Hey guys and girls.
Welcome to the latest chapter for Stone Cold Hunter.
Sorry for taking so long to upload this chapter. But here it is.
I won't lie, setting a story in modern world is kinda hard as in a world like the Elemental Nations makes things easier with mystic voodoo bullshit as you have that to work with. But here, seeing that I'm going for a more modern take, that part of the equation has been removed. No super powers or stuff.
Sure in the world you do get Espers. But that's the furthest you can stretch it.
So the last place we left off was where we switched gears and took a look at Erza's past. What she had been through and what her motive for joining Akatsuki was.
Seems like a fair motive for me. Killing all those who are hypocrites. Seeing that her mother was such one person who manipulated those around her to get what she wanted and further cementing her rage at the fact that it was her mother that killed her father like that.
But there is a new question.
What is The Dance Of Blood And Poison?
Stay tuned.
Disclaimers: I own nothing.
Opening song: NateWantsToBattle - Phantom.
Chapter 8: Seeds of Madness.
Tossing and turning in his bed, Naruto thrashed about as cold sweat beaded down his face. His face mangled in terror and pain as he grunted in his sleep. It was one of those nightmares again.
He'd been having them for weeks now. Ever since he joined Akatsuki to become an Assassin he'd see past memories play out as if he was a damned soul within the bowels of the deepest pits of Hell. Sure felt that way to him.
Shooting himself awake as he gasped for cool air of the twilight hours of the morning.
Looking to his hands beside him, he found them to be ghost white. No doubt from his body writhing about as he dreamt that horrendous memory. Steeling his nerves with a few calming breaths, he got out of the bed and headed to the bathroom.
Turning on the tap, he splashed some water on his face. The ice cold caress of the water electrocuted his sense awake. Grabbing a towel and wiping his face, he looked into the darkened room. His reflection barely visible in the mirror.
For a super secret organization, they truly knew how to spend money. These apartment were like that of the Presidential Suite you'd see in Las Vegas. But then again, when your clients are multi millionaires, you can expect the money to be in thick cases. But that was only reserved for the top Assassins. The Crows. He'd garnered the attention of Esdeath and Raven due to his random outbursts. He'd have to be careful not to slip up. Lest he chew on a bullet.
"It's been 5 weeks since I started here. And I'm no where near getting close to the truth about my father." spoke Naruto leaning against the basin, his head gazing into the porcelain bowl.
"What do I from here? How do I uncover the truth?"
"Go deeper." came a voice from behind him.
Body instantly reacting and his entire psyche going into high alert mode, Naruto prepared himself for an attack. But when his eyes focused, he saw no one. Grabbing the closest object to him, which happened to be a soap bottle, he slowly and methodically moved through the apartment.
But after a few minutes of scanning the room. He found no one. Returning to the bathroom he set down the bottle and headed back to his bedroom and opened the closet. Raven wanted to see them bright and early. So he didn't have time to do his morning training.
"Deeper, deeper. Deeper! DEEPER! Let the fire within you run WILD!" howled the same voice he heard causing Naruto to grab his ears and try to block out the noise.
When it finally stopped, he looked to his shoes, gazing into the abyss where his feet were to go, he shuddered for a brief second.
"Great, now I'm hearing voices." he spoke.
After getting his shoes on, he stood up and breathed in slowly. Almost like he was ready to meditate.
His father taught him this technique in order to calm and still your mind. But for some reason, no matter how many times he performed this ritual, his nightmares still came back to haunt him. Was he becoming unhinged? Was his mind beginning to shatter? What was happening?
A knock on the door drew him out of his thoughts. Opening it he found the cyan haired instructor. Codename: Nightmare Muse. Esdeath. She stood there with both hands resting on her full hips and her eyes trained on his own crystal blue.
"Change of plans Naruto." she spoke to him with a slight purr to her words.
"You're coming with me."
"Roger." spoke Naruto closing the door and locking it.
He knew full well from Raven the first day that poor soul got a bullet in his head. Never ask questions. As a result, Naruto had to go through what ever they said. Typical behavior like a slave. A prisoner. But he at least had a few freedoms many prisoners/slaves didn't get. The ability to do as he pleased during his down time.
Hell even murdering another person here was permitted. But the Crows were given strict instructions to never do that as they were the best of the best.
Finding himself being led down through the corridor where the dry wall halls turned into exposed brick. The feeling of damp air and rotting flesh began to flood his senses as the whispered whimpers of those down below began to fill his head. They had only been walking for 4 minutes and this truly was a change in of itself. He couldn't believe this was even here.
"You may ask a question. I promise I won't kill you." spoke Esdeath never turning her head as she walked down the stairs.
"Where are we going?" spoke Naruto following her down.
"Before we built the HQ for Akatsuki, this island was actually home to a castle. Apparently a king had gone mad and built a castle here. He was successful as you can see, but his madness grew and he forced everyone into the dungeons. He stated he was cursed and the only way to lift said curse was to kill everyone on the island in the most brutal way fashion. He did so, and many souls were lost due to his insanity. Many years later, it was discovered he was suffering from Schizophrenia. We now use this dungeon to hold people who wish to steal information about us. We are sought after by many, but that doesn't mean we don't have enemies. This is also my personal playground."
That last phrase merited Naruto to flinch a bit with Esdeath smiling and licking her lips. She loved coming down here. The people who truly deserved their penance were her greatest thrill. Their cries were something she reveled in.
Stopping outside a cell, they saw Erza with Raven there. Truth be told, they were the last ones left. These two poor souls were to only remain after the trials Raven and Esdeath placed through.
Erza was the first to notice them and looked rather disgusted when her eyes laid on Naruto. Clicking her tongue she turned back and put a bullet in the man's skull. The prisoner she was ordered to interrogate.
Nodding her head, Raven opened the cell just as some people came by and took away the body with their replacements bringing in the next prisoner.
"Good work, Erza. Retire to your room and we will give you new orders soon." spoke the charcoal haired woman with Erza saluting her.
Walking out the cell, Erza made sure she nudged Naruto's shoulder as she walked past. A slight jab at him that boosted her ego towards him. She couldn't shake the feeling that this lone soul was truly more stronger than her. She was taught that the strong take what they want, while the weak perish. And here was Naruto. Completely ignoring such a statement she was taught. And it infuriated her to no regard.
Once the prisoner was shackled to the chair in the dimly lit cell, Esdeath pushed Naruto in and locked the door.
"This prisoner has valuable information. Get him to spill everything. You may use any method you see fit." spoke Esdeath leaning against the wall while Raven stood there unmoving.
Looking to the side, Naruto found a silver trolley. Various items lay before him. Ranging from car battery with jump leads, to simple rope.
Clicking his knuckles, Naruto moved over towards the trolley and grabbed the pistol. Firing off a shot into the brick wall Naruto brought the now heated barrel end to the man's throat and pressed.
Screams of pain echoed through the dungeon as Esdeath never thought Naruto would take this route. It was something she never thought.
"Tell me what I want to know, and it stops." commanded Naruto.
"I don't know anything." spoke the man as Naruto moved the barrel away.
"Wrong answer. What information are you hiding?" ordered Naruto swinging the pistol through the man's face, kicking out a few teeth in the process.
"I don't know what you're talking about?" barked the man as he spat out some blood with Naruto grabbing the man's face and pointing the gun at his head.
"The location of the Minister! We know you have the location." barked Raven.
Wait. Minister? What was going on here? Why was Akatsuki after a person who assisted in running a country? Something didn't feel right. But he pushed through those thoughts and continued his abuse of the prisoner.
Sighing, as he threw yet another punch into the man's face, Naruto stood up straight and pointed the pistol to the man's shoulder. Pulling the trigger, Naruto began to smile more sinisterly. Esdeath noted this as well and began to smile as well. Naruto had given himself over to his bloodlust again. And now that it was out, she could see just how far he'd go.
He truly was unhinged.
Putting the pistol down, Naruto placed a hand on the wounded shoulder and began to push with his thumb into the wound.
"Better tell me what I want to know. Do that and the pain stops." assured Naruto.
"Okay. Okay." spoke the man with Naruto releasing his hand from the man.
"The location of the Minister is Siberia. He's located in Siberia." spoke the prisoner, his will to fight clearly broken.
"Anything else?" barked Raven.
"He's holding a party for some of the rich and famous. He loves to do this to flaunt his wealth. Also a way for him to wreck relationships and also start new ones. Through the bed." spoke the prisoner.
"When does this party start?" order Esdeath.
"Next week, Wednesday." spoke the prisoner as he began to pass out from the shock of his injuries.
"Excellent. Naruto, you may leave." spoke Raven.
"Not yet." spoke Naruto making Esdeath raise an eyebrow. Did Naruto just defy an order?
He said nothing. Moving towards the trolley, Naruto grabbed the rope and began tying a very specific knot. Both Raven and Esdeath soon held wide eyes at what type of knot Naruto was making.
Once finished, Naruto threw the knotted end upwards, slinging over a steel rafter, Naruto looked at the man who was slipping to become unconscious.
"Nah ah ah ah." spoke Naruto slapping the man awake. "Not sleepy time yet."
Grabbing the knot, Naruto slung it over the poor guy's head and began to pull the rope down, lifting him higher and higher. The sounds of the windpipe being crushed as the man thrashed about in the chair, soon echoed with the cell. Watching the man struggle, Naruto smiled at what he was doing. Truly an unhinged mind now.
After a few minutes of the body in the chair thrashing about, the body went limp. Finding that there was no pulse, Naruto released the rope and the body dropped to the ground along with the chair with an audible metallic thud. A few seconds of staring at the body was all it took to snap Naruto out of it.
"You may leave Naruto." spoke Raven again.
"Yes ma'am." said Naruto heading out the cell after Esdeath unlocked it.
Once out of earshot with them, Naruto looked to his hands as they began to tremble.
"What have I become?" he spoke as he walked on shaken legs to his room.
Looking to the dead body in the cell, Raven turned to her friend.
"He truly has become unhinged." she spoke with Esdeath smiling almost like an excited schoolgirl.
"He sure is, isn't it wonderful?" she stated in glee.
"To you." spoke Raven shaking her head. "But not for me. That dormant bloodlust of his. It may even surpass yours."
"That's the beauty of it." spoke Esdeath as she licked her lips. "That bloodlust is so delicious. I want it all to be poured out on me."
"You truly have many screws lose." retorted Raven as she got down to business. "We need to create a file regarding the location of the Minister. This will be the target for both Erza and Naruto."
"But they first need to complete the final trial." spoke Esdeath now calm.
"Indeed. The Dance Of Blood And Poison." answered Raven with them heading out the cell.
And scene.
There we have it.
A more vicious side of Naruto has been awakened. In the form of a bloodlust that is more potent to Esdeath's. Such a discovery has sent Raven into fear of the boy.
But it seems this shift was also picked up by Naruto. Ever since he began here, he has seemed to become more comfortable with the killing of people. Taking their souls and not caring on who lives or dies.
Still trying to cling to the last bit of humanity he has left before it is all stripped away from him.
How far will he go to keep that bloodlust at bay?
Chapter 9: Familiar Taste Of Poison.
Coming soon.
Please rate and review.
Thank you for reading.
BlackSpirit101 out. ;)