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April 11th, X778
"What do you think, Wendy?" Lucy asked, showing her young friend the bag of items she'd packed. There was some leftover food from the outside they'd brought with them when they'd first come to Hyacinth, as well as some bits and pieces Wendy had from before she'd tagged along with Natsu, Lucy, and Gray. Gray had even given them an old coin to try and trade at the market, though he'd not said why. Nor had he told them how much that coin was actually worth.
After he'd left to retrieve a soul he'd sensed on the mainland, near the shores, Mirajane had told them it was likely given to them because Gray felt guilty about not being able to help them with their investigation. Lucy didn't care why he'd decided to give it to them or where it had come from. It would hopefully get them something they needed to help them survive, regardless of if they stayed in Hyacinth or not.
Wendy wrinkled her nose at the bag, considering it. "I think it'll work," she said. Wendy looked over her shoulder. "Are you sure you don't want to come with us, Mira?"
Mirajane, who watched them from her perch at the table with her chin resting in a hand, shook her head. Silver hair cascaded around her shoulders. "No, thank you, Wendy. I've had quite enough of the people of Hyacinth for now." Her expression twisted into a light scowl. "If they prevent you from attending the market, let me know. I'll come then."
Lucy knew that Mirajane would come if they said as such and made a note to not say it if it happened. Mirajane's idea of coming along would include something nasty, she was sure. Lucy knew that Mirajane wouldn't be waiting around for them though; she'd be en route to Yukino's home for signs of danger. She'd told Mirajane and Gray about the feeling of being watched after Wendy had gone to bed, not wanting to frighten her. Mirajane had decided to go investigate.
Amused, Wendy said simply, "Thank you." She closed her bag with a happy hum. Lucy helped Wendy put her bag on, then tossed her own over her shoulder. She had to carefully adjust Natsu's scarf when it got caught beneath it, nearly choking her in the process. Lucy did a quick check, ensuring she had the keys Natsu had given her. They'd become her most valued possessions – them, Natsu's diale, and her beloved necklace.
"Ready?" Lucy asked Wendy, who nodded as she clasped her hands behind her back and bounced impatiently on the balls of her feet.
"I've not been to a market in a really long time," said Wendy as they bid Mirajane farewell and left the townhouse. Lucy wasn't sure she was excited that they were going out without a god on standby, but at the same time…she scolded herself. She didn't need a god to protect her in a town safe from Vhalis; she was an adult, and she could do just fine on her own.
"I've not either," said Lucy. "Not since before the Fall." Even then, before the Fall, it had been a while since she'd gone to a market. Lucy hadn't been big on local markets, preferring the ease of the big stores. She'd not liked it about herself, and she'd often wished to be better about it, but when she'd been too busy to make time…she'd had to make do.
As they walked, Wendy tipped her head to the side. She listened to a breeze that whisked over their faces, dark eyes warming as she heard the spirit of the wind's whisper. Lucy didn't ask what Grandeeney told her; it wasn't her business. Wendy seemed to have more pep in her step afterwards.
"Do you think Natsu will be back soon?" asked Wendy as they turned a corner, reaching the final street that would take them to the market. Even from where they were walking, more and more people had started dotting the streets, more than Lucy had ever seen out at one time in Hyacinth. It was like everyone in town was coming to the market.
"Well," said Lucy as she considered Wendy's question, "Gray said he'd be coming back if they didn't find anything this morning, so…I think he'll be back in the next few days, depending on how long it takes him to get here."
"Good." Wendy beamed at the idea.
Before long, they reached the docks. Wendy stuck close to Lucy's side as they entered the market, looking around at the different people spread out with their wares. It was impressive that Hyacinth could pull off such a feat in the midst of the world's end, but humans had always been clever when it came to survival. The sun shone over their heads, lying about how warm it truly was. Lucy shot it a nasty look, though she did admit it seemed a little warmer today than other days had.
Lucy and Wendy began to inspect different things, starting with someone selling water bottles that were significantly larger and more sturdy than the ones they possessed. The person selling them eyed the pair suspiciously, but didn't chase them off. Between the two of them, Wendy and Lucy came to an agreement that it wasn't a terrible idea to have better containers for backup should something happen and they had to leave.
They made the trade. Lucy was sure the seller was a little greedy, but she couldn't argue the price. Not only had Lucy upset a number of people on the docks with her questioning, but neither of them actually had too much to trade. It was a little frustrating, and Lucy truly wondered if she should have coerced Mirajane to come with them if they did this again. "We're going to have to find a way to get better things to trade in the future," muttered Lucy to Wendy as they walked away. Wendy murmured her agreement.
They went about the market for some time. Lucy often stopped to make sure she'd not lost track of her young friend. The docks weren't really made for so many people to be out and about on top of them at once, and when they stepped onto a section of wooden planks that creaked dangerously beneath their feet, it made Lucy nervous enough that she stopped. She shifted her weight back and forth, furrowing her brow. It creaked again, and this time, she thought the whole section of docks shuddered.
"Yep," said Lucy aloud, "we're done." She didn't want to be out on the docks if they gave out and dropped everyone on them into the fairly shallow but bitterly freezing water below, filled with sharks and Vhalis. Lucy had no desire to meet a shark up close. "Wendy," began Lucy, turning to look for her, "are you ready to – Wendy?"
She spun in a circle, frowning. "Wendy!" called Lucy again, but Wendy was nowhere to be found. Sighing, Lucy put her hands on her hips and shook her head. So much for leaving the docks right away. Grumbling about teenagers with short attention spans under her breath, Lucy began to backtrack. She kept a sharp look out for Wendy. She wished the keys could have helped find her. She'd have to ask Natsu about what each key could do the next time she saw him.
A kernel of concern wormed its way into her chest when she couldn't find Wendy after a few minutes. It didn't help her emotional turmoil that the wind suddenly picked up into massive sweeping gales of freezing air, as if the wind spirit herself was agitated. Wendy couldn't have gone far, thought Lucy with a frown. Still, dread was beginning to curl in her gut. Something wasn't right. She didn't care if it was just her mind being ridiculous; better safe than sorry.
When she still hadn't found Wendy fifteen minutes later, Lucy began to panic. She tried her best to stay calm, knowing she'd be more likely to miss something if she got too worked up, but it did her little good. "Wendy?!" shouted Lucy, jogging through the crowds and ignoring the annoyed looks others threw her way. "WENDY!"
Something snagged her attention near the eastern entrance to the docks as the wind buffeted her face. Lucy staggered to keep her balance. People around her muttered their irritation about the suddenly frigid cold wind. Lucy's heart skipped a beat and she scarcely heard them as she bolted. She almost tripped over her own feet as she came to an abrupt halt.
"No," she said uncertainly as she snagged the familiar bag, looking around to see if she could spot her young friend. Wendy was nowhere to be found. Lucy uttered a fearful sound of despair, as she recalled how someone had been watching her the day before. She wanted to think that she was simply exaggerating the seriousness of the situation, but there was a stone in her gut that told her otherwise. "No, no, no – Wendy!" she tried again hoarsely, breath caught in her throat.
Nothing.
Wendy was gone.
Lucy knew where she needed to go, of course. That house she'd checked with Mirajane, seemingly abandoned yet so clearly not. She knew to check there, but Lucy really, really didn't want to do it alone. She was scared for Wendy, but Lucy getting herself killed wasn't going to help her.
It took her half the time it had taken them to get to the market. When she reached it, Lucy slammed through the front door. The wind forced it open so harshly it punched a hole through the drywall behind it. Heaving for air, Lucy chucked the bags down and half-screamed, "Mira!" When there was no response, she pleadingly tried Gray's name, too, but came up empty-handed. She even hollered for Wendy, hoping maybe she'd panicked for no reason.
Nothing.
No one was home.
Lucy gave a frustrated shriek and kicked the wall, putting another hole in it. Raking a hand through her hair, she tried to settle her fear. She wasn't sure where to go next. Did she waste time tracking down someone who could help her? Or did she make sure Wendy wasn't in the house that so clearly belonged to the killer so many people in this stupid town were determined to pretend didn't exist? She wished they'd worked harder and faster to figure out who the murderer was, if only to rule them out or confirm the danger they presented to Wendy now.
She should have gone to Yukino's, where she might find Mirajane on her way there or Sting, who would have helped her. Maybe, for some reason, Wendy had gone that way. Lucy knew otherwise though.
Angrily shoving tears from her face, Lucy cursed the gods that were once again no longer around to help her when she needed them and then tracked down her notebook. She ripped a page out and scribbled out a quick explanation of where she'd gone – and for whoever found the note to come and make sure Lucy, herself, wasn't dead. She tracked down some duct tape they'd kept in their supplies and hastily taped it to the front door.
As soon as she was done, Lucy took off. She sprinted through the streets of Hyacinth, hating it. She hated this town. As soon as Natsu came back and she had Wendy safe and sound beside her, she was leaving, and she sure as hell wasn't going to look back. She'd find somewhere else to live, somewhere far safer than a town willing to look past a murderer.
She let that anger towards the town fuel her as she pushed onwards. Had people listened to her, they wouldn't be in this situation.
The house was as empty-looking as it had been the first time she'd entered it, and Lucy narrowed her eyes as she peered at it from across the street. She didn't want to enter through the front – not when someone might be inside. She curled her fingers around the keys in her pocket and drew them out, running her thumb over the ring. "Which one of you will help me most right now?" she whispered to them.
There was a moment in which nothing happened, and then one key seared at her fingertips. She selected it and when it had been isolated from the other keys, it morphed into–
"A coin?" she muttered incredulously.
The coin burned at her fingers, the symbol of Aquarius blazing hot against her skin. "Ouch! Okay, okay, sorry." Lucy grimaced, shaking out her hand as the coin cooled. She wasn't sure how the coin would be helpful, but she gripped it tightly as she snuck around the side of the house, keeping a close eye out for danger. The coin remained surprisingly cool in her hand as she found a back door and cautiously tested the back door. She cautiously tested the handle. When it didn't open, she tried the window beside it.
"Ha," she breathed. She held her breath as she clambered through the window, trying to avoid making any noise. She was proud of how well she managed it. She tossed the ends of Natsu's scarf back to keep them out of the way. She stopped to listen intently and glanced around. She hated this place, this house with its very haunted feeling. Lucy wouldn't be surprised if it was haunted, given what had happened in its walls.
Lucy waited and gave herself a few heartbeats to listen for any occupants in the house. She counted to ten under her breath before heading deeper into the house. She found the pantry Mirajane had discovered quickly, eyes blazing with determination. She would not let Wendy become the next victim of the person who owned this place – if, of course, she was even here.
She palmed the coin, breath hitching with anxiety when she pried the pantry door open. She stared down the suspicious flight of pitch black stairs, trembling. After a moment, she gripped Natsu's scarf for reassurance – and then descended them with careful, quiet steps. She made sure to pay attention to any small sound so she wasn't caught unprepared by anything.
When she reached the bottom of the stairs, Lucy found a light switch and cautiously flicked it on – just as the coin in her hand seared at her fingers. Something darted at her in the darkness, and Lucy ripped back in time to narrowly avoid the reaching talons of the Vhalis that had been chained to the cement wall by a metal collar around its neck. Lucy's heart leapt into her throat as she shot backwards a few steps, relieved when the Vhalis couldn't follow her.
It hadn't been there before, thought Lucy, pursing her lips. Mirajane would have mentioned it had there been a Vhalis here before. Lucy studied the Vhalis closely. It had been dead a while; its skin was mottled and sticking to the creature's bones. Lucy thought it odd that its talons seemed filed down and that its teeth were missing. Not only did she question how someone would go about doing that, but she wondered how someone had managed to sneak a whole Vhalis into the basement without neighbors noticing.
She realized a moment later, when she saw that a section of the Vhalis's throat was torn away. It had no vocal chords. It couldn't scream.
That was more alarming than the Vhalis itself.
Hands shaking violently, Lucy retreated up the basement steps, clutching her coin a little tighter. She understood its use then: it heated in the presence of danger. She paid a little closer attention to it than she had previously as she performed a quick, quiet scan of the lower section of the house after shutting the oddly heavy pantry door. When she came up empty-handed, Lucy went upstairs.
She hated the idea of being stuck on the second story of a house she knew very little about, but Lucy kept on. She wanted to at least see if Wendy was stuck here before she worried about the idea of her being at the bottom of the sea. Lucy immediately shucked the idea aside, refusing to so much as consider it. She checked the first room at the top of the stairs, noting that it was empty. The second room was also empty.
The third was locked.
Heart skipping a beat, Lucy pressed her ear to the door, clutching her coin. When she didn't hear anything on the other side of the door, Lucy eyed the simple lock. It was on the knob, and when Lucy tried to use the coin, it worked. A smirk flickered over her lips when she successfully slid the door open – and exhaled sharply, horrified.
"Wendy." Lucy spotted the girl immediately. She was curled up on the floor, unconscious. Lucy ensured no one else was around before she rushed for her. "Wendy," whispered Lucy hastily, relieved she'd found her and furious that she'd found her here, just as she'd worried. She dropped to her knees beside her, running her fingers along Wendy's cheek. She tapped it with a finger a few times as her eyes skimmed the girl for any sign of injuries. "Wendy!"
Wendy moaned softly as she stirred, but didn't wake up entirely. Lucy cursed under her breath. She couldn't carry her. Wendy was grown enough that Lucy would never be able to carry her far. She bit her lip, hissing under her breath yet again about the now absent gods that were nowhere to be found. She patted Wendy's cheek again, pleased when she began to wake up a little more.
"Lucy…?" slurred Wendy after a few moments, dark eyes hazed as she pried them open. She blanched, immediately screwing them shut again. Her face was white as snow as she swallowed back the nausea that rose. "My head," she moaned, shakily touching the side of her head. Lucy shushed her gently and checked it; sure enough, there was blood matting her hair. She'd been struck at least once, maybe even twice, over the side of the head.
Clenching her jaw, Lucy made sure the coin she carried was still cool before setting it down to help Wendy sit up. Wendy whimpered, clutching Lucy's arm tightly. "What do you remember?" prompted Lucy softly.
Wendy squinted with a grimace. "I don't know," she croaked. "The market?"
Lucy wanted to get her to Yukino as soon as physically possible. She snagged the coin and shoved it into her pocket before helping Wendy to her feet, pulling her arm around her neck. It was an awkward position with Lucy being a good deal taller than Wendy, but if Wendy could walk at least a little, then Lucy would make it work. "Come one," she told Wendy, "we need to go. Now." Wendy didn't argue. She stumbled forward a few steps.
The coin seared at Lucy through her coat pocket.
Lucy swore under her breath. She hastily whipped her head around and found nowhere to hide. Grimacing, she shoved Wendy behind the door, squeezing in beside her just as it flung open. She fumbled with the other keys in her pocket, heart racing. Her hands were so clammy with sweat she almost dropped them as she cautiously kept them from making a sound. Her other hand clamped over Wendy's mouth to help hide her ragged breathing.
"Fuck!" snarled the person who'd entered, and Lucy felt a cold stab of dread.
Jerome.
Lucy knew then why most of the town, if not all, wanted nothing to do with the idea of a killer walking among them. If it was someone they were close with, like Jerome, it would hurt far more than a small twinge of betrayal in their hearts. She'd not even considered Jerome a true friend, but she'd talked with him often enough that this was completely unexpected. But then…he'd been good enough at hiding everything that no one else had cared to notice. What else should she have suspected?
She watched from the shadows behind the door as Jerome spun on his heel, searching the room. His eyes were wide with panic and fury, breathing heavy. "Damn it," he muttered, storming back out of the room. Lucy flinched violently when the door slammed shut behind him.
Wendy whispered shakily, "Lucy? Was that–"
"Mhm." Lucy pressed the coin marked with Aquarius's sigil into Wendy's fingers. "Hold that and tell me immediately if it gets hot, Wendy."
"What is it?" Wendy blinked blearily at the coin she'd been given.
"Something Natsu gave me." Lucy yanked the rest of the keys out of her pocket, studying them. She selected one at random, ensuring they didn't jingle and alert Jerome to their presence. The key she selected warmed almost in greeting before melting into a new form, drawing a soft gasp from Wendy as it split in two. Lucy made a face when the key became a set of batons inscribed with the symbol of Gemini. She wasn't sure how this would go; she was more likely to hurt herself than anyone else with them.
Still, batons were better than nothing against a man who was out to kill them.
AND SO THE CHAOS BEGINS! Did anyone expect the randomly named person from previous chapters? ;)
On another note, I've made some changes to my favorite planned part of SF, and I cannot freaking WAIT.
Thanks to reviewers (dooryyy, hopelesskar, BurstingDragons, and takeagamble27!) as well as those who favorited or followed!
