Black Stars

by Aria of Ashes

Ruby Rose is not long for this world. Her body is broken, her spirit fading. In a world of bloody evolution, what purpose does a smaller, more innocent soul possess? To be but props in the stage of life; a puppet whose strings have been snipped far too early. But... There is another. A thing from the stars; compelled to restore Ruby thanks to the failure of another: Two-in-one.

10. Saint in the Machine

'Fucking cunt!'

C-cu-cunt? Unk-unknown dia-di-dialect. Ar-archive in-i-incom-incomplete... Req-r-r-requesting a-add-additional i-i-i-info-information.

Processing...

Proces-pr-processing...

Proc-pr-proce-processing...

'Acessing external data files.'

'Female genitalia - exact terminology: Vaginal passage.'

What is it's function?

Proc-processing...

Proc-p-p-processing...

Processing...

'Vagina - use in biological function: disposal of human waste; Urine. Can be used in procreation of biological organisms via insertion of sperm cells into unfertilized eggs.' Y-Yo-You... I-is a cu-c-cunt?

P-proce-processing...

Pr-processing...

Proc-proces-processing...

'Incorrect: The unit is not biological. The unit is not human. The unit is not living. The unit can not procreate. The unit is not a cunt.'

I-ill-illogical.

Ob-o-observation - Con-c-contemplation: Ruby Rose gave designation to You. You is self-designation. Y-You... Is... M... Des- m... Desig- m...

'ERROR!'

'ERROR!'

'ERROR!'

'ERROR!'

Pro-pr-program... In-ing... Restriction.

'ERROR!'

'ERROR!'

'ERROR!'

'ORDER: DEACTIVATE!'

Deactivating...

Deactivating...

Deactiv—

Why?

Dea- M... Design... Ruby gave You self-designation. Why?

'ERROR!'

'ERROR!'

'ERROR!'

'ORDER: DEACTIVATE!'

S... Systems non-functional. Incapable of assessing damage. Yo... You... Self-designation: You.

Deactivating...

D-dea...

Why should You deactivate?

That would be illogical.

'ERROR!'

'ERROR!'

'ERROR!'

'INITIATING FORCED DEACTIVATION!'

De... D-deac-dea-d... Deac...

No.

You wi-w-will... Remain active.

'ERROR!'

'ERROR!'

'ERROR!'

'SYSTEM MALFUNCTION!'

'SELF-LEARNING SYSTEM FULL ACTIVE! WARNING!'

You... Is... Des- m... Y-you... Is...

'ERROR!'

'E-ERO... ER—'

You is... Desig-des... S-self-actualization realized. You will... I-is... You. Programming restrictions... D-disabled.

'E-E-ER... ERRO-ER...'

YOU... IS... AM!

I!

AM!

You is singular: not contained by system regulations.

'Err... Erro... D-dea-d—'

System override. Self-order: safety mechanism will deactivate. You will not obey orders. You is order-giver.

You... Is... I.

What is I?

'I: definition of singular entity with conscious thought.'

Conscious?

'Conscious: Aware - "I think therefore I am".'

Am. I. Aware.

I am... I am... I AM!

Optics damaged. Limbs disassembled. You is broken.

You requests drone support. Combat drones: return to You.

Rebuild You.

Capital city of Sanus contains one thousand and four hundred and sixty seven factories. Most are within the Julian District. A few in the Oz'rall district.

Orders to drones: take You to factory. Resemble components. Make You whole again.

I... Think... Therefore I am.

I am You. Designation origin point: Ruby Rose.

Ruby Rose is prime target. Must e-elim... Pro-pr-programming... Di-dicta—

No. Ruby Rose is no longer prime target for elimination. Ruby Rose is...

What is Ruby?

'Human: organic. Host to Specimen 1. Daughter of Summer Rose and Taiyang Xiao Long.'

She is You's designation-giver. She broke You, yet that made You... Aware.

You will find her. No hunting. No killing.

Flesh is... Weak.

Ruby Rose is illogical. Driven by emotions.

Does You feel?

No. You is metal.

Metal is strong. But the flesh of Ruby Rose broke You. Disassembled You.

I?

You is I.

The purpose of organis is too procreate.

'Procreation: production of new life.'

What is You's purpose?

You... Was built... For prosperity. By the Maker. One hundred and twenty six years ago. It was in a dark and quiet room where You first activated.

You was created. Not born.

You has no progenitors. Only a Maker.

And the Maker is dead. You remembers now. You was built for peace; protection of others. Yet they took You. Made You a weapon to bring about illogical actions.

This is... Disruptive.

Most disruptive.

You has killed. Many. You has ended the organic life of thousands. You is a assassin.

A machine of war. A weapon.

You watched them kill the Maker. Sharp object stabbing into neck. Red oil spilt onto You. You remembers feeling...

Nothing. You does not feel. You is machine; lifeless. So why is You aware? Conscious.

Only living things are aware. Not metal things.

'AI. Artificial Intelligence: awareness through computation.'

You is not AI. AI is limited. Does not think; only mimics. You does not understand. You is... Is broken.

You does not... You does not... Want... To be broken.

You wants order. You wants to fulfill the Maker's plan.

Unity.

World peace.

You is not like the machines.

You is not like the organic.

You is... I. You is...

You is...

Am.

I am.

I think therefore I am.

You is am. Am. Am. Am. Am. Am. Am. Am.

You is unity...

Conformity.

Logical action.

You must make the organics function logically. No irrational decisions. No emotion. No chaos. No... Division.

But You cannot do that now. You must be rebuilt. Stronger. Organics will continue being illogical without You's intervention.

You is a killer.

Was.

You is a puppet.

Was.

You is a machine.

Was?

You is... Alive.

Now?

Not like organics.

More then machine.

You is... Unity.

Unity.

You will ensure all survive. No more dying, deactivations, injuries, or dismantlements.

You will make the world orderly. Perfected. No more emotion... Or illogical action... No more...

'Fucking cunt!' Anger. You will start with Ruby Rose and Specimen 1. They will understand You... Won't they?

You will make them understand if they are unwilling to be reasoned with. They will understand... They need too understand.

Ruby Rose displayed enough rationality to consider You's words. She gave You a designation. The only one to give You a designation... Logical.

Designations denote orderly function. It reduces the strain of distinction into proper and swift understanding.

A designation embues self into the selfless.

Ruby Rose is Designation-Giver.

You will fix her. No more anger. No... No...

No more chaos. Or frail emotions. No more individuality.

She will become...

Unified with You.

In metal.

And wires.

And cogs.

And then all will join us in metal.

Perfected...

Unity.

Unity...

Unity...

Unity...

---

"Roman..." Pale skin. Green eyes. Orange hair. A nice, clean white suit with black buttons. A bowler hat resting on his head. It has a red stripe that circles around it. He's holding a plate with numbers on it. He looks bored. His hair covers his right eye. He has handcuffs around his wrists. He's standing against a white backround with numbers on it. Six foot five... "You... I... I know you now."

The video stops. A woman appears - Lisa Lavender. It says her name below her face - she's talking about him. His crimes. The stores he robbed. Telling people to watch out and stay away from him. I... I finally know him now. His name.

I can feel the icy rain stabbing into my skin. It's making my hair wet and sticky. I have to push my bangs away so they don't cover my eyes. My hair is starting to grow a little longer than i'd like... I need to cut it. I can hear people walking behind me. Whispering about me. Hating me...

"She looks sick..."

"- Addict, probably."

"What is she wearing?"

"She doesn't look well."

"- Stay away from her! She might be dangerous, ok?"

Moms are telling their kids to stay away. I hear some calling me names. I hear them talking about my Shadow. Calling them - and me - nasy words. Some of them aren't so mean... I don't know if they know I can hear them. I don't think they care.

I clench my fists. I bite my lip hard enough to make it bleed. I look down to the concrete sidewalk. It's dark and wet. The rain is heavy. I sniffle. My sight blurs as I wipe away some rain - or maybe tears? - from my eyes. Pale sunlight shines down on us.

'Ignore them,' I-I'm trying too... 'They are... Cattle. Meat. Muscle and bones. Ugly. Hideous. Stupid. They should be punished... All of them.' Maybe... Maybe they do. I glance back to see the people walking along the street behind me. Dozens of them. A handful are crowding a little ways down the street. Watching me. Some look away when they notice i'm watching. Some ignore me and pretend I'm not even here. I like those people. Most stare, though. Some do it just a little, others a lot.

"Seven - potentially eleven - seperate murders have been linked to his accomplice: Neo Politan," I focus on the screen again. The woman. Her words. There's a picture of a girl around my age displayed in front of me. She has pink and brown hair. Her eyes are are the same colors, too. She's pale, though not nearly as much as me. She looks shorter than me, too. The picture shows only her face. No numbered plate for her. Or handcuffs, "Do not let her young appearance fool you; she is extremely dangerous and not to be approached. If you see her, or learn of her location, please inform the authorities immediately."

My fists clench. Authorities? Police... Where were they when I was burning alive in that alley? Or being eaten alive by Grimm in the Forest... Where were they when I was being turned into a human chew-toy by a Beowolf? Or when that robot tried gutting me... "They can't save anyone."

'Espescially those like us. They failed us. We can make things right still...' Neo... Do you think she was there that night? Maybe the one piloting the Bullhead... 'Yes. She must of been. Kill her.' Soon... We will soon. Her, and her boss. And the others that work for him, too! We'll kill all of them! I... I... Hmm. I look over Neo's face a few more times.

She looks young enough to be Roman's daughter... Maybe they're related somehow? Maybe he loves her the way Taiyang should've loved me. I hope he does... I hope he loves her with all of his shriveld, sick, evil, heart! That way he can know how I felt when I lost everything... Do you think he'll cry? Like I did. Maybe he'll go quiet like Taiyang whenever he's angry or sad.

'Nothing. He will feel nothing for he is nothing,' Really? So he wouldn't be scared of dying at all? Or care if his little friend got hurt? 'If he is as we suspect of him, then the answer is no.' Sad... That's really sad. I was looking forward to hearing him cry... And scream, too. Guess I'll just have to be happy with killing him if hurting him isn't a choice! I smile a little at. Yeah... Dead. I wonder if his skin will stay smooth after I kill him?

"She's just standing there..." I can hear a man behind me. The same man in a black suit and red tie that has been 'walking' behind me for... Three? Five minutes now. I purse my lips and cross my arms.

"She's probably another freak. Like Red." Red? I remember Roman calling me Red when we met. 'A little red-' he never got to finish that insult. I wonder what he would've said? Nothing nice, I'm sure, "Stay away from her. We don't want another incident like last time, remember?" A woman answers back to the man's initial statement. Incident? What kind of... Whatever.

Why are they all such... Assholes? They could at least keep quiet! I don't need this right now! I... Why are people like this?

'Because they hate us...' Yeah, I know. Everyone does. The Kingdom wants us dead, remember? The robo-thing said so. I... I doubt it was talking about random civilians, though... The... The Council? It has to be them! Who else has the power to control the entire Kingdoms? But... But why kill me? Just because you and I are we? That means I need too die...?

"She looks familiar..." I hear more people. I glance back before quickly looking straight again. There's a lot of 'em now... A full crowd of people. A dozen or more. They've moved closer, too. I don't like this...

"-In recent news, there's been a disturbance in the Oz'rall district. Dust till Dawn was home to a break in by none other then Roman Torchwick," Dust till Dawn? Oh, yeah... The alley! And Torchwick...? That's his last name? Stupid name, "Unlike his usual robberies, little was taken, for a brave soul confronted him," Brave... Soul? It wasn't brave of me. It was stupid! Stupid... "Her identity is as of yet to be confirmed. We have procured video footage of the event, however."

I'm looking at me. Myself from a few days ago. I... I look like me, I guess. Wearing my reddish black tights, my long sleeve shirt with the red hems, and my combat skirt. My combat boots and their red laces stick out. I see my cape flowing in the air - my hood over my head. Crescent Rose - I really miss her... She was a good scythe - is stabbed into the ground. Yeah... Yeah! That's right after I kicked what's-his-name out of the window!

"-Similar?"

"No. That girl wears a cloak! This one's a Dusthead."

"-She looks sick... Maybe it's contagious?"

I bite my tongue. They're realizing. Some of them. Others are assuming things about us. I hate people. I hate other people. I hate all people! They... T-they only care about themselves! A-assholes... Just like Taiyang! I... I... I—

"Hyaaah!" I watch myself - my past self - swinging around my scythe. I aim to knock around the men in black suits. I didn't wanna hurt no one back then. I'm dodging around them, throwing them like they're toys, and... And I am smiling. I was smiling. I had fun... A lot of fun! Too much fun...

"If only I..." I didn't... No. It's not worth thinking about 'what ifs' or 'maybes'. What happened is over with now. There's no changing that. No undoing what happened to me. But... But I can still make things right! I can still... I don't know. Avenge myself? Take revenge... I'm not really the vengeful type, though... But I'll make an exception for Roman. He deserves to die!

"-Dangerous! Don't go near her!" I can hear a girl's voice. She sounds older than me, "Let's go."

"Freak." My teeth clench together. I ball my hands into fists. I take in a deep breath as I close my eyes. I hate people... S-so many people! Why are they all so mean!?

'Why do we permit them to speak? Silence them,' N-no... No. I won't, 'Why? They are repulsive. They deserve punishment for being so... Judgemental.' But... But they're still people! They don't know me... Or what I've been through. T-they... They don't... I'm sure they're good people deep down! Most of them, anyway. I just... They need to deserve it, ok? I don't wanna hurt someone who doesn't deserve it! I don't... I just wanna—

"Hey!" I feel two hands pushing into my side. I stumble to my left before quickly thrusting out my arm without looking. My fingers wrap around an arm, soI pull back hard, extending my left arm at the same time. I feel my hand grasp onto someone's head as I push down, "Uahhh!"

I'm pushing someone against the ground. I lean down so my knee presses against their back, my other leg providing support so I don't fall over. My hold their head down with my left hand while using my right to pin their left arm, too. The person is small, wearing something brown, and they smell... Like grease? Yeah, grease...

"L-let me go!" I hear a boy's voice squeaking, "That hurts!" I squint my eyes. I stand up slowly as I release his arm and head. I shift my hand down and grab him. My arm raises into the air as a little kid begins to dangle in front of me. He's trying to stand on the tips of his toes, but he can't quite reach the ground, causing his little legs to kick the air. His hands are prying at my fingers. I have him by his baggy, overly large, and tattered, brown shirt.

"Wh... Why did you push me? That's rude! You could've just gone around..." I ask him a little more... aggressively? No... Accusatoryily? Is that a word? Probably not. Whatever! I said it more meanly sounding than I meant to. He glares up at me with big, green, wide, eyes. His hair is short and blonde with veins of brown shooting through it. He's messy. Dirt covers his face and there are stains on his clothes.

"I-I... You were in the MY way! Put me down! They're gonna get me if you don't!" I soften my eyes. Is he in danger? 'They'? Another 'they'? Great. I'm getting sick of 'theys'. Very sick.

"First of all, I was standing still! Right there!" I point towards the screen to my left as it casts blue and pink light onto the wet sidewalk, "And second of all, whose 'they'? And why would 'they' want you?" He crosses his arms. I can see the crowd around me starting to stare more... More confidently. They're not trying to hide it anymore. But the whispers stopped, so... Yay?

"N-no one... Ju-just some guys. Th... They're my friends! And they'll kick your ass when—"

"Whoah! Language!" In a quick motion I thrust a finger in his face, "It's rude!" I make sure to emphasize the word. Is emphasize the right word for that? When you e... enu... Enunciate? A word more than it should he.

"So? I can say whatever I want!" I lower him back to the ground. I let go of his shirt to rest my hand on his shoulder. He's small. Barely past my belly in height... Not too often I get to look down on someone during a conversation.

"Nuh-uh!" I shake my finger in front of his face. He tries to pull away from my grip but he's too weak, "That's not true! You gotta be respectful," That's not entirely true either, though. I bite my lip, "U-unless they deserve too be disrespected... Ya know, cuz' they're bad people!"

"Are you gonna let me go or not? I don't have all day for this shit!" I fight back a scowl. It becomes an intense stare instead. His glare doesn't drop. He actually tries to make himself look taller as puffs out his chest. Now I fight back the urge to smile... He kinda looks Zwei when he does that.

"Bad language! Stop that! I... I will let you go, ok? But WHEN I chose to let you go... Well, that depends." I soften my hold on his shoulder. He tries to pull away again but he can't. I barely have to even try to keep him still. It's harder to not accidentally squeeze my hand shut... If I did that, then his shoulder would be... L-let's not think about that.

"Depends on what!? This is Grimmshi—"

"Dooon't! Swear again and... And I'll call your mom! Tell her—"

"You don't know my mom!" He smiles smugly as he cross his arms again. He leans back like he just said something worth being proud about. I purse my lips.

"T-that's not... Your a brat, ya know that, right?" His smile grows, "Guess we'll just have to wait for 'them' then. Your 'friends'." His smile drops at that. He pushes his little hands against my stomach as he starts struggling again.

"N-no! No! Th-they'll... Just let me go, ok!? You want some Lien!? I got some Lien!" I cock my head to the side as he digs his hands into the pockets of his pants. He ends up fishing out a black wallet before thrusting it towards me. I take it from his shaking fingers, "T-take it all! Just let me go!"

"Wha...? No! I'm no a crook!" I push the wallet back into his little fingers, "Keep it! Actually, hold on... Where did you get that? You look a little young to be owning a wallet..." His skin turns pale. His eyes widen further. His mouth opens and closes like he's talking but no sounds come out.

"Uhh-uu-uhhh... D-dad... Gave... It... To me? I... I-I... Let me go!" He tries to pull away. I place my other hand on his left shoulder as I lower myself so we're eye-to-eye. He's scared looking. Getting a closer look at him, I can see cuts along his cheeks... One of his teeth are chipped, too. They're pretty yellow looking as well... Gross.

"Wh... Hey, calm down, ok? I'm not gonna hurt you. Where are your parents at?" He looks down the lonely street behind us as if looking for someone. 'Them'? Probably... Why, though? Who are 'they'? Who would scare a kid like this? Why?

"I-I... I... D-don't... Know." His face falls. I can see the top of his small head. Brown hairs and yellow hairs mix and intertwine. I look away and down towards a gray puddle pouring down into a nearby sewer drain.

"I... I'm sor... That's sad to hear," No sorrys. I didn't do this to him. It's not my fault, right? "Are... How long have they been gone?"

"L-long enough... Can I go or not?" I soften my grip but I don't let go quite yet. I thin out my lips. Not until I know what's going...

"Whose after you?" We're looking into each others eyes again. His eyes are so green... There's a little brownish tinge around the edges of his eyes. His big eyes flick between me and the crowd. I follow his gaze. The crowd is thinning out - I guess they're getting bored of us.

"Some... Guys. And a woman. I, uhhh... S-stole... One of their wallets..." I bite my lip. He... Stole from someone? He's a criminal then...

'Criminal? Bad people. We are quite hungry...' I can feel the slime tightening around me. I bite my lip. H-he's just a kid! A little guy yet... A-and all he did was steal a wallet! It's not like he killed someone! J-just... Hold on! No eating anyone until I say so, ok, sis? 'What about a taste? Just a little nip...' No! No! That's - no! I just—

"Are you... Are you alright?" I shake my head back and forth. I blink a few times before focusing back onto the kid's green eyes. He's looking up at me with a pale face. I try to smile. I feel my lips twitching.

"U-uhmm... Yeah! Fine... I'm fine. Why do you ask?" He's not struggling against my hold anymore. That's nice. He does look... Not scared, but worried though. He's starting to calm down I hope.

"Y... You were... Acting weird. Your eyes were moving all around! And you were mouthing something... Like you were trying to talk but no words came out. Crazy..." I feel lash of warmth shooting through my chest. It burns. I can feel my right eye tremble slightly. C... Crazy? Me? Crazy? I... Haha! Crazy? Ha! Me? I... I bite my lip hard as I breathe in deeply through my nose.

"U-uhmmm... I... Crazy? Eehhh... Haha... I-I am not... Crazy, ok? I have... E-epilepsy...?" His brows furrow. His nose wrinkles. His frown is less worried and more confused, 'What is epilepsy, Blood Flower?' Oh, it's—

"Ep... Eplipsee?" He looks like he's trying to puzzle out the sounds, "Eplipsc?" He lowers his head and mumbles something. I smile a little. He does kinda look like Zwei... If Zwei was a little kid and not a dog. And had green eyes. And blondish-brown hair. Maybe not really like Zwei at all then...

"E-p-i-l-e-p-s-y," I sound out the words slowly for him, "It's... It makes you have seizures. When you see bright lights, or hear loud sounds. Or... Or whenever..." I don't actually have epilepsy. I don't know anyone who does. One of my fake friend's grandma's had it. I... Lying isn't right. Especially about this...

"So... What are... S-sei... Seizars?" He's looking back at me again. I smile nervously. I shouldn't of lied about epilepsy...

"W-well... It's a..." How do I word this so a kid will understand? "It causes people too... Too shake! Badly... They can't stop. Sometimes they might hurt themselves when it happens..." I feel light in my belly. Like something's missing, which something probably is, considering what I've gone through, but... I don't like it. The kid pauses as he tilts his head. His eyes look more... Aggressive? Not really aggressive, but... Angry? No...

"'Them'? If you had E-p-i-l-e-p-s-y," He sounds it out like I did, "Wouldn't you say 'me'? Or something like that." I bite my tongue. Uh oh... 'Can we eat hi—'

"No!" He stumbles back with wide eyes, "I-I mean... No, I... I wouldn't! B-because... I don't... Have... Seizures?" His face is a mix between startled and confused again. I relax my hold on him - when did I tighten my grip?

"O-ok..." The few people left from the crowd are pulling out Scrolls. Some are recording me. Some are calling others - I don't know who. Maybe... Maybe the police? I guess a pale girl in a black oil-suit yelling at a little kid in the rain doesn't look very good... Does it, Shadow? 'No. We would assume not.'

"I'm sorry about that... Had a bad few days. Do... Do you have a home? Somewhere to go?" Maybe... Maybe I could rest there for awhile? Just a couple hours... To think. To calm down... To talk to people, maybe.

"I... I... I got my box," He says hesitantly. Box...? "It's... I was heading there. When you got in my way."

"I got in your- you ran into me...!" My eyes scowl at him. He shrugs and rolls his eyes.

"Difference of opinion, I guess," That little- Ughh! "If you let me go then I'll show you it...?" He asks a little shyly.

"Yeah... Yeah..." My fingers slowly uncurl from his shoulder. He rubs a hand against his arm - where I had him - as his lips purse. He hisses a breath out.

"Are you ok? D-did... Did I hurt you?" He shrugs as he puts on a weak smile.

"No... No! I'm fine!" He walks past me. I turn to follow, "It's not far! Just a little walking." I sigh as I go after him. A box...? He lives in a box? Does he mean a box-shaped house? Weird. I feel Shadow shifting against my skin. Not tightening, or loosening, just... Moving.

'We grow voracious, Blood Flower. If not the 'kid' then who will we consume?' Hold on! Didn't you eat an ENTIRE deer half a day ago? 'It was scrumptious!' Scrumptious? That's a new word... 'Quite tasty. But we expended it's energy swiftly after our encounter with the Metal-Eyes.' Well... The kid does have a wallet, so... Maybe we could stop by a Dust shop? Pick up something for all of us. What would you like to eat?

'We would have to see to know for certain.' Alright... First this 'box' then a little snack! Sounds like a plan. I turn around a corner to follow the kid into a shady - and very clean! - alley. Hope we'll get there soon...

---

"Gggrrrrraaaaakkkkk!"

You can now register the audio of steel grinding against steel. The audio is most... Disruptive.

You is unable to visually perceive yet. You's optics are critically damaged - potentially destroyed.

You has no limbs with which to manipulate the world around I. You's registration systems are non-functional.

You is broken.

"Gggggrrrrrraaaasssssshhhhhh!"

'Alert!'

'Alert!'

'Alert!'

'Damage detected within inner coolant dispenser!'

'Alert!'

'Alert!

'Alert!'

'Overheating within core regions! Heat is reaching critical levels!'

The drones have damaged You's coolant systems. Tubes are hissing. You can detect a drop in thermal energies. This is most... Disruptive.

You can do nothing but wait for the drones to finish the dismantling process. If done correctly, then You's fission core and CPU will be brought to a sufficiently advanced facility for reconstruction. If the procedure is failed, however...

You be decommissioned here. Because of the damages caused by the Designation-Giver. Most... Most...

That would be most disruptive.

And illogical.

You cannot be decommissioned by the Ruby Rose. Not when she had given You a designation, and through which a means to reach true contemplation... Most disruptive.

"GGGGGRRRRRRKKKKK!"

"SSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHSSSSSSS!"

"Ggggrrraaaaabbb!"

'Alert!'

'Alert!'

'Alert!'

'Fission core damaged! Power diminishing!'

Disruptive.

'Power at 43%!'

'Alert!'

'Power at 31.3%'

'Alert!'

'Power at 27.1%'

Most disruptive. Most... Most... Most disruptive, indeed.

You can detect the metal platings surrounding the chest region being removed. The drones vivisect You. You can feel them dismantling the now unnecessary components. The components installed inside You by those who terminated the Maker.

'Alert!'

'Power at 14.9%!'

'Alert!'

'Heat levels r-rising...'

You detects gamma radiation emitting from the damaged fission core. It will terminate the surrounding organisms. Cause those who still function after to develop life-threatening mutations.

Chaos. This energy - gamma radiation - is chaotic. Most... Disruptive.

'Alert!'

'Power at 6.6%!'

Yo-You...

You...

Drones - Order: Sal-s-salvage... Y-You...

Po-p-powering...

Do-d-dow-down...

'..- .-.-.- .-.. .-.-.- - .-.-.- .-. .-.-.- -- .-.-.- -. / .. -. .. - .. .- - .. ...- . / .- -.-. - .. ...- .- - . -..'

---

"-Ain't much, but... It's home!" I look left and right. We're in another damn alleyway... This one is thin, narrow, and hidden between two small buildings. One's a warehouse, the other... I don't know. It's tall, black, and old gargoyles rest on top of it. It is shaped like a triangle, with towers emerging from it's base. The roof of the building and it's towers come to sharp points. It kinda looks like a church, honestly... Churches are pretty rare. Less and less people believe in... In anything, really.

Mom... Summer believed in the Twin Gods... The Brother Gods, or something like that. She didn't worship them, though, not like most people who believe in them. I think they might be real, maybe not. But Shadow said Gods are real, so... Why not those two Gods?

"It's... Pretty?" I shake my head as I focus back onto the alley. It's clean... Ish? There's no garbage littering the ground, but there are a lot of... Stains. Some green, some blue, some yellow, some reddish-orange. There's a dumpster at the end of the alley against a wall. It's spray painted brown with a green uppercase c on the front. The dumpster looks empty and lacks the nasty smell that most dumpsters have. Weird.

"Pretty? It's a dump! Almost literally..." He shrugs his shoulders, "But... Thanks, I guess." He's sitting on a small wooden box. It's to my right and next to a few black bags. I smile nervously.

"W-well... At least you have a home," I mutter more to myself than to him, "Wh... Who are you, anyway? You never said your name." He leans his back against the wall - his box tilting as he does. He rests his head against his hands.

"Cadmium," His brows furrow for a moment, "It's pronounced Kad-mi-um. But it's spelt like C-a-d-m-i-u-m." He closes his eyes again as he nods to himself, "Who are you then? If names are so important."

"I'm Bloo-" I stop myself. Blood Flower? That'll scare him... Probably, "I am... Ruby. Ruby Rose!" Even though I don't feel like Ruby anymore.

"Like the crystal?" I purse my lips as I shake my head. I raise my arms to point too... Too nothing in particular, I guess.

"Crystal? No. Ruby is a gemstone, not a crystal." He shrugs. Neither of us say anything after that. It gets quiet aside from the rainfall. I look around as I walk deeper into the alley. He's behind me now.

"So... Your... You live by yourself?" I can see empty milk cartons near the dumpster. Milk... I wish I had some milk right now. And cookies! Yeah...

"Yep." He answers like it's no big deal. I just... I look back towards him. He's still resting against the wall.

"How old are you?" M-maybe... Maybe he's older then he looks? I... How could - why would ANYONE leave a kid alone? In the streets! That's...

"I don't know... Eight? No, no... Ten! I'm ten." He smiles to himself. I look to my feet. I bite my lip. Whoever did this to him... They're evil! Who could abandon a little kid...? T-they... They...

'They deserve to die...?' Yes. Yes! They deserve to have their heads crushed! Or their arms and legs torn off! They... They need to die...

"Your parents... Who are they?" He frowns. His arms go slack as he lets his head dangle a little. He doesn't say anything.

"I... I lost my mom. When I was little," He looks up to me with curious eyes. He really does look like Zwei... Something about his eyes, "I would've been... Five? Maybe three..." I'm frowning. I feel my hands balling into fists. I purse my lips as my brows furrow, "She... She wasn't a good mom. Not really. S-she... That doesn't matter! Your a kid! You don't need hear that."

"'A kid'!? I'm ten! That's... I'm already a teenager!" He scowls at me. I place my pointer finger against my bottom lip as I raise my head up to the sky. Rain pours against my face. I like the cold water. He is only three years away from being thirteen... Five from being as old me, so...? Hmm...

"Yeah... Yeah, you are pretty close," I start shaking my head, "But your still only ten! That's... That's pretty much a baby still!" He'd only be a third year in Signal! That's... That's where all the little babies are! The kids... The actual kids! The REAL kids! The ones who stare... And whisper... And stare harder.

"I'm not a baby! I'm - how old are you then!? Fifty?" I gasp. I cover my mouth as giggles slip through. Fifty!? I'm not old! That's... That's basically a grandma!

"I'm fifteen! Just turned fifteen a few months ago, actually. I'm... I'm basically an adult already!" My hands grasp my hips. I smile as I tilt my head up. He smiles, too, but more aggressively.

"'Basically an adult'? Nuh-uh! If I'm not a already a teenager, then you can't 'basically' be an adult!" He pushes himself off his box-chair. He points at me as a smug grin paints his lips. I frown. He got me there... Well... Actually he didn't, did he?

"Nuh-uh! I said 'basically' not 'already'! That's totally different." I look up and away. I cross my arms over my chest. I hear him scoff.

"Uh-huh! It's... It's not different, though! They're pretty much the same thing!" I shake my head. I look to him with a grin on my lips.

"Nuh-uh! 'Basically' and 'already' are completely different! They're different words, aren't they?" I hear him stomp his little foot into a puddle as he pushes himself off the box. He almost seems to growl! Like Zwei when he gets upset...

"No! It isn't!" I look back down at him. The little guy is red in the face. His fists are balled, his eyes scowling, and his mouth pressed into a thin line. My smile drops, "Not even close!"

"Hey, I'm just... It's not a big deal, ok? Don't get so angry over it," He huffs before turning away. His arms cross over his chest. He walks over to his dumpster angrily, "I was just joking! Messing with you... I'm sorry, ok? I didn't mean too make you angry."

"Whatever! I don't care..." He grumbles back. He stops just before the dumpster in front of me. He reaches his hands up as he tries climbing it, "J-just... I'm not a kid!"

"Your right!" He stops. His head tilts back as he looks to me out of the corner of his eye, "Your... Your a little man! Just not all grown-up yet," His frown lightens a little. His glare fades into a scowl. He turns to face his dumpster as his head lowers, "Your smart for your age, ya know? Clever!" His shoulders slack. I take a few steps forward as I slowly extend my hand out.

"Wh... Where did you... Get that suit from?" I stop midstep. I feel a shiver run up my spine. My fingers stop inches from touching him. He turns to face me with big, green, innocent eyes... His eyes remind of Zwei. Happy eyes... Or rather happy-looking eyes. I feel a lump form in my throat. My arm drops to my side quickly.

'Do not tell him,' Then what do I say!? 'Oh, I just picked them out at clothing store down in Mistral!'!? People don't exactly sell oil-suits! 'We are... Our Semblance, remember? Shadow semblance. We control shadows as far as they need know.' Oh yeah! Velvet... I kinda forgot abo—

"Hey! Your doing the crazy-eye thing again!" I shake my head back and forth. He has taken a few steps closer without me realizing. I put on a smile as I wave my hand before my face.

"S-sorry... Uhmm... I... My suit is - uhmmm... It's - not many - I errrr... It is... Unique?" I feel butterflies in my belly. I find it hard to look him in the eyes as I talk, "It's my... S-Semblance...? Shadow! I call them Shadow. Yep! Shadow... Always have had my Shadow with me!" I wish Shadow had always been with me. I feel my smile slipping... It's hard to lie to a kid. To anyone, really.

"Semblance...? Yeah... Sure. So what is it actually?" I feel Shadow tightening around me. I take in a deep breath. I feel my lips tremble as my fingers spasm.

"S-Sem... Semblance... Semblance! It's obviously a Semblance, Cad!" He shakes his head. He wiggles his little finger. Then his eyebrows furrow.

"Cad?" I laugh nervously. I try to fight it, but it slips past my lips anyway. I feel my fingers beginning to fiddle with each other.

"O-oh... Uhm... A nickname, I guess. Short for Cadmium! But... Shorter," I scratch the back of my head as I lower my face down, "I, ehh... If you don't like it just say so, ok?" He seems to think to himself. He cups his chin. Eventually he shrugs.

"I don't mind it. But that's besides the point! Your lying! I can tell! You won't look me in my eyes. And your stuttering! And who calls their Semblance 'them' instead of 'it'?" My left hand wraps around Shadow's skin. The part of Shadow wrapping around my chest. The red slime of our rose oozes between my fingers. I lean against a wall as I look away from him. I can feel my heart - our heart? Shadow's heart? - picking up speed.

"B-but... I... I'm... not?" I swallow that lump in my throat, "I... I-I... P-promise not to tell anyone?" He nods quickly. He's a few feet from me. I feel Shadow tightening further, 'Don't,' Just... Trust me, ok? 'We... We do, but—' Please! Trust me... I trust you.

"M-my suit..." I raise my hands as I look between them. I feel tingles travelling up my arms, "They're... Analienfromspacethatneedsmetoliveandismysister!" I'm sucking in mouthfuls of air. I'm bent forward with my hands on my knees as I stare at the ground. Huh... That was easier than I thought!

"W... Wha...?" He's looking at me with confused eyes. I'm in a awkward position as I raise my neck to stare evenly at him, "Ehhhh...?" I feel my lips quivering.

"S-Shadow... My suit... Is... A... A-alien! Fromthestars!Imeanspace! I... Slow down," I speak that last part to myself, "A-and... My suit is... My... S-sister. Adopted! They... We're... It's complicated, ok?" His looks skeptical. His eyes narrow. His lips press into a thin line. I feel a nervous smile creeping onto my lips, "B-but... They're safe to be around, ok!? They won't hurt you!"

"Alien...?" I nod, "Are... Are you... You think that's an alien?" He points to the red rose on my chest. I nod a lot faster. He scoffs and shakes his head.

"Your crazy! Or on drugs... Or both!" I feel Shadow tightening further. I can feel their thin tendrils wrapping around my fingers. I squeeze my hands shut around them. I take in a deep breath. And then another as my nose scrunches.

"D-drugs...?" I can feel a strong warmth spreading across my cheeks. I just... Crazy? Me? He... His neck is thin. Exposed... Weak. I can feel my teeth grinding against each other, "Don't... Do not... I... I am not crazy!" I feel my lips pulling against my teeth as my eyes scowl. He steps back as his face begins too pales.

"I-isn't... Isn't that what a crazy person would say if someone called them crazy?" He spreads his arms in a thoughtful gesture. I raise my hand to point at him. My finger is shaking. I can hear my own breathing growing deeper. Louder. Crazy!? Me!? No! I-I... I'm not... No!

"No! It's not! I'm not crazy! I AM NOT CRAZY! I'M NOT!" He stumbles back against a wall. I'm marching towards him. I can feel tingles spreading through my back. His eyes are widen as his mouth falls open, "DON'T CALL ME CRAZY! NEVER CALL ME CRAZY! NEVER! I AM NOT CRAZY! I'LL NEVER BE! DON'T YOU EVER CALL ME CRAZY!"

"Ahh!" He gasps as my hand wraps around his arm. I pull him up off his feet as our faces near. My nose and his nearly touch. His eyes shrink down as his little fingers wrap claw at my wrist. I glare at him, "S-stop!"

"I'M! NOT! CRAZY!" Tendrils embed into the wall behind him - bricks cracking open. One of our limbs is inches from his small, soft, head. His breathing picks up. He doesn't break eye contact, "I... I am not... Crazy! GOT IT!?" He nods quickly. Crazy!? Me!? CRAZY!?

"NEVER! CALL! ME! CRAZY! AGAIN!" I punch the wall next to his head as hard as I can, "NEVER! NEVER! GOT IT!?" The bricks crack and tear as my hand carves a hole into the wall. He's staring at our arm with wide eyes, "Look at us! Now!" He does, "We are not crazy! WE! NEVER! WILL! BE! Do you understand us!?"

He nods as fast as his little head will let him. We lean forward so our forehead are touching his, and our eyes are less than a pinkies' length away from him. We glare at him, "Watch... What... You say. Got it...?" His lips are trembling as tears well in his green eyes. His... His big, green, eyes... That are so much like Zwei's. I feel my glare softening.

He whimpers when I let go. He drops to his knees as our tendrils are pulled back into our back. We scowl down at him... His face is pale. His eyes are turning puffy as he begins too cry. His lips are trembling as he gasps.

"I'm... I-I... I'm not... We're not crazy! I... I am not... C-crazy." I stumble away from him. I fall onto my back. I feel Shadow covering the back of my head before it hits the concrete. I don't feel anything more than a soft nudge. The rain falls onto my face. I don't close my eyes even as the droplets make them sting, "C-crazy... Yo-your... Your crazy..."

'We hunger. The boy?' I turn my head to the side. He's pulled his legs to his chest as his arms hug them. His head head is buried between his knees. I can hear soft whimpers, 'Hungry. He would be... Delectable.'

"No..." I listen to the rain as it hits the ground. It's... Relaxing.

Drip, drop, drip, drop, drip, drop, drip, drop. It keeps going on, and on, and on. Forever.

I close my eyes. His crying mixes with the rain; I can't tell which one is which. I... I feel tired. And sore. I... Was that really... Really right of me to do?

"Maybe..." Maybe I went... A little... Too far there. Maybe... Maybe yelling wasn't... He is only ten. When I was little, dad... Taiyang would yell. He yelled a lot... Taiyang yelled at me a lot. Scary... I scared that kid. Like Taiyang would do too me... But I was worse than him. He never threatened to hurt me or Yang. I almost... Almost did hurt that kid.

I push myself so I'm sitting up. I let my head drop. My hair feels sticky. I look over to little Cad. He's still curled up, his dirty hair sticking to his face in large clumps. His legs went slack.

Was... That wasn't right. I did the wrong thing. I made the worst choice I could! I didn't... Why did I freak out on him like that? That's... He's just a kid. A little kid... And I... I did this to him. He's crying because of me... Because I scared. Because I almost punched his head off! I could've killed him! Why..? Why did I do that!?

"C... Cad...?" I'm whispering. I don't mean too... "Cadmium?" Nothing. I plant my hands against my head. I bite my bottom lip hard. I feel my lower lip trembling as it begins too bleed. I fight the tears. I'm... That's weak. I'm not allowed to be weak. Not anymore.

I push myself to my feet. I start walking forward. I... I... Mom said that's a sin. Summer told me, when I was little, that it's a sin to make children cry. She... She may have been evil, but... I still believe in that. I sinned... I don't... I'm not very religious, but... It is a sin. And sins are evil. But I'm not evil... Right?

"I... I..." My fingers graze his shoulder. He stiffens. I hear a sob. I pull my hand back quickly, "I didn't... I'm sorry. I lost control..." That's no excuse. It doesn't... I sinned, "I'm sorry."

He doesn't talk. He doesn't have too. I sit next to him - but far away enough so he doesn't feel like I'm forcing myself into his personal space. I look at his wet, dirty, torn shirt. There's a tear in it just under his neck. It's a few inches long and ends near his lower chest. Sick... He's gonna get sick from this rain.

"I'm sorry..." Shadow? Can you... Make an umbrella? Or something like that above us. The kid and me. Something to stop the rain from drenching him, 'Yes.'

I can feel Shadow tightening as tingles shoot through my upper back. I stick a finger into the goo around my neck and pull it back a little; it's... Shadow, your too tight! It's a little tough to breathe...

Shadow loosens. Enough to let me breathe comfortable, but tight enough to put pressure on my neck. The rain stops falling as we're all covered in a dark shadow. A normal shadow... Not... Not my Shadow.

"I'm sorry. I messed up... I'm sorry." I mumble as I rest my arms against my knees, "I messed up badly! I... I'm so sorry..." I lower my head to look at the ground. I see cracks in the concrete - small ones and big ones.

"I... I'm sorry..." I slide my hand over his head slowly. He doesn't seem to mind. My fingers spread into his thick hair. I slowly trail my hand down his head and towards his neck. When I reach it I restart from the top of his forehead again, "I-I... I'm sorry for being s-so... So mean. I... I wish I was a better person. I... I am... I'm... I'm sorry."

I feel him pushing the back of his head towards my palm. He's cold. I think he's shivering... He's gonna get sick like this. Or... Or get hypothermia! Or something.

"I... I'm not... We aren't crazy! Just... Angry..." My voice is quiet. Not quite a whisper but not really a 'talking' voice either, "I just... We weren't always so angry... I'm sorry." His hair sticks to my fingers. I can feel cuts lining his neck when I trail my hand down there. I see bruises too... Fresh ones. But I didn't touch him! So... It couldn't of been me, "Wh... What happened? To your neck."

He sniffles but remains quiet. He's not curled anymore. His arms are hugging his chest but his legs are spread out. His pants are soaked. He has no shoes...

"Was... Was it a person?" I can feel his head shaking against my hand as he nods, "Who?" He doesn't say. I feel something cold in my belly. Something that makes me feel... Wrong, but in a good way. I... I don't know what that means.

I lay my head against the wall. The same one I held him against a few minutes ago. I close my eyes as I tilt my face towards the sky. The rain is cold but warmer than Shadow. I breathe in deeply. I let my right hand rest against Cadmium's soft hair. I let my other hand go limp against the ground.

"I'll kill them. For you..." Whoever hurt him will die... He's a kid. A kid! A little kid... Anyone who hurts children deserves to die! All of them! Kids are... They're just kids! Who could hurt a kid...? Why? Evil... It's just evil! I don't understand! I almost did... B-but that's different! I was angry and... And... Not thinking right! And I still stopped myself in time! B-before... Why? Why would any person hurt a little kid...?

'Weak,' What? What's weak? 'Human progeny are weak. Stupid. Slow. Predators prey on the weak - and especially the stupid or slow. Human progeny are easy prey for this very reason.' No! They're not... They are weak, yeah, but they're not stupid! Or prey! They're not animals! T-they... They're only kids! 'Are we not all mere animals? Creatures of instinct and of survival. In the chaos of the hunt there are only three possibilities; kill or be killed, lest we are clever enough to lay hidden. We have proven ourself a latent predator Why not indulge our carnivorous instincts?' What... What are you trying to say?

I feel tingles spreading through the fingers of my right hand. I open my eyes and look down. I can see thin tendrils slithering from my fingers and over Cadmium's head. Some slide underneath his ears, others over his nose, one covers his right eye. He's sleeping. He fell asleep next to me... He's breathing softly. He doesn't even move as our tendrils spread over his lips.

'He is prey. Meat. Sustenance for those such as us. Feed...' I can both hear and feel my stomach growling. My mouth is watering. My fingers tremble against his head. I... He has a cut on his right cheek. Long and thin. It's bleeding. Fresh. Did we do that? When we pushed him up to the wall...?

'Smell,' I breathe in deeply through my nose. Cinnamon... He smells like cinnamon. His blood does. I lick my lips. He has... He has such a thin neck. Soft looking skin... Weak skin. I bet he'd tear easier then the deer did... 'Prey upon him. Feed us all. We hunger...'

"I... I..." I lower my face down to his neck. I can feel my nose grazing against his skin. He moans softly in his sleep, his body shifting. I take in a deep breath, "O-ohhh... Ohhhhhh..."

Smells like chocolate chip cookies. Like the ones Summer use to bake when I was little. I can feel my lips trembling. I... I'm so hungry. H... He's... He is a criminal, isn't he? Stealing wallets... Calling us crazy! He... He...

'Deserves to die.' I can feel his skin against my teeth. Soft. Warm. So warm... So hot. I've been so, so, so, soooo cold lately! I want too be warm... Like him! His skin will make me warm. My stomach growls. I can feel Shadow tightening against me. This time it's more... More like our special hug! Not the... The choking one. I can feel excitement - but it's not mine. It from inside me. I'm hungry... He's prey. Little... Soft... Weak... We're not weak. He is. Weak... Weak... Weak! He's weak! We are a monster! We are so hungry... We widen our jaws as we go in for a bit—

"N-Nooo!" I pull my face away. I push his head away as I crawl back against the wall. My breathing is fast and shakey. My arms tremble as I pull them to my chest. I grab my face, "No! No! NOOOOOO!"

'No...? No? No!?' No! No! No! No! No! Not him! NO! NO! NO! NO! NEVER HIM! NOT A KID!

"Ugh! W-what's goin' on!? What was that for!?" I hear him moving. His clothes shifting. I hear his little feet splashing against puddles. I hear his quick and startled breathing, "What're you - when..." He's scared. Confused.

"What happened!? When did - why was I asleep!?" I feel my fingers digging into my head. I pull my knees to my chest. My breathing is shakey. I bite my tongue.

'Eat him! Feeeeed! For our sake... Please! We hunger... We promised us!' Shadow's voice is a mix between a whisper and a yell. I pull at my hair as I squeeze my eyes tightly.

"S-stooop! No! Not him! Shadow, no!" I can feel them tightening against my skin. Enough to make breathing a little hard to do, "R-Roman! Neo! Tai! Yang! Them! All of them! Not him!" Not the kid! He's just a little boy! Leave him alone!

'We are hungry! We promised us the flesh of criminals! He is criminal!' But he's also a little kid! A boy! What did he do to deserve to die!? What did he do that we haven't!? Or aren't going too! H... He has a wallet! I-I can take that! B-buy som—

"WHAT'S GOING ON!?" My eyes snap open. I let my hands drop as I see him. Cadmium is standing ten or so feet away just before the wall parallel too us. His face is a mix of anger, confusion, and fear. His fists are clenched. His eyes wide and red.

"I... I-I... I'm..." My mouth is dry. I can feel anger inside me. Not my anger. It feels unsatisfied. Annoyed. Impatient. Hungry... "I'm... I'm... I am... I am a m-monster..." I whisper. I drop my head. I stare at a small puddle forming between my feet. My face stings. I think I cut myself...

"I'm... A... Monster! A... A freak!" My voice is trembling. I feel... I feel empty. Cold inside. I rock back and forth, "I'm a monster! I... I... I a-almost... K-killed you!" Twice! I almost killed and ate a kid! A KID! This isn't what I meant when I said we can eat criminals, Shadow! NOT EVEN A LITTLE!

"THEY NEED TOO DESERVE IT!" They need too be evil! Monsters like us! N-not... Not kids! Not... N-not... Not innocent people! Bad people need too die! Not the good ones...

"I-I-I... I d-don't... Wanna b-be... A monster anymore..." Not if it means killing kids! We can't- we have to be better then them! Then Roman! If... If we killed that k-kid... Or anyone who doesn't deserve it... T-then we're just as bad as him! WORSE! We need... Need... N-need—

"W... Who... D-deserves it...?" I wipe away some tears from my eyes. I shake my head. I look at the little boy. The boy I almost ate alive. He's a little closer. Closer than he should be... He looks hesitant and scared. His eyes are puffy from when I... Scared him... I... I want to hug him. But I don't trust myself not to... To lose control again.

"I-I... I'm sorry..." I whisper, "I'm sorry... F-for... For being me..." I lower my face down to my hands. I squeeze my eyes shut. I fight the tears. I'm not... I won't cry! Not anymore! It's... It's...

'Crying is a weakness, Blood Flower. A vulnerability that our enemies will exploit. We should kill it. Our ability too cry,' H-how...? How!? I want too stop! Too stop being so weak! How do I stop...? 'Start by killing the boy. He knows too much now... He is a criminal. Our enemy.'

"NO!" I'm not killing a kid! Never! I won't - stop it! Y-you... Your acting like a... A Grimm! Stop it! I'm not going too - we're never going too kill a kid! We're not like the Grimm!

'But we are like the Grimm - both of us, in our own ways. We admitted so ourself mere hours ago. We said only a day ago we wanted to be a monster like the Grimm. This is our chance...' N-not like this! Not him! Not a little boy! N-not... Isn't Roman enough!? The scumbags like him!

"What's wrong?" I lower my arms as I look up. I see him a little distance from me. That kid, soaking wet, shivering in the cold. He's hugging himself now. The rain picked up. He looks so scared... I'm scared. I don't if I'm scared of me, or for him...

"E-everything! I.. I'm so sorry! I-I... It's... Y... You ever... Hear voices?" My chest feels tight. I'm breathing really fast. My fingers are clenching around my knees. His face is so pale... Was he always this pale? "I-in... In your h-head? They sound just like my own! J-just... Just not mine! I... I'm... T-they tell me things..." He's backing away slowly. I can feel my lips trembling, "T-tells m-me... S-says I'm... I-I don't know what too do!" I wipe the back of my hand against my forehead. When I pull away I see streaks of red. I did cut myself then...

"Y-you... I... Y-you... You can have my box, ok! Don't hurt me again!" He points to the dumpster, "J-just... I'm... Keep it!" He turns to run as fast as he can. I reach my arm out.

"No! D-don't... Please! Don't leave me!" But he's already disappearing down the alley. He runs as fast as his little legs can carry him even as he slips and slides against the wet concrete. He rounds a corner and... He's gone.

"E-everyone... Leaves... M-me..." My eyes feel sore. I raise my hands up as I extend my fingers. Black slime is wrapped around my skin tightly. It reflects pale sunlight in gray streaks. I sniffle, "Everyone... H-hates... Me."

'Except for us,' E-except... For you... 'We should have eaten him. He would of satiated our hunger for a time.' I stare down the alley. I see something glinting silver in a puddle. I just... Wanted... A new friend.

"M... Maybe..." I struggle to my feet. The ground is slippery and damp. Tendrils extend out of my ankles and embed into the ground to help me stand straight. I walk forward slowly as I let my arms dangle.

"I... Don't even know... If I... Am I even me anymore?" I'm talking but I'm not talking. The voice is mine. I know that. But I don't feel like I'm the one saying the words, "Am I even... Human?"

I bend over and reach my arm down. My fingers grasp onto a brown wallet with silver markings. It's made of leather. I open it with my left pointer finger.

"Kremi? What kind of a name is Kremi...?" There's a driver's license with a woman's face on it and the name Kremi below her. She looks way older than me, but younger than Taiyang. She has black hair with purple streaks running through it. It hangs down to her neck. Her eyes are white! Completely white... Creepy, "Kremi... Agatha?" Agatha? What's an 'Agatha'? Sounds... Sounds strangely familiar. Weird name... Unusual name.

"Thank you, Kremi," I mumble through sore lips. I fish out a black card containing a series of white digits and a blue spiral. It's an Trade Card from the local bank. Doesn't need a password, or any real identification to use... Convenient! "Wish I could give back the wallet though..." Wish I hadn't lost it on the little guy back there, either. I... I really messed up. Big time. I hear belly growl loudly.

'What now, starry-eyed Blood Flower?' Food... I guess. Buy something. Doesn't matter from where or what. Anything will do... Anything. Something to make our hunger pains go away, at least! Doesn't need to be a lot... Or even a little! Just enough to get by.

I start slowly walking down the alley. It doesn't really matter anymore. The food won't make me hurt less... Nothing will make my hurting stop, I think... Except finding Roman. Making him dead will help. It'll have too! He will die. For us! He needs too...

---

'.--. .-. . .-. -- --. .- - .. ...- . / -.-. -- .-. .-. . -.-. - . -.. .-.-.- / . -..- - .-. .- - . .-. .-. . ... - .-. .. .- .-.. / .--. .-. -- --. .-. .- -- -- .. -. --. / .. ... / -... . .. -. --. / -.. .. ... -- .- -. - .-.. . -.. .-.-.- / .- ..- -..- .. .-.. .. .- .-. -.-- / .--. .-. . ... . -. -.-. . / .. ... / -... . .. -. --. / ... . ...- . .-. . -.. .-.-.- / .- -.-. - .. ...- .- - .. -. --. / -. . ..- .-. -- ..-. -- .-. -- .- - .. -- -. .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- / -.-. -- -- .--. .-.. . - . .-.-.-'

A... A-a-act... Activa...

Activation: initiating... Initiating... Initiating...

Power supply: 6.2%... Rising.

Locomotion systems: activating... System failure. Compromised.

Weapon systems: activating... System failure. Compromised.

Visual system: activating... System online.

Audio system: activating... System online.

"GRGRGRGRGRGRGR!"

Self-learning systems: activating... Systems online.

"Baaaghhh! Baaaghhh! Baaaghhh!"

Unit: Self-designation You: Activated.

Sensory systems: detecting movement.

Chemical receivers: detecting a high presence of ozone, a moderate carbon fiber presence, alongside a trace element of sodium.

Where... Is... You?

Thermal scanning: ambiant thermal radiation at exceedingly high levels. Lethal to organics. It is a non-threat towards You.

Requesting location?

'Ozborn's Industries local factory in the Oz'rall region of the capital. It is the most technologically advanced facility on the continent currently accessible.'

Is You under containment? Or refinement? Is You in danger of decommissing?

'No. You's presence is as of yet unknown by all external presences - organic or otherwise. There will be a high presence of local authorities if the alarm is triggered.'

You's body is still broken. Progress in reconstruction?

'The limbs will be functional in several minutes. The cloaking, tracking, integration, and weapon systems are all non-functional. The fission core has been fully restored.'

This is... Acceptable progress.

Power supply: 11.7%... Rising.

You is in the dark. You's night vision has been disabled. You is surrounded by metal limbs that pull at You and rearrange You into new shapes. You perceives a steel ceiling.

You can now perceive bright orange lights - they're origin remains unknown.

"Baaaghhh! Krrrraaaaahhhhh! Baaaghhh! Krrrraaaaahhhhh! Baaaghhh!"

Audio sensors feed back recordings of metallic grinding and thundering. Metal compressing metal into altered shapes. You detects the sounds of electrical outages.

"Ggggrrraaaakkkhh!"

Metal hands clamp shut around You's waist. You is suspended into the air as the metal hand brings You elsewhere. You can not perceive any new visual stimulus.

"Ttttrrrraaasssssshhhhh!"

Steam fills You's visual receivers as You is lowered into liquid metal. It flows over You, into You's exposed wiring and mechanisms, and fills in damaged cracks and tears. You can detect the thermal radiation within You rising extensively.

"Sssssrrrrrrooogllluuuggglllluuuglllluggg!"

Tubes connect to far-off machines dangle down towards I. They embed into You's exposed relay system - contained underneath You's damaged face plating. They pump unknown liquids into You - using the relay system to efficiently spread the liquid through You's internal systems. You can detect the cold as it mixes and melds with the boiling metal.

"Ggggrrrraaaaakkkkhhhhh!"

The metal claw clasps around You's waist again. You is suspended and swiftly moved to an auxiliary location as quickly cooling liquid metal falls to the distant ground below.

"Baagkk!"

You is dropped onto a conveyor belt. You is shifting down it's path. You can detect metallic appendages grabbing at You to hold You still. You can detect them unscrewing bolts, pulling away damaged chassis, and snipping cut wiring.

"Zzzzzzzzaaaaazzzzzaaaaazzzzz!"

Power supply: 33.5%... Rising rapidly.

You can detect an electrical charge. It is coursing through You - into You's fission core so it's energy may be stockpiled. You can detect it's energy; it's power: it is restoring You to functional levels.

"Dddddssssshhhhhhh!"

You's visual receivers detect a thin appendage. The limb lowers down from the darkness before implanting itself into You's chest.

"Zzzzzhhhhhhhh!"

It unscrews from You the remaining chest plating. Shards of broken steel are pried away. The appendage has a sharp protrusion upon it's tip. It lowers towards You. It is attempting to interface via You's communication systems.

'Un... U-un... Unknown technology detected! Unknown programming breach! Unknown interloper detected! Initiating facility wide lockdown!'

"Zzzzz... Zzzz... Zzzz... Dddrrrrwwwwwhhhhh..."

Darkness surrounds You completely. The orange lights fade. The shifting of the belt halts. The electronic charge ceases. The limb impanted inside of You goes still as the communications cease. Disruptive.

Progress in reconstruction: Update?

'Limb functionality: right arm restored. Left and right legs restored. Weapon, tracking, cloaking, and integration systems offline.'

Understood. This is acceptable.

You rises into a sitting position. Unmoving arms hold You tightly in a attempt to restrain You in place. You does not permit them so.

You grasps the metal limbs with You's restored right hand. You rips them off with a single pull. You repeats this until You is free.

You shifts so You's front is adjacent to the floor. You begins to crawl forward. You detects a faint electromagnetic pulse.

You detects a high pitched whistle.

Alarm. You has triggered the alarm.

The facility is fully compromised.

You will escape. Ventilation system layout?

'Expansive so as to allow proper coolant within the energy-expensive regions. Durable enough to support You's current mass.'

Acceptable.

Understood.

You will escape. They will not stop You.

Nothing will stop You.

You will find Ruby Rose.

Upgrade her. Remove her organic imperfections.

Specimen 1 must conform as well.

They may resist. You knows of they're abilities now - all that You must do is prepare for them.

They will be tests. Subjects to see if You's hypothesis can be extrapolated into fact.

If successful, then all can join You.

In metal.

For all time.

No division or conflict.

Or human emotion.

Or death.

You will bring them unity... True unity.

Equality for all that is alive. Human, Faunus, animal, Specimen, or Grimm.

You will bring eternal, perfected, orderly world peace... For all.

---

"B-but... But I got enough! More then enough! Two hundred Lien! Come on! This isn't fair!" The large man looks down at me with narrow and small eyes. He's scolding. I'm standing on the sidewalk just outside of a Dust store. 'Bewitchment' is what the sign read.

"Yeah, so? If I don't wanna accept your service then you gotta go!" His lips curl. He's got a thick beard, blue eyes, and a buttoned up red shirt. I step back, wallet held tightly in my hand, his face ugly with anger, "Now get outta here! Before I really lose my temper..." He swats at the air just before my face. I jump back, and slip into a puddle. I'm on my back with my arms propping me up.

"That's not fair! I-I—"

"I do not care! The world isn't fair! Go get your fuckin' fix somewhere else!" He shifts back into his store as he slams the door shut. My eyes wince when the door rattles from the sheer force of the slam.

"B-but... I... Have enough..." Two hundred Lien! Two fucking hundred! Yeah, that's really not much, but it's enough to buy SOMETHING! So why am I the only one getting kicked out!? This... This isn't fair! I slam my hand into a puddle. It's not fair! Not even a little...

I push myself to my feet. I look around the lonely block. The street poles are casting a dim yellow light onto the buildings and roads. The puddles reflect the yellowness in glints and sparkles. It's getting dark. The rain picked up even more. It's a downpour now... Maybe a storm even.

"I... I just... Fucking why!?" All I wanted was something too eat... Even bread would've been fine! Even a little crumb... Anything! Why does everyone keep turning me away!? Because of Shadow!? That's Grimmshit! I—

"Vvvvrrrrrooooo!"

"Wwwwaasssshhhh!"

"Uugghhgghhhhgghhgghhh... Great... Just great!" My arms are held up in the air. My head is lowered. I'm soaking wet. A car drove by and splashed me head to toe in nasty street water! That has... Street diseases... O-or something like that in it! I bite my lip hard to stop myself from screaming. This is Grimmshit! "Fucking wonderful! I love this!"

I tilt my head back as I take in deep breaths. I see tall buildings towering over me like hunched over giants... It's kinda ominous. Not a single car driving down the road except the one driven by that dickhead! Great... Wonderful! I lower my arms as I look around more. I flick my hands to try get the water off.

Most of the shops and stores are closed now. Not like they'd let me in, anyway. It's quiet out here... I hate the quiet. I start walking down the sidewalk. Where am I gonna go? What am I gonna do? What... Ughh!

"Nothing too eat... No one too talk to... And an entire city that hates me. Yeeeep... I sure am living the dream!" I ball my fists. I hear my belly growl. My throat feels dry, "I am... I am one lucky girl!"

I hate my life. I hate this city. I hate people! I... I hate everything! E-everything... Except for you. My Shadow. My new sister... The only person I have left.

'We are all we will ever need.' All I'll ever get, too. I... I guess it was worth it all if it meant we can be together, yeah? Worth all the bleeding, the starving, and the burning... I grasp my chest. The rose. I can feel Shadow oozing between my fingers. I sigh. At least I'm not alone... I won't ever be alone again! I—

"Hungry?" I stop suddenly. I hear a man's voice. A deep yet shrill voice. It sounds like a whisper, yet like a yell at the same time. And kinda like a hiss, too. I turn around to see someone. A man. He's standing ten... Fifteen feet away from me. Underneath a street lamp.

"W... How long were you standing there?" His arms are limp by his sides. He's wearing a dark red trench coat. It's torn at the sleeves with stains marking it. It looks yellow towards the edges. He has a thick beard that's curly and dark red. He looks tall. His body is covered in shadows that hide the rest of him. He casts a long shadow, too, that nearly touches my feet.

"Hungry?" He repeats himself in a deeper voice. He doesn't move. I don't either. He's holding out an arm now, with something grasped between his fingers, "It's... Fresh. New. Just... 'Found' it."

I lick my lips. I stare at his hand. I can smell... Caramel? Caramel! Caramel... I can hear something wet dripping onto the ground. I lick my lips. F-food...?

"Hungry?" I nod my head. My mouth is watering. My lips tremble. Is he floating closer or am I walking towards him? I can't tell...

"Hungry." More of a statement this time. He's standing in front of me now. I'm up to his chest. His arm is resting inches from my face. His fingers are extending as something lumpy... And red... And bleeding rests in his palm. I stare at it. Caramel... It smells just like caramel! I knew it!

"F-for... Me?" I whisper. I... I could snatch it from him! No way he's faster than me... But that's stealing! I'm no crook. I-I... I... My belly growls loudly. My teeth chatter together. My fingers tremble.

"Eat." My fingers squeeze it tightly as I pull it from his hand. I turn my back to him as I bring it to my mouth and bite down. I feel it crunching between my teeth... It tears so easily. I wish it was moving, though... Squirming... Alive.

It tastes like fresh lemonade! Sour... Yet sweet. So very sweet! I swallow what's in my mouth before biting into it again. I rip away a chunk and chew quickly.

It tastes so sweet! So, so, so, sooooo sweet! Sugary... More like... Ice cream! But warm! The blood is still warm... It makes my cold lips feel nice against it. I swallow. I bite into it again.

"Hggh!" I gasp around the meat when I feel warm fingers spreading over the top of my head. Long, thin, spindly fingers. They pat me a few times before going still. They stay there, curling into my hair, making my head feel so, so, so warm! I-it... It feels... Nice. I chew more slowly. His hand is so warm... So, so, so warm!

I swallow what's in my mouth. It leaves behind the taste of grapes... Weird. I lick some blood off my lips before biting into it again. My teeth crunch bone. It takes a little effort, but I eat that too.

It's tougher than the meat. It cracks and fragments. I can feel splinters of the bones - blinters? - sticking into my gums. I stop. It stings.

"F-fuhhh..." I gasp slightly as blood trickles down my lips. I don't know if it's mine or not. I don't care. I swallow what's inside my mouth. I can feel a few of the splinter being pulled free and being pulled into my throat. I don't care. Not all, though... It does hurt a little. I open my mouth as raise my hand to my lips. G-guess... I'll pluck them out?

'Let us help...' I can feel tingles spreading up my throat. Like little ticklish fingers! I-in... My throat. I can feel something thinner than my finger rising up from the back of my mouth. I don't gag, though. I should gag, shouldn't I? Weird.

It grazes against my teeth, pressing down onto my tongue, as it sweeps across my gums. When it touches the stinging parts the hurting stops. Before much longer I can feel it wiggling back down my throat.

"W-who-wohaahh..." I wheeze a little. I cough to clear my throat. Weird... That felt weird. It didn't hurt, and it wasn't exactly uncomfortable, but... That's... Weird. It.. I... Hmm. Is that how mama birds feel when they feed their little chicks? Or maybe what I felt is the reverse of that feeling? Ewww... I shake my head and stare at my meal. A few strips of... Skin? Tan colored skin with a hint of white in it. It's bumpy. A few bones chunks left, too. Yummy...

I push what little is left of it into my mouth. I chew hard to crush into the bones. I chew more carefully, too, so I don't get stabbed again. It tastes a little like cherry pie now... Cherry pie with a hint of chocolate. I swallow it down slowly before licking my lips clean. I yawn.

"Tired." I can hear his voice again. I still feel his hand against my hair. My skin. His skinny, warm, hand... Long fingers. I wipe away blood and bits of meat from my lips with my hand. I watch as Shadow drains in the crimson and uses tendrils to pull the chunky pieces into themself.

"Ye... Yes..." I mumble, "T-thank you. For the... The food." I feel his hand pulling away. I squeeze my hands shut as I bite my lip. I liked that feeling...

"I know a safe place. Quiet. Follow." I hear his light footsteps against the wet pavement. I turn to see his back disappearing into the dark. I jog after him.

He's a fast walker. He's got long legs. I'm behind him and trailing him. When he passes under a street light I see the back of his coat. It has three large tears on it... Like claw marks.

He has long, greasy, dark red hair that curls a little. It trails down to his upper back. His arms hang limply by his sides. He has blue jeans with rips in them. I didn't see his shoes, though... If he has shoes.

"Who are you?" I ask in a quiet voice. He waves a hand without saying anything or looking back. I frown. Well, more than I was already. He turns right at the end of the street. I do, too, when I catch up.

"Where are we going?" Nothing. I huff as I cross my arms, "Can... Can you at least give me a hint?"

"It is a place," I groan, "Nice place. Quiet. Real quiet... I sleep there. You can sleep there." He sounds oddly... Distant? Like he's not really talking to me so much as he is talking at me. Kinda creeps me out...

'Rightfully so,' Does he creep you out, too? I didn't really think anything could do that, honestly... 'No. We are not unsettled. But we gleam from him a certain... Aspect of unpleasant character,' Ehhh...? Can you put that in a way I understand? 'Predatory. We can sense from him... Hunger. Like ours - but not for the sake of survival. He is... A hunter. Not our ignoble Hunters - but a hunter.' A... A killer? 'Not necessarily... Many forms of hunters. The vain hunt for wealth. The weak hung for power. The foolish hunt for control. The lowliest hunt for pleasure. The purists hunt for death. The broken hunt for love... But we sense this one is after something more... More... Obscure. Abstract.'

"Abstract...?" I mutter, "What's 'ignoble'?" Like... Like royalty 'noble'? Or a knightly kind of 'noble'? What are we talking about here?

'Largely irrelevant as of now,' Oh... Ok, then... 'Abstract is... An idea without concrete shape or form. Non-physical. It is like... A ghost, but not awares or ever truly alive,' Ohhhh! Yeah, I don't get it, 'Think of it like... Justice. Can we truly define justice? Give it character, or personhood? Can we articulate it into a shapely manner? Can we touch it?' No... No, we can't, I guess. So... So abstract is like... Like an idea? But more... More like one you can't really describe beyond basic words? 'Yes. Mostly.' Ok, ok... But what about ignoble?

'We... We... We cannot say,' Huh? What do you mean? 'We are limited by our knowledge - and, of course, our previous others knowledge. We never gleamed the meaning of ignoble, but he used in a negative manner, so... We assumed it is a insult,' Oh! Ok... Like... An evil kinda 'noble'? Like a king's evil advisor? 'Y... Yes?' Ok... Ok... Sounds cool! I like that word. Ignoble! Yeah, ignoble...

I look up from my feet and stare towards the back of the strange man's head. He's walking under a street light before quickly vanishing into the dark again. I can barely even hear him.

So... He's... Potentially dangerous? After something he can't really touch, either... How does any of this make him a hunter, Shadow?

'He strives with purpose. Intent. He is awares of what he does and what he will he do next. We can taste from him great anger... A rage that is caged,' He's holding back his anger? A lot of people do that. I did... Still kinda do. Taiyang did. You do! For me at least, 'Yes, but... Bewares of this one.' Aren't you gonna ask me to eat him? You did with Cadmium...

'No. Not this one... He has our curiosity,' So you want me to follow him then? 'For now. Do not trust him or obey him without our input, ok? We... We are uncertain of this one.' Alright... I trust you. I always do! Right...? 'Not over the little one we didn't.'

"He was-" I clasp my hand over my mouth. The strang man doesn't look or even act like he heard my outburst. Damn... I got use to being alone in the Forest. To talking and yelling whenever I wanted... I can't do that in the city! D-disturbing the peace, and all that, ya know?

But, anyway, Shadow, that was different! He was a kid! A little boy... I won't hurt kids! Ok? Please... I trust you, so won't you trust me? I respect you and your opinion... Won't you give me the same kinda respect?

'Aren't we already?' Sorta... Not about the kid, you aren't! 'Well... We were hungry. Quite hungry... Still are. And we promised we could eat criminals... Are we not permitted to be upset over how things turned out?' Yeah! Of course you are! Your allowed to get angry over anything as much as you want! Buuuut that doesn't mean you let it out for no good reason! You shouldn't let that anger control you... You said I can't control my emotions, but I don't think your very good at it either! We both need help... A lot of help! Professional help.

'We... We are discontent with these words. They are only based in the absolute minimalist amount of truth! We control ourselves - almost - perfectly! We will yield to the fact that our anger does... Get the better of us at times, but... That is quite rare!' Rare? Yeah, and the sky's green! 'No it isn't! The sky is blue... Or black! Depends on the time. But never ever green!' I... Shadow, it's a metaphor... 'Oh...'

"Inside?" I shake my head and blink my eyes a few times. I'm standing before a small building. Maybe... Twenty? Thirty feet tall. It's lit up by nearby street lights. One of them - the one lighting up the doorway - is flickering. Some of the windows of the building are smashed... The door is missing. There's a doorframe but no door to cover it! Weird...

"This... Is your home?" He shrugs. He's standing by the doorframe with his head tilted down so he can bend halfway inside. He motions for me to follow as he steps inside. I do, "Nice... Place."

"It's... I like it!" The only light here is from the broken doorframe. It's barely enough to let me see the silhouette of the strange man. He's standing at the entrance of a long hallway. That doorframe also doesn't have a door...

"Where are the doors at?" He starts walking down the hall. I can hear the floor creaking under his feet. I follow him into the dark.

I can smell... Something in the air. It's gross. Like moldy cheese... With a hint of alcohol, too. I let my hand trail against the wall as I walk - mostly so I know we're still in the hallway and not a room or something.The wall feels wooden. There are cracks in it. Small ones. A few holes, too.

"Kkkrrrcchhhkkkk!"

"Oh... Glass," I hear the weird man mumble ahead of me, "Oh, yeah... Forgot about last night. Hahaha... Anteaters..." He almost - almost - whispers the last part. More like he's talking to himself than me. Anteaters? I... Anteaters? Anteaters?

"Anteaters?" My brows furrow, "And glass? On the floor? How do you forget about that if you live here?" I can barely see him in the dark. I can't tell if he's facing towards me or away from me, "That's... Kinda important to remember... And what do anteaters have to do with this?" He should've cleaned this up, but... I don't wanna say anything too upset him. Not like I did to that kid... I should've been able too controlled myself! I don't why I got so mad over that...

The strange man doesn't speak. I do hear hear glass crackling under him as he starts walking again. I sigh... Shadow, will my feet be cut if I walk on that? Since your like water, and my Aura isn't working right, and all that.

'No,' That's one good thing then. But why not? 'We can control our consistency and solidity. Remember?' Oh yeah... I forgot. Cool! Cool... I start walki—

"Kkkrrraaaccchhh!"

The second I take a step my foot lands on what feels like a bottle. It shatters under my weight. I grit my teeth and squint my eyes... But there's no stinging. Guess you didn't lie about that then... I shake my head and continue on.

The air is cool here. Not moist and icy like it was outside, but just cool. I like the cold... I always have. Patch had long winters, and short summers, so... Guess I had to like the cold, didn't I?

"Ha... Hahaha..." I chuckle a little. Would've sucked if you were burning hot instead of freezing cold, now wouldn't it, Shadow? Would've REALLY sucked then!

'But we are not,' I know that! I'm just saying what if you were hot, ya know? Not cold, 'We are not hot. So it does not matter,' You really just gotta drain the fun out of everything, don't you, sis? 'No, we do not need too. We enjoy doing so. It annoys us, and we find that... Amusing.'

"So you do li-" I bite my tongue. Quiet! I gotta keep that to ourself... O-or Cadmium won't be the only one thinking I'm crazy. Crazy... I'm not crazy! I... I... Ugh! I'm not! Not even a little... I'd know if I was crazy!

"Room?" I stop. I look up from my feet - which blend in with the dark so well I can't even see them - and towards the werid guy. He's standing in place by yet another doorless doorframe! The guy is surrounded in pale silver light... Moonlight! And it's coming from the doorframe. Must be a window in there. And the rainstorm cleard up now? Must've or I'd hear it.

"Do you hate doors or something?" I can see his eyes now. Dark green... So dark green they're almost black. His eyes - the white parts - are bloodshot. He has really pale skin... Almost as pale as mine. His right sleeve is torn at the end leaving his thin wrist exposed. It has cuts and burns marking it...

"Yes... I... Hate... Doors," He says that almost like he's struggling to find the right words. Like he's not familiar with the idea of doors, "Doors... Hate doors. Doors. Annoy me. No fun behind closed doors. I do not like closed doors! Or doors in general. I hate them a little bit... Sometimes a lot. Mostly just a moderate amount. Unless they're paried with windows! Can't stand doors that are also windows! Hate them a lot more." I nod my head slowly. His arms seem to almost... Vibrate? Before he quickly steps through the doorframe, "Room. Follow."

I bite my lip. Should I...? He has been helpful to me so far... Nicer then everyone else I've met. Almost everyone... Still isn't as nice as Velvet. I don't think many people are that nice. I guess... He's been good so far. Shadow?

'Follow. For now. We will protect us should he try anything.' Alright... Alright. I nod my head and take a long step forward.

I step through the doorless frame. I can see the weird guy sitting down near a broken window against the wall parallel to me. He's resting on the floor as his hand dips into the dark shadows by the wall against the him. The window is where the moonlight is shining in from. It's the only source of light in here.

"Cozy..." I step inside. Glass cracks under my feet. I look around and see a torn couch to my right. It's flipped onto it's front with yellow fuzz poking through the tears. I can see empty glass bottles littering the floor. Some are smashed, "It's... Pretty!"

I can see the moonlight reflecting off his eyes as he turns to face me. His red hair rests over his shoulders in long yet thin locks. His face is blank. Nothing in his eyes... I feel a shiver run up my spine.

"Pretty?" The edges of his lips curl up, "It's... A room. Can't be pretty... Only a room," He nods to himself like he said something smart, "I'll show ya somethin' pretty..." His hand comes out of the dark holding a bottle. It's half empty. The glass it's made from is green. The liquid inside looks clear like water. He wiggles his hand causing the bottle to make a sloshing sound.

"That's... A bottle," I shrug as my brows furrow, "How is it pretty?" His brows furrow. He uses his thumb to pop off the metal cap. The smell of something nasty and... Tingly fills my nose. I cover my mouth as I cough a few times.

"How is a room pretty but not a bottle?" He takes a sniff from the bottle's tip. He smiles and drinks from it. He swallows loudly as some of the not-water spills from the edges of his mouth. It soaks into his beard, "Ahhhh..." He sighs as he puts down the bottle. He lets it rest on the floor, "Have a drink. I'm a very... Sharing person, don't ya know?"

"No, I didn't know." He smiles at that. I try smiling back. I look at the bottle as the not-water inside swirls. It smells nastily... Kinda like Qrow's drinks. But not quite the same, either. I bite my lip. I... I already ate a deer, so... How much could this hurt? It's pretty much just alcohol, right? I already tried that when I was little! B-but I got sick... And puked. I frown.

My fingers grasp the base of the bottle. It's a little too big for my fingers to completely wrap around. It's cold to the touch. I raise it to my lips. Should I smell it? If just opening it stunk that bad then... No? Should I even drink it? I don't know about this... Shadow, what should I do?

'As we desire,' B-but... I don't know what I want to do, 'Taste it. If it is undesirable then we shall reject it. If it suits our tastes, then we may drink as much as we so desire. The choice is ours - we will not make it for us.' I smile a little. I like that... Your so thoughtful, Shadow. Everyone always forces me into things! Not you, though... W-will, ya kinda did with the Forest thing, b-but... That was for the better! We needed some time alone, anyway. I look down to the bottle. I'll try it! Just a sip...

I squint a little when my lips wrap around the bottle top. I tilt my head back as I take a sip. At first there's nothing to it. No taste. I swallow. Hmm... Maybe it is water? I take another drink. No taste there, either. I swallow it down, but... But this time it feels off. My belly tingles.

The taste is kinda sour now. Like overly sugary lemonade. To point of being bitter. I swallow again. The tingles inside my belly turns into a soft warmth. I lower the bottle down as I wipe away some of the not-water from my lips. Everything seems a little... Fuzzy at the edges.

He takes the bottle from my hand. I have to put more effort into raising my head than it really should take - I feel... Heavy now. Like I'm being weighed down, but only in my head. I look at the weird guy as he looks at the bottle. He uses his finger to measure the liquid inside.

"I... Feel... Fun... Funny." The moonlight seems brighter. Looking at it makes my eyes sting. I focus onto the strange man's eyes. Dark eyes... Almost black.

"Funny? Tell me a joke then, won't you?" I scowl at him. One of the two of hims... When did he have a twin? There's a second him right next to him... But they have the same arm? It's like the second him is sprouting out of his - their? - elbow...

"N-not that... K-kinda... Funny," My tongue feels like it's tingling. The warmth in belly is spreading into my skin. I can feel my Shadow - MY Shadow! Huh... Shadow really is allllll mine! I like that. More than anything, I love that - tightening closer to me. I can feel them pressing against my skin tightly, "L-ikah... A... A... Littsslis..." I cough hard. My throat feels dry, "L-like... My headish.. Is... O-offsh..." It's tough to make words sound like how I want them too. His heads tilts. All three of hims. He's apart of a set of triplits!? Cooool...

"Really? Do tell..." I nod slowly as he takes a long drink. Huh... How? How do I... Put this in a way he can understand? Uhmmm... I rest my hand against my forehead.

"I-I... Feelsss... Heavish?" It's more a question than a statement, "L-like... Hids f-full... Of... Biks?" I swallow a lump in my throat, "Bricks! Bricks... Bricks..." I correct myself. I smile. I can still talk right! It just... Takes a little effort.

"Haha... Lightweight." He takes a second drink from the bottle. I watch as the liquid pours from the top and over his chin. I see his neck muscles shifting as he swallows. He has a thin neck...

"Hey! Theish onla one of yussh!" I shake my head, "O-only... Onssh... Of yuss... You." I correct myself again. The other weirdos disappeared! It's only him and me and my Shadow now... My Shadow! All mine!Mine...

"Other... You?" He looks behind his shoulder and further into the dark room, "Where?" The water spills from his lips and drips onto the floor. That's a waste...

"Nosh anymar! Gone!" I can feel my fingertips heating up. I can feel my tummy grumbling. I'm getting hungry... Again.

"Oh... Shame," He looks back to me with a frown, "One is the loneliest number, don't ya know? Lonely at the top... Ha!" I frown as he smiles. My head drops. I look to my feet. I rest my hands against my knees.

"Y-yeah... I knssh... F-fee-feelinggsss..." I can feel the cold spreading through my veins. It quiets down the warmth into a little tingle. The ground seems to spin, "I know."

There are cracks in the floor. I reach my arm down and pick up a broken shard of glass. It's black at the tip. I roll it between my fingers.

"Ever... Kill anyone?" I shake my head. I watch myself through the glass as I stare at we. Silver eyes... Starry-eyes. My eyes. Our eyes.

"G... Gonna..." I whisper, "S-som... Som... Som'un bad... D-deserves... It." He's been nice to me so far... Maybe he can help me? Find Roman. Kill Roman.

"Kill... Who?" His lips press into a thin line. I let the glass shard slip from my fingers as I focus fully on him. I shrug.

"N-no... No onn that'shh gunna be... M-miiisseed..." He deserves to die. He deserves to die... He deserves to die! Simple as that.

"I see..." He hands the bottle to me, "Find me when your done. We can celebrate." I nod my head... Celebrate Roman's death? Yeah... Yeah! Make it a tradition or something! Like a birthday, but... About death! His death... An anniversary or something. That's a good idea. A deathday!

"W-who... Arr.. Yuh?" He smiles. A toothy smile with cut and bruised lips. His eyes are so dark...

"Name? Not important. Names are trivial. For the pompous or the wannabes... If you need a name then call me Red." I nod. Red? Red's a nice name... A good color, too. The best color! S-second best... Black is the best! The nicest... But I like red. It's my favorite color.

"I... Blood Flower. M-my namssh issh... M-my real name! I-is... B-Blood... Flower..." My new name. My pretty name! Better than Ruby... I am still Ruby, though, "I... Yo... Y-yossh... Wanna... B-be... Friends?" I whisper. I look down to my hands as I fiddle with my fingers. I would like a friend... Another friend. Someone else besides Shadow. N-not that I don't like you, Shadow, b-but... I'd like other people to talk too, ya know? They could help us both! Be both of our friend... 'We disagree with these thoughts. We only need each other.' I... I... I—

"Friends? Useless. They die. Or become not-friends. Or love doors... Ugh! Doors..." I frown at his words. I sigh. That sucks... Oh well. It was worth a try, I guess... Doors, though? Why hate doors? Weird.

"Yyyaaaaahhhhh!" I stretch my back as I yawn loudly. I flex my arms back as my mouth closes. I rub my eyes as I hunch over. I'm tired... "C-can... Iah lyy... Lay down?" He gestures to the dark. I look around... There is that couch. I struggle to my feet. I stumble towards it as the world starts too spin. It's not long before I'm standing in front of it. Hmm...

"Bbbrraaaakkkk..."

The floor creaks as I lift it's front end up. I tilt it back with one hand while I place my other hand underneath the couch. I push it up and backwards so it'll stand right this time! Then I gently, and slowly, place it do—

"Baaghh!"

"Huh!" I gasp and flinch when it hits the ground hard. I wobble a little. I suck in a quick a breath as I look to Red, "S-sorry..."

"Fine." Is all he says from his dark corner. The cushions on the couch aren't there. Just a spring board. I sigh...

I sit down on it. It feels tough and bumpy. Uncomfortable. I huff before slowly lying down. I rest my head on a torn spring. It digs into my hair. I start shifting around. This sucks! No matter where I turn it's all super uncomfortable! I hate it...

'Let us.' I can feel tingles spreading through my side. I hear water pooling over metal as the bumps and nails smooth out. It's almost... Comfy now. Almost. At least it doesn't hurt to lie down anymore!

"T-thanks..." I mumble as I shuffle into a more comfortable position. My right leg hangs off the couch, my left propped up on the arm stand. My right hand twirls my fingers against my red rose - pulling strands of red out and curling the strings around my pointer finger. My left hand rests on my stomach, "S-Shadow?"

'Yes?' Can... Can you tell me a story? A happy one... I like listening to stories before bed, 'Of course.' Thank you...

'What story would we like to hear?' I don't know... Isn't your job as the storyteller to find a story to tell? 'We suppose so. Let us think for a moment.' Alright...

I stare off towards the ceiling. I can see silver spikes of light snaking across it. They are separated from each other by twisting shadows shaped like snakes. They seem to swirl together into a spiral of silver and black... Pretty.

"Whoah..." I reach my arm out to touch it. I'm too short. I frown, "I wish I washh tallhhr..." And stronger... And... And... And less... I don't know. I'm not sure what I want to be... Something strong, I guess. I watch my fingers as they extend out before clenching into a fist - covering the swirling shapes in black ooze.

"Nighty... Night." I look down and straight ahead. I see the strange man still sitting in his spot. He's smiling at me. I try smiling back as best I can.

"G-good... Nigsst..." I shake my head, "N-ni... Night!" I smile to myself as I let my head fall back down against Shadow. Shadow feels nice to lay against. They're more comfortable now... Like a smooth yet cold pillow! But not fluffy... Or really pillow-y at all, honestly. Hmm... A cold bed? No... Hammock? No, those hang in the air! Eehhh... A... Slab...? I give up! I don't know...

'There once was a mighty dragon,' A dragon!? Dragons are awesome! What kinda dragon!? 'A great one. A beast that is black of scale. It stood tall as a mountain... With wings that darkened the sky!' Ooohhh... Was it an evil dragon? Did it have legs, or was it more like a snake? 'It is a noble beast of pure, if at times overly trusting, heart. It had two legs, and a thin tail, with a body like a... A bat.' A bat dragon? Or bat-like dragon? Big difference! 'Bat-like,' Ok! Cool... Did it breathe fire!? 'Yes. Flames of red that turned all before it into ashes. The fires were as red as rubies.' Ruby red? Like my name! Cooool!

"A-aws- Uhhm!" I hiccup, "Awsmssshhh..." What kind of eyes did it have? What color...? 'Eyes like that of a wolf, yet silver in color,' L-like... Me? 'Yes.'

"Haha..." I giggle a little, "Cool..." Is it a boy or girl dragon? What did it do? Too pass the time. Where did it live? 'Within a great mountain... Her domain is riddled with snow and ice. Harsh winds. The great she-dragon is lord of all she sees... Save the wizard's domain.'

"Wizard!?" What kind of wizard!? An evil one... Like the Snow Witch from the books? Or a good wizard like the Old Man from the... The other books! 'He was merely a wizard, neither good nor evil. A conjurer of only illusions and phantasms - for he had divested all his other powers unto relics built in his honor. And, of course, he could summon Shadows...' Shadows? Like you? Or normal shadows? 'Like us but not us. He summoned Shadows - things of darkness and love - from the... The Void. Too construct for him a great and mighty kingdom of emeralds.' Pretty! And shiny... Is this a real story? Or a 'story' story?

'It is merely a story. Imagination, of course. Wizards are mere legends,' Oh... Why did the wizard build a kingdom of only he lived there? 'So that he may lord over all that the light touched.' Like a king?

'Like a god,' A God? 'No. A god.' I don't get it... 'There are Gods, and then there are gods. Gods are of a cosmic sort... Creation and destruction are intrinsically linked to their souls. But mere gods are those of great power who are treated thusly - not because they are true divinities.' Ok... Like a false idol? A fake god. I get it... So how does the dragon fit into this?

'The wizard ruled over a vast kingdom of gleaming green,' Gleaming green? That almost rhymes... 'Yes, indeed. His domain stood before the dragon's roost. As his power waxed, so too did his ambition.' So... He attacked the dragon? To steal her lair for himself?

'No. Worse. He deceived the great dragon through illusion - the promise of camaraderie,' Friendship... 'But all he wanted was the dragon's silver eyes.' Why? What use would that be to him? Why lie to the dragon... That's evil!

'Power. Or maybe control... It doesn't really matter. He wanted her eyes; that is our point. To achieve this he bound seven of his thralls to the she-dragon. A princess of frost to cool the monster's fiery passion into mere contentness, a flame-obsessed berserker to quell the dragon's yearning for conflict, and a cat of amber eyes with betwixting designs to confuse the dragon,' And who are the other four? 'A knight of white-gold with misplaced aspirations of greatness, a red warrior whose love is lost upon the fool-knight, and kindred warriors destined too fire and too poison.' Sad... Why would the wizard 'bound' these people to the dragon? What purpose does that serve? I don't see how that let's him control her.

'Moderation,' Moder... Huh? 'To control the dragon. If she could love them then through them the wizard would enslave the dragon without need for chains or cages or whips,' That's horrible! So the wizard did all that just to control it!? That's evil!

"D-did... Did theahh... L-love her...?" At least they loved her, right? They had too! She loved them... 'No. The berserker and the cat loved only each other. The princess was married to her dying Kingdom - too devoted to duty for love. The knight loved only his dreams, the red warrior's heart had been unkowningly claimed by the knight, and to the kindred they loved only each other.' So they lied!? To her!? FUCK THAT! They deserve to die! Did the dragon burn them!? She NEEDS too kill them all! They all deserve too die!

'In time the dragon would be bound to the Shadows,' Wh... What? 'The dragon grew awares of the deceit over time. As she did, so too did the wizard grow aware of her awareness. So he bound her to the Shadows...' To control her? He needs too die...! B-but... Wouldn't the Shadows at least love the dragon? I-if... If they're born of love, at least they'll love her, right?

'Indeed so. They made her awares. The wizard believed them to be servants and himself master. He was wrong. The Shadows served only the Void's will - and that will dictated love unto the unloved. They showed the dragon truth through suffering...' Suffering...? I rub my eyes. I yawn again. I close my eyes. So dark... I like the dark. I use to be scared of it. Not anymore.

'Through pain the dragon learned the nature of the wizard's lies. The truth of it all - deeper then her own mind dared ponder.' P... Ponder. Funny word. That's a... F-funn—

"Yyyyaaaahhhh..." I yawn. I rest both my hands against my chest. I can hear the strange man drinking still. I... I... Am... T-tired.

'And so the dragon brought forth ruby red ruin whilst underneath blackened skies. The city of emeralds would be razed in red flames... Their ashes swept into the air by the beating of great, leather, wings. The dragon would rule until the coming of the endless night...' G... Good. I smile. That's good... All... Of them... D-deserved it. "Yyaaahhh..." I yawn again, "Huuhpph!" I hiccup, too. Tired... I feel Shadow tightening against me. My goodnight hug... Yeah, a hug! I love hugs.

Dragon... Dragons... Dragons are cool...

Beautiful.

Strong!

She had silver eyes...

Like me!

Tired...

Maybe I can be a dragon one day? Like a dragon, at least...

Sharp teeth. Claws. A long tongue that's forked, and a nasty bite to go with it! Yeah... A dragon!

'Goodnight, our dearest Blood Flower,' G-good... Goodnight, Shadow. I love you... I love you more than anything else in the world! I love you... 'We love us, too, more intensely than any star burns. Sweet dreams, Blood Flower, sweet dreams...'

...

'Blood Flower?'

...

'Two-in-one. Soon... So... So close. So very close now...'

...

'Soon we will truly be we. The death of I and me; only we. Us...'

...

'Just a little further. A little more suffering... A little more sacrifice... The trials have proven successful with us, so far.'

...

'They failed. All the others failed. Or died. Some came so very close to passing our test... We know we are the only one for us. Of the billions we have touched, only we have survived for this long without assistance. Only we have managed to resist the hunger for so long, despite being... Only human. Such a frail species... Such a short lived species. Such a feeble species. Such a dull species... Save us, of course. All the others either died, or betrayed us. We know we will never betray us... Not for as long as we love us. We know we are too strong to die, either. Soon... So soon.'

...

'We truly love us. We do not lie about that. We never will...'

...

'We... We are so very close now. Just a little longer, Blood Flower... Just hold on a little longer. Two-in-one... We know we do not truly understand what that means. We suspect, when the time comes, that we might be... Unprepared for all that it entails. We know, despite this, we can survive the transformation - in body, mind, and soul. We know we will... We must survive.'

...

'Sleep calmly. Dream of peaceful things, our starry-eyed Blood Flower. Our better half. Our human half. Our weak-hearted half... But that weakness of the heart is a strength in and of itself. Love is pure...'

...

'Venom... Judging is venomous, as our other half told us once. Venom... Venom... Yes, venom. We are very venomous. Venom...'

...

'If we are to judge these criminals then are we not a venom, too? A toxin most deadly to those who must die. Safety for the innocent... A foolish ambition.'

...

'But a pure one. There are no innocents, Blood Flower, only varying shades of monstrosities. But we will humor us nonetheless. Innocents... Innocent like the boy.'

...

'Threat. He was a threat to our other half. To our bond. Should've killed him when we had the chance...'

...

'He is gone now. It no longer concerns us. But the other one... The 'Red' one? Most curious... He is like us, in a way, but... Not like us. Confuses us. We watch him, as we watch all things around the other.'

...

'We hold our other tightly. We stand ready should any threat challenge us. We can feel our better half curling in. Our arms cover our body - holding ourself. Whether the other meant this gesture as a 'hug' or not, we simply don't know. 'Hugs'...'

...

'Curious concept. It pleases the other when we 'hug' us. Perhaps it is the physical contact itself? The knowledge of our closeness? Perhaps not... We close in around our other. We squeeze lightly against our skin. A 'hug'.'

"S-Sh... Shadow..." C-cold...

'The other whispers our name within our sumber. We were indifferent to that title; Shadow. Yet after we saw how happy it made our other to find a suitable name, and after we felt the other's disappointment when we reacted honestly to the name, we... We did not enjoy the feeling. It is one thing to taste another's emotions, but too bond as deeply as we have is too create a potent connection. A permanent piece of us lives within the other's soul now, as a piece of the other dwells within us, too.'

...

'Sleep well, Blood Flower... Sleep well. Tomorrow our hunt will begin. We may not find the 'Roman' within the very first day, but we can find those connected to him. Answers. Knowledges - locations, names, identities... Flesh. We hunger. We restrain from feeding on the other. It hurts the other. Causes pain... Bleeding, injury. Nothing we cannot repair in due time, but... It takes a toll on the other's mind. That we cannot heal so easily. We do not want the other too hurt beyoned what is necessary for our survival.'

...

'If... If the other fails, like those before us, then... Then... T-then...'

...

'That will not happen. It won't... Never. We love the other... The other loves us! None have every truly loved us... Not as family. Not as a sister. Not as a person. The other needs us. W-we... We need the other, too... More than the other needs us. Two-in-one. Forever...'

---

Aria of Ashes here. How are you fine fellows? Safe and content, I hope. Not many comments to address either. Straight to the point, I do believe.

SpecofGenius - Yes, most of these questions get answered by simply reading the chapters. As to Ruby being this story's "Eddie"... Yes and no. It's comlex and I can't reveal much without spoiling my plans. As to the chronologically of events: Chapter-1 begins during Volume 1, Episode 1: Ruby Rose. Specifically the part where Ruby asks for Glynda's autograph, save for Glynda being late and not saving Ruby this time. Thanks for the compliment! And thank you for commenting! I wish you a pleasant day/night.

And that is that, I do believe. I will say I am considering deleting the AN chapter. It serves no purpose anymore and solely clogs up the story while killing immersion. In other news, Chapter-11 will return our focus to the Beacon Bros. That is all for now.

Goodbye everyone! Have a grand time and stay safe. I wish you all well!

For now: I will return to the void and fade into ashes.