Chapter 4
A few days later, Father Remington was waiting at Grand Central Station for an agent who was away for a few months doing some investigation in San Francisco. He expected the agent to bring back an envelope that contained some documents from the investigation. While waiting for quite some time, the minister began wondering what was taking the agent so long to return to New York City. "Where in the world could he be? Surely he knows that being on time is part of the mission." Father Remington sighed while reading a newspaper on the bench. "Mommy, can I please have a snack?" a little dark-brown haired boy asked his mother from a distance. "Please be patient, Grandma is making us all a delicious chocolate cake for us to eat!" The boy's mother said trying to calm him down. "But I am already hungry." The boy said in a whining tone. The minister couldn't help but smile at the whole situation as he had a soft spot for smaller children. Just then, a mysterious young black haired man took a seat on the bench from behind the minister. "He won't be coming back. You were supposed to receive this, right?" The mysterious man said to the minister while showing him an envelope. "Who are you?" Father Remington asked suspiciously. "A servant for the ones that you are investigating." The young man remarked. "What happened to my agent?" The minister asked. "You should be very pleased with him. He was out investigating, just as what you ordered him to do." The man explained. "Where is he now?" Father Remington asked the man. "I killed him and then I ate him!" The young man answered sinisterly. Disturbed by the man's claim, Father Remington got up from the bench, pulled out his gun and placed it in the man's mouth. The man looked terribly scared as he was afraid that the minister might shoot him. At that moment, Father Remington saw a whole group of people that surrounded the bench area looking at him with sinister looks on their faces, as if they were possessed. Just then, the man whom the minister held at gunpoint got off from the bench, pulled out a screwdriver and placed it at his neck with a deranged look on his face. Father Remington pointed his gun towards him again. "This is because you're so dangerous." The man said in a sly tone of voice. "Are all these people hostages?" The minister asked curiously while looking at the people around him. "Yes, now hand over that gun of yours and let's get to business, shall we?" The man ordered the minister.
Meanwhile, Rosette and the others were driving back to The Magdalene Order after food shopping. The weather was very rainy and gloomy which made driving very unpleasant. "Depressing, isn't it?" Chrono remarked. "No. Considering that they told us to go food shopping in this rainy condition, I'd say it's more than depressing! It's the absolute worst!" Rosette fumed in frustration. Just then, the phone rang. "Chrono!" "Yes Rosette." "Would you mind answering the phone for me?" "What?" "You heard me. Somebody's got to drive." Chrono picked up the phone and asked who it was. "Hello, oh Father Remington." Chrono said out of surprise while Father Remington asked if Rosette was available. "I'm afraid Rosette can't answer the phone right now." Chrono answered. Hearing that Father Remington was calling, she grabbed the phone from Chrono. "Hi Father Remington, Sister Rosette speaking, is there anything that you want to tell me?" Rosette asked with an enthusiastically sweet tone while driving erratically. "Is she supposed to be doing that while driving, Chrono?" Azmaria asked concerned. "No, not really!" He answered while cringing at Rosette's sudden over enthusiastic behavior. "Alright, I shall be there soon!" Rosette said to the minister as she put down the phone with a huge smile on her face. "Today I feel like the happiest girl in the whole world!" Rosette said with great enthusiasm. "You do?" Chrono wondered. "Yes, Father Remington had called me to pick him up from Grand Central Station. I wonder if he will finally notice the irresistible appeal of my beauty?" Rosette was revealing her thoughts aloud. "What did you say?" Chrono asked as he couldn't believe what he just heard. "Oh nothing, I was just thinking aloud." Rosette answered and started speeding. "Since we are going to the train station to pick up Father Remington, where do you think we'll put these bags?" Chrono asked. "Simple, we'll just go back to The Order and drop them off there. As a matter of fact, I'll be dropping you two off there as well." "What?!" Chrono said in disbelief. "Yeah Rosette, it would be nice for all of us to see Grand Central Station. We are friends aren't we?" Azmaria asked trying to convince Rosette. Seeing that she wouldn't be able to get out alone, Rosette said "But of course you can all come, I was just kidding!" "Yeah, right." Chrono remarked sarcastically. Back at Grand Central Station, after the minister put down the telephone, he looked towards the seemingly possessed civilians in front of him. "Alright, are you satisfied?" Father Remington asked the crowd in front of him. "This doesn't look very good." The minister thought to himself as he could tell that something strange was going on. "The girl shall arrive soon!" The young black haired man stated. "Before that happens, there is something I would like to ask you about." Father Remington said. "What would that be?" The man asked. "Are you working for Aion?" The minister asked out of curiosity as the civilian hostages looked at him while holding knives by their necks and laughing sinisterly. "What are you planning on doing with Rosette?" The minister asked worriedly. "Not a thing, I am just a taxi driver. There is a certain person who would like to see her!" The man answered. "A certain person?" Father Remington asked himself as he had a feeling who the person might be. Meanwhile, Rosette and the other two had reached the Order and started unloading the car. "Come on, let's hurry up and unload this stuff." Rosette demanded while bossing them around. While Azmaria was holding one of the bags, she fell down as it was too heavy for her to carry it. "Azmaria, are you okay?" Chrono asked. "I'm fine. I can hold this by myself!" Azmaria said trying to assure him. "Are you sure?" Chrono asked doubtfully. "Yes I am." Azmaria insisted. "I don't care how heavy the damn bag is, just hurry up and get these groceries unloaded!" Rosette demanded crossly. "Yes Rosette, I'll try my best!" Azmaria said as she was trying to pick it up. Seeing that Azmaria was having trouble picking the bag up, Rosette then walked towards her. "That bag looks pretty heavy for you to carry, let me help you with it." Rosette offered in a gentle tone of voice. Azmaria allowed Rosette to take the bag for her. "Phew, it looks like we're finally done!" Rosette commented out of relief when unloading was done. "Now Azmaria, are you able to handle it from here?" Rosette asked Azmaria. "Yes, leave it to me!" Azmaria said excitedly. Just then, the three nuns approached the trio who were surprised by their quick arrival. "You three came back pretty quickly." Claire said as she was greeting them. Just then, Anna noticed a wet bottom on one of the bags, much to her shock. "What is it now?" Rosette asked in an irritated tone. "Why in the world is the bag full of wheat soaked with water? We can't use this now!" Anna panicked. "Shut up, at least the other half is usable. Do you have to notice everything?" Rosette said to Anna. "I am afraid it's my fault, I was the one who accidentally dropped the bag. I just got a little dizzy." Azmaria admitted. "That's because Rosette was probably driving too fast." Chrono said. "What? Are you saying this is my fault Chrono?" Rosette asked Chrono angrily. "Well, in a way it kind of is." Chrono answered. "Great, more reckless driving? Can't you learn to be more responsible Rosette? Just the other day I heard you got distracted by a fruit cart while driving and almost collided with another car." Anna mocked Rosette. "I've heard she actually ran into the fruit cart." Mary stated as Anna began to coil. "No, she tried to avoid hitting the cart and crashed into the bakery across the street and both the cart and the shop caught on fire." Claire completed her interpretation of the event. "Is that all you can say for someone who spent half of the day food shopping in a weather like this?" Rosette was getting fired up with the girl's comments on her reckless driving. Just when she was about to attack the girls, Chrono began to pull Rosette away. "Alright, before this gets out of hand, don't we have to be somewhere?" Chrono reminded her. "That's right. We have to pick up Father Remington from the station." Rosette zoomed outside and ran towards the car with Chrono and Azmaria following her. They drove away with Rosette driving in full speed. "Wow, I guess Rosette really is in such a big hurry." Sister Claire commented. "I just do hope she doesn't do anything idiotic again." Anna commented doubtfully. "Besides, it's bad enough that Rosette is such a crazy driver. I am just wondering how come the minister asked her of all people to pick him up, especially in a dreary weather like this." Anna asked herself suspiciously as she knew what a reckless driver Rosette was. Despite the weather condition, they all had finally reached Grand Central Station. "We're here at last!" Rosette said excitedly as she got herself out of the car. "Hey, what about us?" Chrono asked. "You two will stay right here and guard the car. I don't want someone stealing it! Anyways, you can see Grand Central Station some other time, so no harm done!" Rosette said as she tried to justify her reason for them staying in the car. "So that's why you wanted us to come along? How typical of you!" Chrono said exasperatedly, but wasn't in the mood to argue with her. He just stayed along with Azmaria while Rosette rushed towards the station building. "Well, judging by the weather conditions, I wouldn't be surprised if Rosette had given up and went home!" The minister said with relief. "Are you still hoping for a miracle?" The man asked. "Consider it a form of parental concern. For four years ever since I have brought her into the Order, I have considered myself the girl's guardian. As such, it is my duty to protect her." Father Remington explained and abruptly ran towards the possessed man. He grabbed something from his shoulder and knocked him out. "Therefore I cannot hand her over without a fight." The minister finished explaining while the man fell down unconscious. The minister looked at his hand and saw a small black spider which he grabbed from the man's shoulder. He looked up towards a huge window and spotted some kind of demon standing there. Just then, Rosette opened the doors and ran inside the station. "Hi Father Remington, I am finally here. I hope you are glad that I have finally come to get you?" Rosette asked Father Remington cheerfully without realizing the people around him. Father Remington had a horrified look on his face as he saw Rosette coming in. At that moment, the doors closed loudly behind her. When she turned towards the minister again, she finally acknowledged the people around him. "Nice to meet you Sister Rosette!" one of the train station guards said while greeting her. "Now that you are here, it is time for you to get on board. Lord Joshua is waiting for you Sister Rosette!" Another guard said to her. "Joshua?" Rosette gasped in disbelief as she heard the name.
The guards restrained Rosette by her wrists and forcibly led her down the stairs from the balcony towards the main floor of the station. "What's going on here? What do you mean Joshua is waiting for me? Answer me!" Rosette asked the guards, feeling that something fishy was going on. "Tell me!" Rosette demanded as she yelled and freed herself from the guards. Father Remington grabbed his cross shaped holster and took out a blue laser sword filled with holy water. He cut off the spider webs from a few of the hostages necks which caused them to pass out. Rosette was very confused with what was going on when she saw all those possessed people. "Look up, second skylight from the east side!" The minister warned Rosette. She looked up and saw the spider demon above her. Rosette jumped down from the balcony as she managed to evade the two guards that were about to restrain her again. She then pulled out her gun and shot several times at the spider demon. Unfortunately, the demon somehow evaded her attacks, leaving the window from behind her partially broken. "Are you alright Rosette?" Father Remington asked her. "What in the world is going on in this place? And what did those people say about Joshua?" Rosette asked curiously as she was still puzzled about the whole situation. "My, what an appalling older sister! What will Lord Joshua say when he sees you now?" A mysterious female voice echoed across the building. "Who are you?" Rosette shouted out. "I am a puppet master, capable of manipulating the minds of human beings." The voice said. "A puppet master? Does that mean these people are hostages?" Rosette asked. "Yes, fortunately it's only temporarily. These people are merely under a spell." The minister explained. "Which makes them helpless marionettes. What pitiful fools humans are! Just look around yourself Sister Rosette!" The voice said sinisterly as Rosette looked at the possessed people around the station. "Sister, save me." One possessed woman called out to Rosette. "I am scared mommy." One possessed boy said with a sad voice. Rosette was more than convinced that the people were obviously possessed as they didn't appear to be themselves. "Tell me now, will you just stand back and watch as these unfortunate civilians be led to the slaughter?" The voice tauntingly asked Rosette while laughing sinisterly. "What do you want?" Rosette shouted out demandingly. "It is not what I want. It is what Lord Joshua wants! Obey me without question and those marionettes lives shall be spared!" The voice said as it was trying to convince Rosette to do what she says. "Don't listen Rosette, it's a trap." The minister tried to warn her. The possessed little dark-brown haired boy approached Rosette and was holding a knife beside his own neck like all of the other possessed hostages. "The train will arrive soon, if you get on board you will be able to see Lord Joshua!" The boy said to Rosette as if someone else was talking through him. "This is all part of Aion's trap." The minister revealed to Rosette. "Aion?" Rosette said as painful memories began filling her head. "This is Lord Joshua's wish. He wants to see his older sister! Do hurry up, Lord Joshua is waiting." The boy said as he was convincing Rosette to board the train. "Lord Joshua looks like he is in so much pain, so much to the point that he can't even eat." The boy revealed to Rosette. Rosette then recalled the times when her brother was in bed while coughing due to an incurable sickness of his. "Where is Joshua? Is it true that he is suffering?" Rosette again asked loudly while the marionettes started laughing sinisterly. "Please, let me see my brother Joshua?" Rosette demanded. "Rosette, calm down!" Father Remington said and just then, the black haired man pointed a gun at the minister's head. "Lord Joshua wishes to see you alone." The man said. "The minister will be waiting for you here. After all, you are the only one who can save Lord Joshua from his suffering." One guard said as he was trying to persuade Rosette. Rosette began thinking carefully about the decision she was about to make. Since she loved her brother dearly and would do anything to find him, she made her choice to board the train that will lead her to her brother. "I am sorry Father Remington, but I have no other choice. I need to go." Rosette said apologetically to the minister. Meanwhile, Chrono and Azmaria were still waiting in the car for Rosette and the minister to arrive. "Oh my, this is taking much longer than expected. I wonder what's happening inside there that's causing this delay?" Azmaria asked as she was wondering why they didn't show up by now. "I don't know, but there is something that I have also noticed. There aren't any people going out of the station." Chrono stated as he observed the station from the window which made him suspicious. "You don't think Rosette is in trouble, do you Chrono?" Azmaria asked as she had a feeling that something peculiar was happening inside. "In any case, I guess we better go check to see what is really happening in there." Chrono said and they both got out of the car and ran towards the station doors. They looked through the window and saw the two station guards dragging Rosette down to the train area. They also saw the possessed people and Father Remington being held at gun point. "Oh my God, we've got to do something about this before it is too late." Chrono panicked and tried to open the doors but was unable to do so. "Damn it, I can't open the doors." Chrono said frustratingly. "What are we going to do now Chrono?" Azmaria asked. "It looks like that there must be some demon presence in there. Let's go back to the car, grab some barrier crucifixes and place them around the building." Chrono advised. "That sounds like a good idea!" Azmaria agreed. "Come on, there is no time to lose!" Chrono said and they both went to the car to find the barrier crucifixes.
"Sister Rosette I must say, you have made the right choice in deciding to board the train. I am sure that Lord Joshua will be delighted when he finally sees you!" One guard commented as the two men were dragging Rosette to the underground train. Rosette was remembering the times in which Joshua was always very weak to the point that he spent a lot of time in bed and all the times when they had fun as children. As the train arrived she remembered the day when she and Joshua first met Chrono and the night when their orphanage got destroyed. Father Remington, not wanting Rosette to fall into Aion's clutches, grabbed his laser sword and managed to release himself from the people that were holding him hostage. He began to make his way to the underground part of the station. Just as Rosette stepped on the train step, she started hesitating. "What's the matter Sister Rosette? The train is about to leave." One of the guards asked her. As she was about to get on it, she heard a voice calling out to her, telling her not go on the train. "No Rosette, don't go on!" Father Remington shouted out, desperately trying to stop her. Suddenly, the female spider demon summoned her thick spider webs and used it to trap the minister by wrapping his neck and began to choke him. "Father Remington!" Rosette yelled out as she saw the minister's holster fell on the ground. "What a nuisance he is, trying to interfere with our plans! By doing so, he shall die!" The spider demon said in an annoyed tone. "Father Remington!" Rosette called out while the two guards pushed her inside the train. The spider demon wrapped the minister's wrists and ankles with her spider webs. She then continued tightening his neck so much to the point that the minister began to spit out saliva. Rosette kicked the guards and rushed over to the minister but one of the guards pulled on Rosette's hood which caused her to fall on the ground. Lying down, she saw a group of guards running towards her. Knowing that they were intending to put her back on the train, she grabbed one of her Sacred bullets and smashed it with Father Remington's holster which created some kind of smoke. The smoke helped Rosette to take the guards by surprise and to knock them out unconscious. Rosette pulled out her gun and shot the spider webs on Father Remington's ankles and wrists. As she continued knocking out the guards, she threw the minister's holster towards him. Father Remington managed to catch his cross shaped holster and took out his laser sword. He cut off the webs around his neck which then freed him. "Father Remington, I am so sorry." Rosette apologized. "We can talk later, now it is not the time." The minister said to her. Just then, Father Remington turned around and saw a group of possessed people in front of them. "You shall not escape! Don't you want to see your beloved younger brother? Why do you insist on defying me Sister Rosette?" The spider demon asked. "I must have been crazy to think that I could trust a coward who hides behind the shields of innocent people." Rosette admittedly said to the demon. "So you don't want to see Lord Joshua?" The spider demon asked. "Of course I want to see him. I would do anything to find him as fast as I can. I want to care for him, to hold him in my arms and if he is in pain and agony, I will gladly take his place." Rosette said emotionally. "Of course you would, you're the only one who can help Lord Joshua ease his suffering!" The spider demon tried once again to convince her to board the train. "That is why I will never accept your help! After all, you are the ones who are responsible for his suffering and I will risk my life to save him from your evil clutches no matter what price I will have to pay!" Rosette said determinedly as she was pointing her gun towards the spider demon. "It looks like I have no other choice. You shall come with me!" The demon shouted impatiently as she activated her spider webs towards the two. "Aim for the spiders by their necks." Father Remington instructed Rosette as he knew that the only way to free the hostages from their mind control spell was to remove the spiders on their necks. Father Remington sliced the spiders in half while Rosette grabbed and removed the spiders off the people's necks. "Hahahahahaha, how pathetic! What can a pair of two legs like you could possibly do?" The demon sinisterly laughed while taunting them. After freeing some of the marionettes from the spiders, they both ran back up to the main floor of Grand Central Station to free the remainder of the marionettes from the mind control spell. Before they could do that, they saw a group of possessed civilians blocking the doorways. "There is no escape!" The black haired man said as he was pointing a gun at them. Just then, a stream of green light appeared across the building and the hostages as well as the spider demon started to suddenly feel weak. "Ah no! A crucifix barrier!" The demon yelled in grief as the civilians passed out. "Rosette!" Chrono called out as soon as he opened the doors. "Chrono, is that you?" Rosette asked as she saw both him and Azmaria coming in. "Are you okay Rosette?" Chrono asked. "Yes and I can see that you two set up a crucifix barrier!" Rosette commented. "Chrono! So you were the one behind this?" The spider demon asked angrily. "It looks like you haven't changed one bit Rizel. Still using the same old despicable methods." Chrono said in a cross tone of voice. "Silence! This is not over yet girl, just wait and see!" Rizel yelled and then teleported away. Afterwards, Chrono and Azmaria went down to the main floor of the station. "Rosette!" Azmaria called out as they were running their way towards her. "Azmaria, how did you and Chrono know that I was in danger?" Rosette asked. "We were wondering what was taking you and the minister so long, so we tried to get in but we couldn't. This made us suspicious so we peeked through the window and saw some station officials leading you to the train. It was then when we decided to set up the crucifix barrier." Chrono explained. "I see, so I guess it was a good thing I left you two in the car after all!" Rosette taunted him. "What? After all what we did that is all you have to say?" Chrono said exasperatedly. Meanwhile, Father Remington was looking at some documents and a picture of a boy from the inside of the envelope that the possessed man had given to him earlier. Rosette, curious to what the minister was looking at, approached him. "Father Remington, is something wrong?" The minister turned around and showed her one of the pictures. "That would be the picture of your brother Joshua." The minister revealed. "My brother Joshua?" Rosette asked in disbelief. "Yes, we have been searching for his whereabouts for as long as you have been at the Order, and I think we have finally found the place to where he is currently residing!" Father Remington explained. "Where do you think he might be?" Rosette asked. "Judging by what the documents says, it appears that Joshua is somewhere in San Francisco!" Father Remington continued explaining. "In San Francisco?" Rosette asked out of surprise. "Yes Rosette." The minister confirmed. "Well if that's the place where Joshua is at, then we better get over there as soon as we can!" She said impatiently. "I'm afraid we can't be too rash with these things Rosette. We don't want to put you in danger by trying to save him without a well thought out plan. We have to plan everything to the smallest detail in order for this to work. Don't worry, you'll get a chance to find Joshua, I am sure of it!" Father Remington said as he tried to convince her. "I do hope so." Rosette said, somehow disappointed that it will still take some time. Father Remington and the others decided to stay at Grand Central Station to make sure that all of the possessed people had recovered from Rizel's mind control spell.