm warning you!" Ruby states as she drops the lamp to hold the S.T 45. with both hands. He didn't regard her, so with shaking hands she points her pistol at his foot and fired off a round. The bullet missed and hit the man right in his kneecap, sending him to the ground.

"Told you to stop." Ruby remarks as she cocks the hammer once again.

However to her shock, the man stands back up and proceeds to walk over to her. She then shoots him again, this time hitting her original target. Yet he still walked towards her with malice intent. Fearing for her life she fired off the last three rounds at the man. Each one punching through, and yet this didn't do anything other than slowed him down a bit.

"What, in the world?" Ruby gasped in shock as the man was about to swing at her. However, Marty quickly intervened by breaking the 2 by 4 over his head.

With the board snapped in half, the man simply staggered before turning to Marty. He wrapped his hands around Marty's neck and proceeded to strangle him with a cold death grip. Marty tried everything to break free from this silent brute. Yet he would budge. Marty soon begins to feel his eyes budge as he struggled to breath. That's when another five shots could be heard. Ruby had reloaded slowly from the shock, and fired off all five rounds into the back of the man's head. Yet he would not die, even with the bullets lodged in the back of his brain.

He tosses Marty aside, against a pile of mining equipment. Ruby quickly reloaded her S.T 45. before firing another five rounds. Each round hitting the stranger dead on, yet he did not die. In fact, the only thing he did was cover his face as he walked towards her. With the last shot, Ruby quickly tries to reload only for man to attempt to grab her. She quickly counters by grabbing his arms and the two proceed to try and push the other over. This was a stalemate, even with Ruby's aura helping her. Deciding to try something her sister would do, she lifted her back right foot and delivered a powerful kick to the crotch.

It did nothing, confused she did this a few more times. The last one was infused with Aura, and resulted in what can be described as 'crushed grapes' for the attacker. Yet he still didn't fall, not even show any signs of pain. As Ruby tries to think of something to get out of this, a whistle can be heard catching both of their attention. Marty returned, with a shovel. He then delivered a powerful swing that sent the attackers head flying into the hole.

"Monty almighty!" Ruby screamed as the body falls to the ground.

"Jesus… either this is one sturdy shovel… or he had one loose head." Marty remarked as he messages his sore throat.

"Ugh, Yeah. Still did you really had to kill him?" Ruby asked.

"I was trying to knock him out. Honest." Marty answers.

"Well congratulations. He ain't gonna wake up." Ruby stated sarcastically to which Marty simply rolled his eyes. Ruby then retrieves the lamp before walking over to the body. Strangely, no blood was leaking. Even with the recently decapitated of his head, not a single drop of blood leaked out. This caught Marty's attention as well.

"How in the hell did this guy didn't went down with the first shot?" Marty asked as he finishes messaging his throat.

Ruby had that same question and kneels to inspect the body. She poked the body a few time to make sure it wouldn't move or anything. Once she was satisfied she pulled a small knife and cuts the shirt open. What the two see underneath the shirt, scared them. Right where the heart should be was a massive hole. Revealing decaying like flesh covered with patches of green mold.

"What in the actual hell?" Marty remarks as he failed not to hurl at the sight.

"I… words can't even, how… why… when?" Ruby herself couldn't even describe what she is seeing. Well, maybe one word. "…Since when did Vermont had Zombies?"

"(Cough, Cough, ugh.) I'm sorry, a what?" Marty asked.

"A zombie, it's um a monster from this mov… novel I once read. Mid-dawn of the undead." Ruby lied; it wasn't a book a movie. Still, it was enough to catch Marty's attention.

"Alright, well how the hell do you kill a… zombie?" Marty asked.

"Um, well it's usually the head shot. But seeing that I put a few in his head, I doubt this is a good reference." Ruby answered.

"Well… how does one become a… zombie?" Marty asked.

"When you get bitten…" It then dawned upon Ruby that if this person was technically a zombie, wouldn't that mean the rest were… and they have her friends. With widen eyes of horror she mutters "We need to get to the lake."

"What… why?" Before Marty could even get an answer. Ruby grabbed him by the collar and dragged him to the lake while sprinting. Nearly tripping the boy along the way.

Play: "The Whisperer in Darkness" by H.P Lovecraft Orchestra Horror music.

As they ran, voices from the distance begin to get louder and louder. It sounded like a mesh of English and an unknown language that Marty never heard of. Ruby however, heard it before. She has no idea what the language was called but it brought back horrifying memories of the Museum.

The throdog lake h' ah wgah'nagl. If ymg' ahnythor ph' nog h', ph'nglui ah'ehye lloig

cahf ahogog slug covered llll sharp spines mgep mg remorse

Voices in her head, with the Shambler following closely behind. She quickly shook the memories from her head as they made it to the tree lines edge. In front were a group of people, chanting around eight poles. Six were in current use while the other two were empty.

h' needs innocent, infects f' llll h' poison

ph'hai h' tentacles llll ahmgr'luh ymg' llll gn'thor

ng ahhai h' poison finally ymg' ch'nglui'ahog veins

ymg' ahor become h' uh'enah

Right off the bat, Ruby recognize Tommy and Ms. Winchester, they were on the furthest edge of the poles. The other's she didn't recognize. However, Marty knew the dame at the center and the wailing man next to her was Phil Jamison and Lanai Strong. The kid and other man were unknown to them.

c' choose l' h' vulgtlagln, ahhai gla'aki fhtagn

c''ll ah prophets, spread aimgr'luh, ahhai gla'aki fhtagn

honour h' yaah llll throdog awe, ahhai gla'aki fhtagn

ng lure ahog uh'e ph'nglui h' ron, ahhai gla'aki fhtagn

The group that surrounds the six were a mismatch of people. There were the workers from the camp. Along with that were a group of five unknown individuals who all had gone completely shirtless. Revealing massive holes where their hearts would be. At the center of this group was four figures dressed in raggedy civil war clothes.

h' fhtagn ng kadishtuor ah ahf' c' nilgh'ri crave llll

mgiiahe h' c' uaaah victims ot rapid putrefaction

From the little skin they showed was a horrific sight. They looked like rotting corpses, with green mold and faint glowing veins covering the little skin that was still attached. They were missing a few pieces of flesh and a few parts of themselves but it didn't matter to them. The one in front was holding a glowing yellow and blue crystal.

c' ah mgn'gha uh'enahh, ahhai gla'aki fhtagn

mgng c' ahnyth h' willingly, ahhai gla'aki fhtagn

turn'ghftor n'ghaor, ot ah'lloigshogg yogfm'log, ahhai gla'aki fhtagn

ph'hai daytime c' shun mgn'ghft, ahhai gla'aki fhtagn

As they continue to chant, the crystal glowed brighter and brighter. Along with that, it seems the water begin to bubble faster and faster as if something was emerging from the black and Icey lake waters. It has yet to appear but the two could tell. It was huge, and will be making its appearance shortly.

ahhai gla'aki fhtagn ahagl's freedom, mgng c' ahnyth c' uh'eog vulgtmnah

ahhai gla'aki c' fhtagn h' mgr'luh mgn'ghftephaii, h' fantasies

ahhai gla'aki fhtagn, ahagl's eagerness l' kadishtu hnahh h' kadishtu

ahhai gla'aki c' fhtagn lloig ah na'ah'ehye, l' c' ahor mgr'luh

"We need to save them." Ruby remarks as she pulls out Crescent Rose from off her back.

"Excuse me? But how exactly are you going to do that?" Marty asked with twitch of fear in his eyes.

"Well, by shooting their heads off." Ruby replies as she looks up into the tree's looking for a sturdy branch to use.

"It didn't exactly work with that peashooter you had so why would it work with a fucking hunting rifle?" Marty asked.

"Hunting rifles uses a 306. Caliber Hunting round. Crescent Rose uses a 50. Cal rounds." Ruby explains as she pulls a few clips from off her belt checking to make sure that each one was loaded.

"306, 50. Cal, what the difference?" Marty asked still not convinced that Ruby will be able to kill let alone hurt these… things.

"One's meant for civilians and military use. The other was used to put holes in tanks and planes." Ruby explains as she tossed him a single round from her belt. To Marty's surprise, it was a rather large round. Still, there was the question of what to do.

"Look, even if you clip a good chunk of them how exactly are you going to save the six?" Marty asked.

"I'll draw their attention away from the treetops while you sneak around and cut them loose." Ruby said as she hands him her knife, to which Marty rejected.

"Yeah, fuck that. What makes you think I put my neck on the line for those two, let alone my childhood bully?" Marty asked with a brow raised.

"Because if we don't do anything then they will die." Ruby answers.

"And?" Marty quipped as he crossed his arm.

"And if you don't, I will shoot you and let your screams be the distraction while I rescue them." Ruby replies as she cocks Crescent Rose.

The two stared each other down for a few moments before Marty relented with a loud sigh. "(Sigh) Can I at least have a gun?"

"No, now get going." Ruby said as she pushes the knife back into the young mobster's hand. He then proceeds down the beach, grumbling all the way. Once he was not looking Ruby quickly used her Semblance to get into position on a tree branch. There she will wait for the opportune moment.

Down by the lake, Tommy was trying to break free from his restrainment. They have been standing here for thirty or so minutes waiting for this supposed god. As they chant, it became apparently clear that it is bringing something to the surface. He struggles to break free but the rope was industrial and as tight as a safehouse lock. He then looked over to see if any of the others had any success on freeing themselves. To his dismay, only Ms. Winchester was trying. Phil Jamison was crying for his mother, Lanai Strong was in shock at the sight of the bubbles, Brian Hall was gagged for cursing up a storm, and is kid Author Hall was silently crying.

The chant begins to get louder and louder, and the bubbles were beginning to surface. Tommy knew something horrible was going to appear. His arms were itching like crazy and getting worse with every second. Soon a huge tendril emerges from the water. It was the size of a three-telephone pole's put together the flesh had no suckers, rather emitted a pinkish and green color. It then moved towards the Lanai. After a few moments the tip splits open revealing a massive glowing green eye. Not only did the tip open, but all along the tendril eye's begin to open on all sides.

Seeing this caused the group to stop and stare before the water burst wide and a massive figure appears from the water. It glowed with a sickly ethereal green and pink color. With the moon glowing brightly upon the monstrosity, the six victims could only compare this… abomination as a massive slug with metallic covering it's back. It lets out a loud and horrific roar, revealing it's slug like mouth. Rows and Rows of thousands if not million teeth, exposed for the six to witness. This caused different effects upon the six.

Tommy eyes went wide in fear, Ms. Winchester twisted her head trying hard not to look at this abomination. Phil and Author begin to cry louder but Phil pissed himself in utter fear. Unable to comprehend the sight of this horrific creature, Brian screams in fright. Then Lanai on the other hand, let out one loud shriek before consciousness failed her. The monster then turned to look at the man in front. It's most loyal servant holding the crystal before him. It then spoke in a gravely and dark tone. With a strange language that nobody has heard before.

"Ymg' mgep mgepahnyth ya vulgtmnah Joseph. Y' ephaireward ymg' l' ya na'ah'ehye!" It spoke causing the servant to smile in pure glee.

"Thank you, my lord, I've dream about this day for so many years. To hear your praise fill me with such joy." The talking corpse of a man said with much glee. He then held up the crystal before looking back at the six currently tied up. He then asked. "My lord, what shall we do with these six nonbelievers?"

"Y' ahor mgah'n'ghft mgleth Iiahe Y' l' mgepah ymg' mgepyarog. Ng, Y' ahor uaaah air'luh l' ch'nglui'ahog ya ah'ehyeagl!" The creature remarks as tendrils emerged from the water.

"Ah, so kind of you my lord. May your will be done." The man said to which the others all said in unison.

"May your will be done." The undead servants of this hideous creature said with great glee.

The tendrils then moved over to its body, ripping off the metallic spikes from off it's back. Once it had collected six, they turn towards their intended victims. All could nothing but watch as the creature readied itself to impale the six. As this looked like this was the end, something strange flew overhead. It was a bundle of sticks… of dynamite.

"Oh mg nafl ephaii!" The creature said as a loud bang can be heard, following by the dynamites going off in the air, sending those on the sand to fall to their backs while the monster itself was sent back screaming in pain as the metallic spikes fall to the water below in pieces.

Before anyone could react, more gunshots can be heard. With each shot, one of the undead monsters, heads were ripped from their bodies. This didn't kill each and every single one who got hit, but that wasn't the idea.

"Y' ahor't ah'r'luh air'luh, h' ah'n'gha!" The creature roared as a strange round hit it's eye, spewing fire from it. This caused the creature to flee back into the water to extinguish the flames.

"Kill her, kill her now!" The lead undead servant shouted as more gunfire can be heard.

The undead slave begins to charge towards her, chanting the words. "Kill her, Kill her, Kill her!" Over and over as they move towards Ruby's position, the four civil war servants remain behind. Chanting for the return of their god. As they do, they failed to notice another presence. Marty was moving towards the sacrificial sticks.

"Heh, broads crazier than Schmidt… Yang, I think I am starting to like your sister." Marty remarks to himself with a chuckle as he approaches Ms. Winchesters pole.

She noticed him but kept her mouth shut not wanting to give the servants any hints something was wrong. As se remain still as Marty finishes untying her, Marty then quickly made it to the other end, untying the father. A dumb choice, cause as soon as he does the man quickly sprinted forward in a fit of rage. He got a good right hook into the first one, but was grabbed by the others who proceed to stab him with cultist blades made from rusting bayonets and sharpen stones. This didn't exactly kill him but he wouldn't be moving for some time. Looking over they noticed Marty.

"Kill him." The lead cultist said as he points his blade at Marty. With that said his three cronies quickly ran towards him.

Acting quickly, Ms. Winchester tackled the closest one. Wresting the weapon out of hand. As she deals with the one, Marty was chased around by the other two. He ran around the poles avoiding the swipes from the other two dead union soldier chasing him. A few close strikes, he was cornered by Tommy's pole. He dived out of the way as the blade impales the rope. This allowed Tommy to shimmied out of his restrainment. Sadly, not fast enough to save Marty. He was eventually tackled by the two dead men and was stabbed repeatedly in the right leg. One of the dead men then crawled over and raised its blade and tried to impale him through the neck.

Before he could, the arms came flying off. Looking up a blood covered Ruby was standing before them. With a flashed smirk she then quickly swing's Crescent Rose, slicing the two in half. Before helping Marty up. He could barely stand and was bleeding heavily.

"How is he?" Tommy asked as he helped Ruby hold him up.

"Like I've been stabbed by a bunch of knifes you fucker." Marty shouted before flinching in pain.

"Probably has tetanus, maybe puncture artery." Ruby said as she noticed the heavy amount of blood coming from Marty's leg. She then pulled a bandaged from her belt and wrapped it around as a makeshift tourniquet.

As she does, Ms. Winchester was having a difficult time. She stabbed the undead servant multiple times however he just doesn't seem to die. She however, was stabbed a few times. Twice in the left leg, three times in the ribs, and one straight through her right hand. While the wounds have yet to prove fatal, she couldn't move all that much. As she curses her luck for not bringing her model 52. As the abomination ran towards her, blade held high. However, a loud crack can be heard and the creatures head went clean off. She turns around to see Ruby, holding her weird rifle of hers.

"Crack shot little rose… ugh, mind shooting them before they stab me?" Ms. Winchers replies sarcastically in pain as Tommy ran over to help keep her balance.

Before Ruby could answer, she hears the screams of a young kid. The group turns to see the sole servant standing on the beaches edge. In his hand was the ritual blade, on the verge of piercing Author Hall's neck. Noticing Ruby slowly reaching for her gun he applied a little pressure, and blood begin to leak from the kids neck.

"Move towards any of your weapons, and I'll gut the brat right here!" The undead servant spat.

"Give it up. All of those…" Tommy couldn't find the word to describe them, after trying to figure out something, Ruby and Marty remarked at the same time. "Zombies."

"Yea… whatever that means. Look, games up. We are just here for Ms. Strong and Mr. Jamison. So let the kid go or we can guarantee you won't survive." Tommy negotiated.

"My death means nothing, that is if you think mere lead will put me down!" The servant replies.

"Well, last I checked, they worked fine on your friends; I think it will work fine on you." Ruby remarks to which the servant looked her dead in the eyes. He then begins to chuckle, before breaking out into a mad fit of laughter. He continues to do so for a full minute, leaving those who heard it with an unsettling feeling of seeing a corpse laugh. When the laughter dies down, what he said next, shook Ruby to the core.

"Heh heh… it's funny. Not too long ago. Another one of my master's servants heard something similar before his demise. 'Last I check, bullets still kill. You are a special case where one won't do.' …if it wasn't for that damn nigger lover or the stupidity of those servants, then my master would have been one step closer to freedom. Ah but that is nothing, compared to what your bitch of a sister did. She took from my master what was rightfully his! So as punishment, he took from her everything dear… just like he will do to yo… Bang" Before he could finish a bullet ripped straight through his neck sending him staggering back. He was just as shocked as everyone else was. It wasn't Ruby who did it, rather Marty. Using his colt 1908 he was hiding. He then fired off the remaining five rounds, hitting his mark. Once out of ammo he quickly reloaded and continued to fire till finally the Deadman falls to the ground. After he hits the ground, the crystal that he was holding onto, fell from its pocket out onto the ground.

Everyone was honestly in shock. Surprise that he had a gun, nobody made a move to swipe it. Rather they watched silently as he gets up and walked towards the corpse. There he proceeded to reloaded the pistol before emptying another clip into the back of it's head. After doing so, he then notices the yellow and blue crystal. It was familiar to him. He had seen something similar hang from Yang's neck the first time he met her. So with some curiosity, he bends down to grab it. As he just grabs it, a hand reaches out and tightly grabbed his wrist. Marty lets out a scream as he and crystal were quickly being pulled into the lake. It was the undead monstrosity that Marty had shot. It was still walking, despite the bullets lodged in its head it was still walking.

"Cahf ah nafl mglw'nafh hh' ahor syha'h ah'legeth, you cannot kill me like those who have become initiate. For my loyalty has granted me and my fellow brethren something all mortals dream about… immortality!" The servant said as bits and pieces of brain falls out of the back of it's skull. As he pushed Marty back, the other servants that Ruby had earlier dispatchers were back. As if nothing had happened. Ruby tried to get a shot off, but she couldn't get a clean shot. To everybody's horror, Marty was pulled under the water.

"Marty!" Ruby screams as she ran forward. Before anyone could do anything, she dives into the water after the five.

The view shifts to Marty, as he struggles to swim back up. As the corpses drag him down, he noticed something strange. It was like a beehive of multiple surfaces. Each one a different size and with something beyond them. Bellow him, was a different story. It was unnaturally deep, almost like an ocean, yet he can see the bottom, and what laid within the multiple patches of slimy seaweed. Bodies. Hundreds of waters bloated corpses were at the bottom of the lake. Each and every single one still had their clothes clinging to their corpse. Some wore modern suits and dresses, others looked pre-colonies natives, even Celtic garbs of old. Bodies from all walks of life and culture, but what they all had in common was a metallic spike sticking out of them. As they sank further below, the corpse eyes begin to follow, before long it was like being watched by a hundred eyes. It wasn't till he noticed the bright yellow eyes bellow. Huge and ungodly. Then the shadow of a horrific being begins to present itself. A giant slug like creature. It exposes its mouth revealing it's horrific fangs. All Marty could do, is silently scream as he is pulled ever downwards towards the indescribable monstrosity.

That's when a miracle happened. As he was being dragged deeper towards the watery depths of this underwater grave yard, the head of the undead servants popped. Looking up he sees Ruby swimming towards them at a fast pace. Using Crescent Rose as a weight, she catches up with them and quickly removed the limbs with her blade. With Marty free the two begin to swim to the surface. This of course did not bold well with the master of the waters. The bodies let out a horrific underwater shriek, they then begin to rattle and move before swimming upwards towards them. Thousands of water bloated bodies making their way up towards the two, with the monstrous slug like creature close behind.

The two swam as fast as they could towards the surface, however the creature was gaining on them. There was no way of out swimming it. So in a moment of desperation, Ruby grabs ahold of Marty. Just as the teeth of the monster was just about to swallow them whole, Ruby used her semblance. Leaving behind a trail of red roses in a mist of red, tan brown, and glowing yellow and blue. The creature roared as the mist escaped out of the water, just before it.

Back on land, Tommy was held back by Ms. Winchester. There was nothing they could do, and he knew it. While Author Hall was freeing the rest of the prisoners and patching up his old man, Ms. Winchester had to convince Tommy that he will die if he dives in, that there is nothing he can do. Ruby was truly gone… till a sudden multi-colored mist burst from the water and landed on the shore. The midst disappears, revealing Marty laying on top of Ruby with the crystal still in hand.

"(Cough, Cough) What in the hell… (Cough, Cough) Just happened? (Cough, Cough)" Marty asked as he hacked up the water in his lungs.

"I saved you…" Ruby remarks as she notices Marty holding on a little too tight on her waist.

"… Would you get off me." She then pushed him aside as she noticed the stares from Ms. Winchester. Bewilderment was settled upon her. Before she could even ask, Tommy had run over to Ruby.

"Sweat merciful god. Don't ever do something dumb like that again!" Tommy remarked as he helped Ruby up.

"I'm sorry, but I can't let him die." Ruby remarks as she moves her head to the side to tap out the water in her ear.

"(Sigh) I know, just don't pull a stunt like that again." Tommy said. As Ruby gives an agreeing nod, Ms. Winchester intervenes.

"Speaking of which… mind cluing me in on that… mystical shit, that you just pulled off?" Ms. Winchester demanded.

Ruby eyes begin to dart as she rubs the back of her head. She has gone so far out of her way to hide this secret she never prepared herself to reveal it. With a sigh she was about to tell her Semblance when the water suddenly burst with a loud ungodly scream. The giant slug like creature had emerged with a rage in it's howl that sent Phil Jamison screaming into the woods.

"Ahf' ahlloig cahf ahor hup mggokaog ya, ahor ph' bug hnahh ph' ymg' lloigg, ymg' insignificant azanahothh!" The monster roared as tendrils begin to emerged right beside it, thrashing about at sand bar. One of the limbs swing down onto Ms. Winchester. Before she was crushed, Ruby used her semblance to save her in the nick of time.

"I'll tell you later, right now we need to leave!" Ruby said as she pushes Ms. Winchester to the side. She then raced back to the sand line, saving those before they are crushed. As she does, Ms. Winchester couldn't help but watch in amazement.

Ruby dashed around the shore, snatching everyone before they were crushed under the multiple tentacles. She had a few close calls as she pulled the unconscious Lanai Strong to the farthest edge of the woods, she noticed multiple corpses bubbling to the surface. They all let out ear piercing shrieks as they shuffled towards them. Ruby could handle the first group of undead servants… but this amount, she neither had the energy or the bullets to put a dent into this army of the undead. Her friends also concurred on the absurd amount of undead. So they did the only logical thing and run. Run as fast as they could, while the monster roared in anger as the eight flee into the woods. It's limbs swing about thrashing everything, including the undead servants that worshiped it. As it does, it cursed Ruby and her bloodline, to the end of time with it's unholy tongue.

"Yog-soggoth h' mgvulgtlagln, yog-soggoth h' mgvulgtlagln l' naIIIIogor epshuggog ph' mgn'ghftephai ot azathoth fhtagn!"

Back with Ruby, she carried the injured Marty and unconscious Lanai Strong. Using her aura she wasn't slowed down. Tommy on the other hand had difficulty caring the wounded Brian Hall and Ms. Winchester. As they ran through the woods for what felt like hours, they soon came across an unconscious Phil Jamison. By the crooked nose and blood spatter on his face, it's clear that he must have ran into a tree. Seeing that they were far enough from the lake, the group decided to take a break, since they now have to carry down another person.

"(Huff, Huff) God… I've should have train more with Yang." Ruby remarks at the weight she was carrying.

"(Huff, Huff) Yeah, from what I hear she's doing them micks dirtier than anyone in the family could." Marty said as he leans against a tree. This gains the attention of Tommy and Ruby.

"What (Huff, Huff) do (Huff, Huff) you (Huff, Huff) mean, (Huff, Huff) hear? (Huff, Huff) Last (Huff, Huff) you (Huff, Huff) said (Huff, Huff) you (Huff, Huff) knew (Huff, Huff) nothing (Huff, Huff) about (Huff, Huff) a (Huff, Huff) blonde (Huff, Huff) name (Huff, Huff) Yang (Huff, Huff) Xiao (Huff, Huff) Long? (Huff, Huff)" Tommy struggles to say in between his gasp for air.

After a few moments for Marty to catch his breath, he remarks. "Well, that part about me not knowing… that was lie."

"We, know." Ruby remarks as she rolled her eye. "You didn't exactly made it hard to figure out."

"(Huff, Huff) Question is, (Huff, Huff) why spill it now?" Tommy asked after finally catching his breath.

"I saw what she did. That whole turning into rose mist… thing. That is strange. But another thing; that zombie? Whatever they were. That one mentioned my boss getting in the way. First time meeting Yang, he said he rescued her from a huge ass slug. I thought he was having another delusional episode… guess he wasn't kidding." Marty remarks as he scratches his chin before remembering something. He looked down at the glowing rock in his hand. He then remembered the stone she had. "She, had this thing. A lot smaller, the size of my palm, but the same thing. She wore it around her neck."

"Huh, something to help identify her. Where did you meet her again?" Ms. Winchester asked, joining in the conversation.

"Hammond Louisiana." Marty answered getting a gleeful expression from Ruby. "but that was four months back. She's long since left."

"Well where is she now?" Ruby asked with an excited glair.

"She's with my boss, a guy name Ja-AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH" Before Marty could finish, a metallic spike went straight through his chest missing his heart by an inch. Blood spewed out, as everyone went wide eye. Standing behind him was the four undead servants from before, each holding the metallic spikes from the monster in the lake.

"A fitting end, for a thief." The lead abomination said aloud before pressing his mouth against Marty's ear. "Ymg' ahor mgr'luh mgleth llll ep yogshugg!"

He then twists the spike before kicking him to the ground. This caused everyone to stop in pure shock. Ms. Winchester and Tommy had a brief PTSD flashback, Author fell to the ground and his mind begin to reject what he is witnessing. Ruby's was in pure shock; she was this close. This, Fucking, close… to finding her sister. Then these things, took that away. In a fit of rage, she pulls out S.T 45. And fires off a few rounds, each one hitting the stabber in the head, yet he did not go down. Rather he simply smiled as the wounds slowly healed and the bullets pushed out of his skull. With a crooked smile he pulls out his 1855 carbine pistol and fired off a shot, hitting Ruby in the chest. Her Aura of course blocked it, but definitely knocked the air out of her. Seeing this, Tommy and Ms. Winchester grabbed whatever was around them to use as clubs before charging towards the four undead servants

They battled the four, for a few moments before Ruby rejoins much to everyone's surprise. They had a few advantages, Ruby's aura and combat prowess with Crescent Rose, the weak and feeble bodies of their opponents, and they were sluggish in movement. Yet despite their feeble bodies, they seem to pull themselves back together after being broken to pieces. The metal these spikes were made from seem to penetrate Ruby's Aura with no resistance. And despite having no mussels, or one's that were still attached to their bones, they had the strength of at least six men.

As they fought things were turning against three private investigators. No matter what they did, these things didn't lose any energy or were affected by the wounds they received. Ruby and her friends on the other hand, did. Ms. Winchester received a cut across her face and had her left pinkie and ring finder broken in the scuffle. Tommy was bashed across the face, which broke his nose, bruised his eye, and gave him a mild concoction. Ruby being the biggest threat of the three was targeted, thus receiving most of her injuries.

She received a deep gash right under her right eye. A number of bruises over her eyes, and her right arm was broken in two different places. As the fight continues, Ruby was eventually grabbed by the lead servant. He had lifted her up by her neck and pushed her against a tree. She struggled to breath as the undead servant both strangled her and bashed her head against the tree. Tommy and Ms. Winchester couldn't get to her. As Ruby gasped for air, her eye darted about looking for something to help. That's when she noticed something creeping over the edge. The first rays of sunlight. What she thought would be her last sight of light slowly became a miracle.

The moment a beam of light touches it's expose skin, a few green mushrooms and mold spewed forth. They then start to spread rapidly across its wrist, hand, and lower arms. The undead monster lets go as it howlers in pain.

"The mgn'ghft. The yogfm'log mgep mgepnafl'fhtagn. C' mgepahna mgep l' ah'n'ghft!" The lead undead servant screamed as he attempts to hold back the rate of growth the green mold has on his wrist.

The four were now noticeably frighten by something. As Ruby tries to catch her breath, she notices that the mold growing on the lead undead servants wrist had severely damaged it's flesh. It was falling away from the bone, better yet not growing back. That's when an idea struck her.

"The light, (Cough, Cough) get them into the (Cough, Cough) light!" Ruby struggled to say.

"What?! Why?" Tommy asked as he grappled with one of the undead servants.

Before he could get an, the light shined down through the trees. Exposing down upon it's leg. After a few moments, green mold begins to grow to the monster's agony. It lets out a painful scream before the mold completely rots away the flesh and bone. It then falls over into the light where it squirms around in agony as the green mold covered it's face. Within a few moments, the creature was nothing more then mold and fungus covered bones and raggedy union clothes.

"Oh." Was Tommy's only response. Seeing what happens when exposed to light, Ms. Winchester quickly grabs one of the undead servants before delivering a powerful headbutt to it. This sent the head flying off into the sunlight, where it silently screams. She then toss the body before turning to the last two.

Realizing that they can no longer fight without the risk of dying, the two tried to run away, but Ruby got a shot off at the branches above. This caused a tree to fall down on top of one, trapping it underneath as the sun's rays hits it. It went the same way as the others, only leaving the lead undead servant alone. It tries to run away, but every turn it made only led to more lights. It then turned to the three, as the light begin to shine down on him. The green mold and fungus begin to take out it's leg causing him to fall to is knees, then the body begins to wither away revealing his petrified organs and arms flesh slowly fell from his arms, sloshing to the ground. As the green fungus and mold begin to creep up it's neck, it looked at the three. Seeing Ruby standing before him he points his boney finger at her. Giving one last curse before the end.

"I damn you, child of silver eyes. I damn you. I damn you, damn you to all times!" The lead cultist said as the green mold and fungus over takes his face. After it did, the lead undead servant falls to the ground, covered in fungus. It took a few moments before someone speaks up.

"… Well, that's not disturbing." Ms. Winchester said sarcastically as she catches. Her breath. Only one to respond was Marty who coughed up a mist of blood of blood. Gaining the attention of Ruby.

"Marty!" Ruby cried as she ran over to his body. She without thinking, she quickly removed the spike. Causing a huge amount of blood to spew out. The massive hole was to the right side of his chest which means that blood was now being pumped out of him. In a matter of seconds, he would be dead.

"No, no, no, no, no!" Ruby said as she tried to staunch the blood flow with her trench coat. Marty begins to cough up blood, gasping for air. As Ruby struggled to keep him alive, Ms. Winchester

"Ruby… I'm sorry but there's nothing you can do." Ms. Winchester said as she tried to get Ruby to stop.

"… no, I can save him." Ruby said as she then put her hand on Marty's head while struggling to put the another on his heart. As she gets herself prepared, Tommy steps in.

"Ruby… if you're doing what I think you're doing, don't." Tommy warns.

"And what let him die? Tommy, he knows where my sister is." Ruby said as she finally got her right hand into position.

"Yeah but what happens when he wakes up? The fact that he will have an edge on everyone else isn't bad enough he also works in organize crime to boot. So again, don't do…" Before Tommy could finish, Ruby interrupted him with a teary eye stare.

"Thomas! He knows where my sister is. Please… just let me do this." Ruby said as a few tears fell from her eye.

Tommy remained quiet. After a bit, he finally relented. "(Sigh) Fine… do your thing."

Ruby with a smile quickly turned back to the dying Marty and begin the process. Not exactly sure what she's doing Ms. Winchester asked Tommy. "What thing?"

"Just watch. I honestly don't know how it's done myself." Tommy replies as the two took a step back.

Ruby clears her throat, closes her eyes and begin to chant something. "For it is in passing that we achieve immortality. Through this we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all, infinite in distance and unbound by death. I release your soul and by my shoulder protect thee."

As she does her chant, Marty begins to glow a bright blue color and his wound begins to heal slightly. After a few seconds Marty takes a deep gasp. His eyes moved wildly about as he begin to breath quicker and more steadily. It looks like he was going to make it. Till Marty head fell back and his breath slowed down.

Three days later back in Maryvils

It's been three days now. Whatever Ruby did save Marty's life. However, the injuries were still severe. The poor boy fell into a deep coma. Doctors in town couldn't help him or house him for long. So he would be transported to Franklin county in Massachusetts. The Ambulance just arrived and Ruby watches from the side. Her right arm now in a sling and a patch over the cut on her face. She watches with sadden eyes as Marty was rolled out on a stretcher to the Ambulances. Once on board, she watched as the only hope of finding her sister drove away. To be honest, despite successfully bringing back two of the four kidnappers, the money, the missing family, Mr. Strong's daughter, stopping those… things, from obtaining the crystal, and keeping her abilities a secret from all but Ms. Winchester. It still felt like a hollow victory.

"Don't worry, Baystate Franklin Medical Center will take good care of him. Marry has a few war friends who work there." Tommy remarks as he walked over. His left hand was wrapped and the bruise eye was slowly disappearing.

"Hmm, I know… (Sigh) I was so close. Marty was just about to tell me where Yang is when that jerk nearly killed him." Ruby said in frustration as she bashes the wooden column in anger.

"Aw, well doctors here predict he can possible recover in a few months." Tommy said trying to make here feel better.

"Yeah, a few months to a few decades." Ruby said in annoyance. She then walked off the balcony into the main street. She then stopped dead in her tracks before letting out a small sigh.

"(Sigh) I'm sorry. It's just, I miss her. I miss my friends, my sister, heh even my crazily little world. Well… not as crazy as this place but…" Ruby then stops dead in her apologies. Thinking back to Christmas, the incident at the lake. And the idea of no video games or a decent ramen place. She then changed her mind. "Actually, dealing with an immortal witch sound more preferable."

"Yeah, though it be confusing as hell if she turned up in my hometown." Tommy remarked.

"I thought you were from Arkham?" Ruby asked causing Tommy to raise his brow.

"I am… who told you…" Before Tommy could finish, it then dawned upon him who told her. "Marie. (Sigh) Well, regardless the trials happened in Salem but actually the witches were pulled all over the county. Mostly Ipswich, Kingsport, Andover, and Arkham. Regardless a witch name Salem is a bit on the nose. Ignoring the pun of course."

"Heh, I think Yang would have liked that." Ruby remarked with a slight chuckle. Yang's love of dumb puns brought back memories that brought her to tears. As she silently cried, Tommy couldn't help but feel bad for her. He thought hard about what to do then he remembered the letter he got a week back from the Blackwood Detective agency. Gripping his fist, he decided to do her a favor.

"(Sigh) Hey Ruby. I think I know what can cheer you up." Tommy remarked as he approached her.

"What?" Ruby asked as she wiped away a tear.

"A few days ago, the Blackwood Detective agency sent me a notice that a position had open in Arkham. I was going to decline the offer but if finding your sister means that much too you. I can send in my application as well as get Marty transferred to St. Mary's Hospital. Should he ever wake up you will be a few blocks away." Tommy explained with a begrudging tone. He did not want to step foot back in his home town. But seeing Ruby so distraught, he figures he need to face his demons at some point.

"… Really?" Ruby asked as she wiped away her tears.

"Yeah, kiddo." Tommy remarks as he takes a pulls out his cigarette and strikes up a match. Before he could take a drag he was nearly tackled by her in a tear soaked hug.

"OH THANK YOU TOMMY!" Ruby blurted out under the tears.

"Um, your welcome Ruby." Tommy remarked as he cursed his luck that he dropped his last cigar. He stood there for a few moments before it started to get awkward. After a few moments, Tommy managed to pry her off. Once off he then remarked. "So, it will take a year before we make the move, but till then let's head to town hall. There still celebrating the return of Lavinia's return and that new donation to the Maryvils museum."

Ruby gives a nod. She could go for some cake right about now. Plus, she did promise Ms. Winchester to explain everything to her. As they head towards town, the view pulls in on the ambulance that Marty was in. He laid there in the stretcher with his shirt ripped open. Right above his heart was a hole made from the metallic pike. It had healed up a bit and the blood had stopped. Yet the hole wasn't healing. The view focused on his closed eyes, after a few moments they open wide in shock and he begin to twitch. The last words he struggled to say as the view goes dark were. "All… Hail… Gla'aki."

Play Sweet Virginia by the Rolling Stones.

Wadin' through the waste stormy winter
And there's not a friend to help you through
Tryin' to stop the waves behind your eyeballs
Drop your reds, drop your greens and blues

The view then opens up on a table with multiple black and white photos of what happened during their trek through the woods. Next to each photo was a name of each character. First two photos were at the base of the mountain. The first was Tommy's reaction to losing the coin flip. The second was of Ruby admiring a Butterfly as Marty was chased by a swarm of bee's in the background. Next to it was a news article with a picture of Ruby, reading;

(Miriam Battista staring as, Ruby Rose.)

Thank you for your wine, California
Thank you for your sweet and bitter fruits
Yes I got the desert in my toenail
And I hid the speed inside my shoe

The next set of photos was of what happened on their walk up the mountain. First photo was of Ruby smiling as Ms. Winchester played her Harmonica, while Marty and Tommy covered their ears in agony. The second was of them enjoying lunch, when a black bear stole Marty's sandwich when he wasn't looking. Next to that photo was another, with their reaction of a black bear before them. Like before another news article with Tommy's face on it, reading;

(Joseph Wiseman staring as Tommy Colt)

But come on, come on down Sweet Virginia
Come on, honey child, beg you
Come on, come on down, you got it in ya
Got to scrape the shit right off your shoes

Yeah, I want you to come on, come on down Sweet Virginia

The view shifts down to a few more photos. First photo was of Ruby walking up merrily with the other three sluggishly following behind. If looks could kill, there annoyed and tired eyes must have already planted a few dozen daggers in her back. The photo next to it was of Ruby sadly holding her summer hat. Right in the center was a bullet hole that the shooter managed to get. Beside it was yet again another news article with a picture Marty.

(Rudolph Valentino as Marty Rico)

I want you to come on, come on down Sweet Virginia
I want you come on, honey child, I beg you
I want you come on, honey child you got it in you
Got to scrape that shit right off your shoes

The final few photo's was in an unorganized pile of newspapers and photo's. At the center of the pile was a photo of the group all sitting by the fire. On the right side was a news article of their adventure with a photo of gem stone they recovered. And to the left was of Marty being pulled into an ambulance. Beside it was a sole article with a picture of Maria attached to it.

(Louise Brooks as Maria Winchester)

But come on, come on down Sweet Virginia
Come on, come on down, I beg
Come on, come on down, you got it in you
Got to scrape that shit right off your shoes

Hello everybody Wombag1786 here.

Ohhh, so close Ms. Rose. So close. She was this close to finding her sister and it seems that Marty may be made a turn coat. Along with that comes the end of the first story arc. I hope this camp fire tale was fantastic. And the next one just as amazing. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's answer your questions and comments.

From Black cross0: Heh, yeah. Sad what happened to him.

Something like that. Funny you mention the winter soldier. Not going to spoil things but let's just say 'hands as cold as death' will mark the beginning of Ruby meeting Yang.

Eh probably. She did spent the past hundred years a frog on a slab. Still have her kidney somewhere.

Oh, I have something in mind for Blake. While it's not librarian or Miskatonic university. She will take an interesting road. If you study Psychology, you might say she took the Freud approach to her adventures. (God help us all.)

I hope you enjoy the chapter. I know I'm looking forward to this next arc.

Thanks for writing Black Cross0

From FEV Grim: Yep, but there are a few note-able chapters that will make us laugh.

Thanks for writing FEV Grim.

From Combine117: … Halo Grunt? I thought they died in the 2018 grunt off.

Regardless yeah, I know how bad it's going to get… and the worse. Is yet to come. *Que the evil laughter

Thanks for writing Combine117

From Carre: Oh, there you are. Was wondering where you went.

Right, so onto your… long listed comments.

1. Ah, well. They are purposely vague. Hell. Sometimes you have to look back to figure it out. Yep, ain't that a bitch for Remnant.

2A. Yep. Which in fairness was inspired off of Hazel Heald's "The Horror in the Mueseum." (Lovecraft didn't come up with the Shambler, but he did took notes from Heald.)

2B. Hmm Interesting. If you do remember the name of it, do send me the name. This story will be going on for some time.

3. Yep, just watched it. Interesting 3d dynamic.

4. Thank you. Hard to believe veterans were still alive. (Oldest living veteran was Albert Woolson, who died in august 1956.)

5. Yep, they all have. Question is, by how much?

6. Eh Yeah so do I but if I do that it will take up a few chapters. So listen in between the lines.

7. Yep, keeping it a classic comic style.

8. Heh, maybe. Maybe. This is just the first arc. We got six more to go through.

9. It was Gla'aki. A right bastard he is.

20. I'm glad to hear that. Hey did you see the Kaiserreich trailer for the Nordic Countries? (Just asking cause I uploaded the Kaiserreich story I mention previously "Thus, the Bear of the West Roamed there.)

11. Thanks, Hopefully this has proven to be a fulfilling conclusion.

Thanks for writing Carre.

With that I won't take much more of your time. Thank you all for Reading RWBY Noir: Amidst the Ancient tree's. I hope you enjoy this story and I hope you will enjoy the next story. Till then please support the story by Fav, Fol and leaving a review or comment bellow. This is Wombag1786 signing off.

New York December 28th 1924

The view opens on the busy streets of New York. It's three days from New Years. And people were interested in the new year, not because the year has been terrible. Rather the Washington Theater on Broadway has been selling tickets for half the price. This got many people wondering if this new owner new market strategy will keep the theater afloat. That or if he will live long enough to see the new Year. As they go about their lives, the view focus on the far back as a thinly size man runs through the Icey streets with a gang of tough guys chasing him. The man in question was not very noteworthy. Clearly overworked and hasn't even bother to apply basic grooming to his mustache. Notably he did hold onto a leather satchel with large papers, blueprints and important documents sticking out. As he ran through the streets with the muscle goons chasing him, he turns the corner only to find that it was a dead end. He quickly turns back only to be swatted across the face by a metal pipe. Nearly sending him to the ground, but he recovered only slightly.

"Should-ah hand over the papers Nickie." The thug with the pipe remarked as he and his cronies walked over to him

"And give that thief the satisfaction of claiming my work? No, not again or ever." The man said in an eastern Europe accent as he held onto his bag with a tight grip.

"Tsk, good. I was hoping for you to resist. Makes my job more fun." The thug said with a grin on his face.

The thug then pushes the man down into the snow as he windups up for the swing, while the man prepared himself for a trip to the hospital. As the pipe was about to clash with his head, a cane came down. Stopping the thug from beating the poor man to a pulp. The cane was a strange piece to say the least. Looked like a medieval sword sheath that was modified to look like a cane. Although, it was poorly done by the man's perspective but he's not one to look a gift horse in the mouth. The stranger in question was a young man, with a strange sense of familiarity. He was wearing a brown leather jacket with a yellow tie, grey slacks, and fine leather shoes. His slick blond hair was held back by pomade. More noteworthy was the leather and metal leg brace attached to his left leg.

"Hey, what ever happened to not kicking a man while he's down?" The young lad said as he pushes the metal pipe away.

"This doesn't concern you Johnny boy." The thug said as he recognizes the young lad. "Why don't you go back to that filthy cat house of yours and play a song. Be a shame if we break that annoying voice of yours."

The boy known as Johnny rolled his eyes before commenting, "Uh huh, you know a when I was younger I had this jerk who would pick on me. The thing is, he would call me that exact nickname. Funny enough, you guys remind me of him and his cronies."

Suddenly, another thug holding a wrench went to strike the kid. Only for John grab it mid-way and head butt the brute with enough force that it sent him to the ground with blood spewing like a gauzier. On the ground, the kid used his cane to balance himself as he deliver a devastating kick to the nose with his right foot. This knocked the man out cold to which he turned to the stunned attackers.

"Shame he can't see me now. Guy was so easy to take down if you knew how to dodge." John remarked as he turned to the group as he wiped the blood from his shoes with his cane. "Well, are we going to stand here all day or are you going to leave him alone?"

Course none of the attacker decided to take either option. Rather they held up their collective mismatch of weapons and charged at the young lad. With a smirk, the boy proceeds to fight them all off with ease. Only being handicapped by his bad leg. As he fought the view turned towards the man on the ground. He was amazed as the silhouette of the young lad and the thugs were on the wall behind him. In the silhouette, the kid easily defended while also strike them with crushing blows with this cane. Eventually the thugs were spewed about, groaning in agony as the boy simply straighten his suit before walking to the man.

"Hey, are you alright?" The kid asked as he offered the man a hand up. He was hesitant but was about to take his hand when he notices the lead thug pulling a concealed revolver.

"Gun!" The man shouted as he points behind the kid.

As he does the kid quickly turn and got into a defensive stance. As the thug fires the view focuses on the bullet in slow motion. It slowly travels towards the kids chest but then the cane expanded open into a bright white shield with two golden crest at the top and a tiara shape at the bottom. The speed returned to normal as the thug fired off all six rounds only to find that they didn't even dent the shield. Acting quickly the kid pulled a sword from the top part of the shield and cut the gun in half. This stunned the lead thug who fell back.

"Hey, we didn't mean nothing by it. Heh, we were just only joking around." The thug begged as held up his hand in defense.

"Uh huh, sure you were." The kid said before bashing the thug with the pen tip of his sword. Knocking the thug out cold. He then sheathes his sword back into the top of his shield before returning it to a cane. He then turned back to the man. "Sorry about that, are you still ok?"

The man didn't pay attention to his words. He was more focus on the cane. Quickly bolting to the kid and swiping the very can as he inspected it closely. Nearly knocked the kid to the ground but managed to find his balance.

"Remarkable, truly remarkable!" The man said as he inspected the cane, activating it into shield mode. "A spring lock clock mechanism with that neither decreases or increase the weight while changing it! A simple, yet awe-inspiring designed!"

"Um, thanks." The kid remarks as he puts his hand on the wall for support. With that comment the man nearly came face to face with the kid as he blared out a few questions in excitement.

"Didyouinventthis?!Whycarrysuchabroadsword?!AndisyournameJohnathan?!" The man asked with excitement before realizing his unprofessional approach. He then straightens himself out before handing back the kids cane. "Eh hem, sorry about that. I'm an inventor of sorts and I can't help myself around designs as beautiful as this."

"It's ok. I had this friend who was obsessed with weapons design." The kid said with a chuckle as he thought back to is first days at school. He then remarked in a nostalgic tone. "She too was as energetic with questions as well. Heh. Oum almighty that was a long time ago."

"Hmm, not one for ballistics but I suppose it's a science in onto itself." The man remarked as he scratched his chin. He then remembered his papers and turned to the boy. "Do you mind if I take a closer look at your weapon at my workshop? I promise if anything I will either improve it or at least fix any previous problems."

"Um sure. By chance you can make it smaller? People are somewhat questioning why the big cane." The kid asked with a chuckle.

"Sure, I will try." The man said with an enthusiastically nod. The two then head out of the alley, making sure not to step on the unconscious goons. As they walked down the street, the man realized he never introduce himself.

"Oh, forgive me I haven't introduced myself. My name is Nikola. Nikola Tesla." The man said as he held his hand. The kid turned to him and shook his hand.

"Jaune, Jaune Arc." The kid revealed to be Jaune said causing Nikola to realize why he was so familiar.

"The upcoming singer?" Nikola asked as he spots a billboard with his face on it.

"Heh, yeah." Jaune said as he thought back to the amount of paparazzi would follow him. Or how he was getting multiple calls to star in ads.

'This is what Pyrrha must have felt like.' Jaune thought to himself as the two continue on down the road as the view pulls in through a wall. The scene changed from the busy streets of New York, to backstage of a theater.

Washington Theater on Broadway

Inside the theater a man stares at himself in the mirror. He was wearing a tuxedo and his hair was recently cut. Tonight, was his big night and he was nervous as hell. Every penny he and his wife had was in this place. If they can get half their money back from tonight then they can love forward to living in the lap of luxury before the decade ends. As he sits there a female figure walked forward. She was skinny from malnourishment. However, she had a pretty set of blue eyes and well-cut blond hair. Her dress was cheap but from a distance no one can tell the difference.

"You ready honey?" She asked in a nervous tone.

"Hmm, oh just about." The man replied with a fake and nervous smile.

Being able to tell that he was lying, she simply walked over and helped tie the red bowtie around his neck. As she does, the man remarks. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" She asked.

"For not giving you the life, you deserve." The man replied with a sad tone. "(Sigh) Suppose your mother was right. I'm just no good."

"Oh hush darling. She was a wicked old lady who only cared about money." The woman said as she hugs his head. "Even if this fails, you have given me more than any girl could ask for."

"But…" Before the man could even finish, the women shushed him.

"Shhhhh… you are a good man Tord Calhoun. And I'm proud to be your wife." She said with honesty in her tone. "Now, get ready. The spotlight will be on us shortly."

Feeling invigorated as his wife left the man turns to the mirror for one last look. With a long sigh he puts on a fake and glamorous smile. And reviewed his speech one last time. As he was about to, a sudden clash came from behind him, with it was a scream.

"Honey?" The man asked as he gets up. He walked outside of his makeshift room towards the stage. The actors were nowhere to be seen and the lights were out. So he pulled a box of matches from his pocket and ventured into the dark.

"Isabell? Isabell? Honey… where are you?" The man asked as he strike up another match. There was no response, rather something scurrying all around. "Alright, who's there! I'm not in the mood for this game."

As the second match went out, he lit the third one to which a figure was inches from his face. He couldn't see the man's face from under the yellow hood, but their teeth. Was grinning wide with a sickening smile. The shock caused the man to fall to the ground in fright and the light to die out. After a few moments he struck up another match. This time he was on the ground and alone. However, a piece of paper slowly fell from above towards him. Looking closely, he realized it was script paper. Picking it up, he read the message written in bright yellow ink.

"You were warned Tord. Play my lords play and you refused. Now, you and your love shall see. The Yellow Sign." He mutters out loud. Remembering the message, he received the night he bought this place, he leans back realizing that it wasn't a joke. That's when his hand touched something wet, sticky, and warm. Looking down, he was shock to see blood. He turned around and to his horror, his wife, the women he had only talked to a few moments ago was dead. Her chest was slashed open and her heart was torn from its spot.

"Oh god, Isabela!" The man cried as he held his wife in his arms.

As he cried withering the light of the dying light, he noticed two footsteps moving towards him. Looking up with tears falling from his eyes, he sees a stranger wrapped in a ragged yellow cloak. In its right hand was her heart, still pumping with a dagger still through it. In the other, was a bouquet of purple flowers. The man stares into the face of the killer. However, his eyes only saw not of a person's face, but of a dark and emotionless mask that haunts him. He lets out one last scream before cloaked figure tackles him to the ground. The view pull back to the audience seats. They had just sat down and are waiting with anticipation on meeting the new owner of the Washington Theater. The lights then begin to dim, with it the audience begin to quiet down. A flash of light appeared on stage and the audience waited with anticipation as the curtains raised. However their waiting anticipations soon turn to horror as on stage, two bodies were found. The manager, sitting in a decaying loft chair with his wife in his arms. His throat has been stuffed with purple flowers. To the point that they bloated his neck and were only held back by the thin lair of skin. The wife was holding her own heart with a knife sticking out of it. Above was a message left by the killer, this time written in blood.

"Never was there a tale of more woe than of Juliet and her Romeo."

People begin to panic as the sight of more body's begin to send a ripple of fear through the audience. One thing that circulate was the phrase. 'Phantom.' People begin to scream that name over and over with different context. As it was said, the view pulled up to the catwalk, to reveal the same yellow cloaked person. He watched in delight as the people ran and wailed in horror. But his work is yet complete. Perhaps the next owner shall head his words and do as he bid. He then turned to the view revealing that adorn his face was a dreadful, and white Pallid mask.

Play Black Monolith "The Yellow Sign"

The view goes black as a comic book falls on top of the previous one just as the song begins. The front art depicts Jaune being pulled by the yellow cloaked figure with fusion of the mask of comedy and the mask of tragedy. Jaune was like a puppet on strings, and it was clearly agony for the poor boy. The strings wrapped tightly around his legs, arms, and neck. It was so tight that not only was it strangling him, but also cutting deep into his skin causing blood to drip onto the ground. To the side was a few bubble characters and the words above the title of the story.

RWBY NOIR

PHANTOM OF BROADWAY

STARING:

Jaune Arc: The up coming star out of Hells Kitchen.

Trish Clover: The Irish Prostitute.

Guest Staring:

Mari Meier: The little sister of whores