I don't own RWBY or Call of Cthulhu Horror Aboard the Orient Express.

February 5th 1925, Sofia Central Station, Bulgaria.

3rd POV

The Scene opens up on the train just in Sofia, capital of Bulgaria. Passengers were being questioned by local police. A murder on the orient Express was not unheard of, but one deeply horrific for the company and it's passengers. Nora watches on from the side as the Sofia Police carry the body of her guardians would be killer. His body covered in a tarp as two police officers carry him out on a stretcher. As she stares she didn't hear the man talking to her.

"Mme Mme Mme MME. Valkyrie!" )Ms. Ms. Ms. MS. Valkyrie!) An older voice in an accented voice called out drawing Nora's attention away from the body.

"Hmm. Nora. Just Nora." Nora replies in English. Before her was a man in his late forties, bolding with an ever so grey handlebar mustache. He looked as tired as he was pudgy. "Sorry, what did you say police… guy?"

"Christova. Major Vasil Christova." The man said in English introducing himself as he pulled out a pen and paper. "I was asking your relations to the John Doe."

"Oh, Um nothing. He was in Jobert's cabin and well I booped him." Nora said as she made a fist and gestured a simple jab.

"Uh huh. Well for a simple 'Boop', you broke more bones then he did. However are you aware of who he is?" Vasil asked to which Nora shrugged. He then fills in some unknown bits about the assassin. "He was Edgar Kempf, a Value to Frederick Richtofen. A German railman who managed to keep his family fortune despite the war. When interviewed Frederick explained that his servant went to the bathroom and then disappeared for the entirety of last night. That John Doe is not Edgar. He was wearing his skin."

"Gasp. Like a snake?" Nora asked with some interest.

"To an extent… It's just, this reminds me of a case we solved less then a week ago. Involving a group we call, Месарите." Vasil said causing Nora to tilt her head as she has no idea what he said. Seeing this he explained, "The Butchers. A group who stole flesh from there poor victims. Sometimes wear it on them as souvenirs. Stole a good man's eye from his skull while he slept."

"That's… horrible. But what does this have to do with what happened?" Nora said asked as she was trying to get to the point.

"There targets tend to be of great academic importance or those who would easily go missing so why your family? Your not locals and certainly not academically inclined." Vasil said as he leans in uncomfortable close to her. Before Nora could tell him to back away a hand is put on the Major. It was one of the conductors who spoke native Bulgarian. She couldn't make it out but whatever he said caused the Major to leave with only a nod to Nora. The conductor then turns to Nora and spoke in English.

"I do apologies, from what I've been told, Major Christova is a dedicated man to justice and these past few years have been hard on him. Especially with the recent raid against the Месарите." The Conductor said before pulling out a cigarette. Quickly lighting the smoke, he then offered her one to which she refused. "Only recently did they found there hideout. He must be paranoid that some of these devils are still alive. It's only nature."

"Yeah, um well thanks for getting him off me Mr." Nora tried looking down but couldn't see a name tag.

"Emile. Emile Soucard at your service." The conductor said with a bow. Once raised he then asked, "You are not a fan of, how do you American's say; Gum shoes?"

"Cops? Um no. Had a bad experience with one back in Paris but he's… actually not sure what happened to him after the attack. He just sort of disappeared." Nora said trying to recall the last time she heard about Inspector Hèrisson.

"Ah well. Hopefully you'll never hear from such a troublesome man again. But if you must excuse me I must help the other passengers. I'm sure this ordeal is just as distressing if not more for them." Soucard said, excusing himself to check on the others. As he does Nora looks on at the train where she see's that woman again. Looking outward at the group. When the two eye's met she stared for a few moments before quickly flickering a fan and wandering off. There was something… familiar about her. Though the hat really didn't help her in identifying her.

"Um, Soucard? Who is that?" Nora asked as she points to the woman onboard the train.

"I… hmm, not sure. I believe I saw her board at the Edirne but I never caught her name. I'll do some digging and relay once we are on the move again." Sourcard said before leaving to investigate the woman.

Nora turns to watch him board the train to find the woman. As he does, he passes by Jobert, being treated by the city doctor. His wound lucky didn't puncture anything vital, but his clavicle bone was fractured. Deciding it was best to return home the doctor had applied a splint that made his right arm useless beyond moving his wrist. As he grunts in pain the Scottish man from before exits the vehicle. Looking around before spotting Nora. He glared at her for a few moments' unseen by her. As he stares Jobert spoke up to him.

"To why are you staring at the young girl?" Jobert asked drawing his attention.

"Um, feck sir. Don't be startling me!" The man said as he nearly jumped out of his skin.

"Sorry if my injured state has position myself out of sight but I'd much prefer it if you did not stare at my ward Mr." Jobert said with a raised brow and a painful grunt.

"S-S-S-S-Shelby. O-O-O-O-Olson Shelby." The man replies with a slow response that causes Jobert's eye to raise with suspicion.

"Well, Mr. Shelby. I'd trust you to stop looking at her. Gawking can be rude." Jobert said as he pushed the doctor away and stands up.

"And you to not fecking scare the shite out of me, Froggie cunt." The man said under his breath before storming off back onto the train. But not before coming back to swipe the doctors bottle of Syrup alcohol.

Jobert didn't heard what he said but he was sure it was an insult. Though he was in too much pain to follow up with his own insult. He then walked to his wife and child and console them. As he does the scene cut's to black.

Later that evening, heading to Belgrade

The scene remains black for a few moments. That's when the rumbling of something big can be heard. A small light appears at the end of the darkness, getting louder and the light getting brighter. Suddenly there is a loud whistle as the Orient Express pulls over, revealing it has passed through a tunnel. Inside the dining car, Nora and the Carons sat at the table waiting patiently while enjoying some appetizers. Nora however was seen picking at her food rather than eating it.

For the past few hours she couldn't find that woman. It was as if she was hiding from her. Sourcard couldn't find much more on her other then she is booked for Paris. Apparently heading home to England. Other then this she has nothing. She doesn't even know what she sounds like. She has never been this frustrated in her life. She's not normally the one to obsess over someone, but that face. It's so familiar it feels like it was about to jump off her tongue.

"N'êtes-vous pas faim?" (Are you not hungry?) Jobert asked as he struggles to take a bite of his appetizer with his nondominant hand.

"Non, juste ennuyé c'est tout." (No, just annoyed is all.) Nora said before noticing the strange woman sitting at the bar. She ordered something in a hushed tone. Annoyed Nora leans over and whispers. "Je jure que je la connais quelque part mais je ne sais pas comment!" (I swear I know her from somewhere but I can't tell how!)

"Alors pourquoi ne pas aller lui demander?" (Then why not go ask her?) Oliver remarks causing the three to look at him. "Si cela vous dérange vraiment, demandez-lui simplement. Je pensais que tu ne rendrais pas ça si compliqué." (If it truly bothers you then just ask her. I thought you wouldn't make this so complicated.)

Nora remained quite for a few moments before smacking herself. "J'essayais, mais je ne pouvais pas la trouver de toute la journée." (I was trying to, but I couldn't find her all day.)

"Eh bien, maintenant vous avez votre chance." (Well, now you have your chance.) Audrey said pointing to her opening.

Nora rolled her eyes as she get's up from her table. As she does she nearly bumps into Sourcard nearly spilling the water. "Apologies. Ms. Valkyrie."

"Nora, and no my fault." Nora apologies as she moves away from the dining table while Sourcard serves water to everyone. Nora sit's down beside her and asked, "Um can I get some water?"

The waiter nods and pours a club soda. "Um, water. Not a Seltzer."

"Not sure if you know but down here water is very contaminated. Best to drink tonic or club soda's instead." The strange girl spoke as she raised her own glass.

"Oh, um thanks then." Nora said as she takes the club soda and drinks the carbonated water. As she does the strange girl spoke up.

"So, I've heard you have been looking for me. May I ask why?" The stranger asked as she takes a sip from hers.

"Yeah, um sorry but it's your face." Nora said causing the stranger to look at her with a confused glance.

"I beg your pardon?" The woman asked.

"It's your face. You look. Familiar. Like we met somewhere." Nora explains further.

"Oh. Um I'm doubtful of that." The woman said before taking a sip. Nora noticed the strange demeanor right away as if she was not expecting that kind of questioning. Just then a flash hits them.

"Smile you two. Oh god how lucky am I to get the Face of the Third Republic and the Nun who saved Churchill." Jack said as he takes another photo. This time blinding Nora as she rub's her eyes in pain. The stranger seemed to be in worse pain from the flash, hissing in agony as it burns. As he was about to take a third when Sourcard grabbed him.

"Please monsieur Gatling, no flash photography in the dinning room." Sourcard requested as he pushed the camera down.

"Aw, come on old sport. How often does one find two girls of Entente in one room." Jack pleads with the conductor.

"Again, no exceptions. Please return to your seat monsieur Gatling." Sourcard insisted firmly this time.

"(Sigh) Very well." Jack said before pulling out a business card. "Ms. Belladonna, should you consider time for an interview please give me a call."

The woman revealed to be Belladonna cautiously takes the card with a nervous look on her face. Sourcard takes Jack back to his seat as Belladonna looks down at the business card. She tears it up and turns back to Nora only to find her wide eye and gawking at her.

"… Blake?" Nora whispered aloud. "Is that really you?"

"I'm sorry but I have no idea who you are talking about." The woman named Belladonna said as she tries to get up and leave. Nora quickly grabs her arm.

"Hold on. You look an awful lot like Blake." Nora said as she held her arm.

"I'm quite sure we never met in either of our lifetimes." The woman insist when she pulled back hard, falling to the ground with her hat came off revealing her head.

It was normal excluding a few bold spots. However, there was no Faunas features. Realizing it wasn't Blake she was about to apologies when she noticed something. On the ground that fell out of her pocket was a vial of some unknown substance. Before she could question it people begin vomiting. One by one everyone fell to the ground holding their stomachs in pain, some had a mixture of vial and blood leaking from there lips before collapsing. It did not take long for Nora to realize that someone had spiked the food. That's when Oliver fell ill. He begins vomiting up his appetizer of humus, crackers, and fine cheeses in a liquid puddle of bio and blood.

"N-N-N-N-No-o-or-r-r-raaaa…" Oliver struggled to say as he grasped at the water glass before passing out.

Jobert and Audrey struggled to hold their child as the sickness effected them. Nora turns to the woman who looked like her friend. She had stormed off running away. Things seem to slow down for Nora as soon rage over took her. Rushing to her feet she charged forward screaming for this woman to get back here.

She chased her down the halls, gaining up on her. Before she could grab her, the mysterious quickly rolled under a cart before throwing a few knives at Nora. Naturally her aura protected her from the knives but one hit her in the prosthetic face. Embedded in the mahogany wood it caused her to stumble as it fell to the ground. Not wasting time she left her mask on the carpet floor as she chased after the woman. She barricaded herself on the other end of the door before climbing up the ladder. On top of the roof of the Train she races back the way she came. Only for Nora to jump out the window landing on the top of the car with an impressive backflip.

"You won't get away from me that easy!" Nora shouted as pulls Magnhild from her purse. She extends it out before slamming the hammer down.

"Who said I was trying to get away from you?" The woman said as she pulls out a short kilij from behind her back. "Just wanted to get you far enough that nobody can hear your screams as I flay what's left of your face off. I'll try to keep the good parts intact. Be hard to hide it when I wear it."

"Ewwww. I know some creepy killer an all but do you have to talk about wearing someone's skin. I mean that's just gr…" Nora then stops as she realized something. The cold air blew her hair revealing the scars upon her face. "You… where you get that skin?"

"You know well… and soon that family will as well." The woman said as she flips her blade around before charging towards Nora.

She slashed at her with the curved blade, moving at remarkable speed for someone in a corset. Course Nora wasn't the fastest she could easily block the strikes with her Warhammer. She then pushes the would be attacker and swinging her hammer. She ducked but her blade wasn't so lucky. Magnhild broken in half. The attacker then throws her broken blade at Nora to which she easily dodged. Turning her head back the attacker punches her in the face. That's when it went dark. Something had wrapped around her face and was strangling her.

As she struggles to get the thing off her face, the woman pulled out a small flaying knife. She rushes in to strike her only to miss as Nora unintentionally side steps her. She finally got a good hold of the fleshy substance and pulls with aura endurance strength. Tearing the stretchy thin layer from off her face. Gasping for air as she rips it in half.

"Gasp, what… the fuck! Was that!" Nora shouts as she struggles to catch her breath as she held a sheet of skin in both of her hands. As she looked on in horror at the flesh in her hand, not noticing the would-be assassin jumping on her back with knife in hand. Before she could plunge it into her she grabbed the assassin and threw her from off her back. Her arm was exposed revealing a darker set of skin, stretched over the arm.

"Ugh, now I see why you skin people." Nora said mockingly.

"I'll give you credit. You are harder to carve then your friend. I'll be sure to keep your face. To remember the pain you caused me." The woman said with a hiss before charging towards her with the knife. Rolling her eyes Nora simply side stepped the girl and smacked her with her hammer. Sending her crippled body rolling off the side.

"Uh huh. Sure you will creep." Nora said before walking over to the side where the woman had fallen.

The woman hanged on by the rails. If falling off the locomotive 200km/h wouldn't kill her then the fall off the Svrljig Mountains would. Standing over Nora see's that the woman is hanging by her nails. She thought about it but decides to extend a hand to help her. She looked up at the offer before refusing. Spitefully remarking with a mad smirk.

"No wonder he finds you entertaining. I'd thought he meant the other whom we tried to rat out." She said with a wide smile as her grip loosens.

"What are you talking about? Who are you looking for?" Nora demands feeling like she is going nowhere with this woman.

"That is for your to find out. Before the skinless one reveals the cruel mechanization of the world to you." The woman said before suddenly letting go before Nora could grab her. She did not scream on the way down, or if she did the strong cold winds covered it up. Nora looks down as the scene pulls away into the cold Serbian night as the scene goes dark.

"HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE'SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS Henri! Greeting's and Salutation's. Well, well, well. Seems Ms. Valkyrie has found herself in a bizarre case of who's who. Cloak and dagger, cat and mouse, a shadowy game, and the pawn's have made there first step. As the old Turkish saying goes, Oyunlar başlasın. 'let the games begin' Perhaps you can piece together the mastermind behind it all as he seems fairly indisposed at the time. But while contemplating this allow me to reply in kind to your messages.

De l'honorable Black Cross0: Well, I believe another has been revealed, and her suggestion of where she got that skin is… gruesome for poor Nora. Though that could be a lie, specially since I have yet to find skin being such lively things when removed from there host.

Most indefinitely. The puppet master must be unveiled, perhaps you can spot the culprit in this or the upcoming chapters. For the sake of my beloved Orient Express I do hope you do so and soon.

Merci en considération Black Cross0

De l'honorable Carre: 1. The pleasure is all mine Monsieur Carre.

2A. Charming fellow… but I can't help but feel he too is another in persuade. Perhaps it's my imagination as is the custom of Russian royalty to disguise themselves.

2B. Ah yes, the painting dedicated to my finest hour. Shame I was not alive to see it hanged. But It fills me with joy knowing how I gave my life for the service of others.

Yes, I've seen his work. Surprisingly talented for a man of political backings and habits.

2C. I remember that Fez. Alwful business that was. Sadly for your author but good for the world, such a thing was destroyed. And left to the shadows of history.

2D. Not in the sense that you are thinking. They do change part's but prefer to leave there skin's off.

I believe Monsieur Wombag was tempted to bring Baba Yaga in, but feels it would conflict with Johnathon Wick. Jokes aside this arc has multiple twist and turns. Some requiring a set of eyes to catch the details left behind in each chapter.

Quite. Quite. I hear tale that the worst comes within two decades. That and Berlin.

2E. It almost seem the case in this chapter but if they can mimic the mute cat down to all but her voice and memory, imagine what they can do without the need to hide there true selves.

3A. Then allow me the courtesy of a bow; Monsieur, les terres du nord de la Suède.

3B. I shall relay your approval Monsieur Carre.

Merci en considération Carre.

Now completed I shall leave you to contemplate the details of what has happened onboard the Orient. Please do support the story by Favoring and following the update's. Till then I shall take my leave but do keep this in mind this. The Skinless one has many followers. Some by other names. Names that you no doubt heard at one point or another in this odyssey of madness.

Merci pour la lecture, from your host; Henri Peeters.