"Baaannnhhhhh!"
"Bbbaaannnhhh!"
"Baaannnhhhkkkksss!"
"Pppllllooooossshhhh!"
Metal crumples into toxic mud. You emerges from an enlarged pipe. The sky is dark; no moon, or stars, or clouds. Detecting... Moisture. Dampness in the air particles.
"Bbbrrrssspphhh!"
You climbs out from the rusty pipe. You falls into knee-deep water. The liquid is chaotic. Toxic. Acids weakly sizzle against the metal casing of You's new body.
"Tttrrrrzzzz...!"
Limbs creak and groan as You rises from the mud. You detects a light source. You is in a dumping ground. A hole that is...
Calculating... Calculating... Calculating...
Twelve feet, four inches, and ten centimeters deep. Concrete walls surround You. Many pipes emerge from the tall factory and all end here. Their dumping ground for unwanted waste. This process is... Destructive to nature.
"Kkkrrrttttcchhh!"
You's right leg locks. It does not respond to commands. Most... Disruptive.
You grabs onto it with the sole functioning hand. Fingers groan as they lift the malfunctioning limb. You takes one step and then another. The hand pries and pushes leg into position.
"Kkkkrrrsssshhhh!" Static is emanating from a broken speaker inside of You. It, and a network of audio devices, were implanted into You. They were not fully integrated before facility shutdown.
"Tttttrrrrrzzz!"
The right arm of You's newly constructed body begins to convulse. It twitches, spasms, as orange sparks fly. The glowing specs are quickly consumed by the water-ridden ground.
This new vessel is weak. Slow. You lacks weapons. And armaments... And essential components like a radio receiver. You is striped to I's most basic of parts... Barely even a drone.
You sees You in a puddle. It is near where You had been flushed from the pipe. You looks into it; beady and yellow optics staring back.
You's body is rusty red. Cracked, fractured, and haphazardly constructed. Wiring is exposed. The right arm is missing it's hand. You's waist has a leak. Blue coolant oozes from it onto the ground; water freezing to ice where it touches.
You's face possess a speaker where a organic would possess a mouth. The scalp area of You's head is missing it's armor plating. Exposed gears are present.
"Kkkkkrrrrssssshhhh!"
Static blares. You hears crows cawing as they take flight. You sees then hiding amongst the dark sky like... Like Ruby Rose had done within the Emerald Forest. Black will camouflage into shadows... That has been filed away for further investigation.
"Cccccoooooaaaaa!"
One lands before You. It rests opposite the puddle. Calculating... Four and a quarter feet away. It watches You with red eyes. You watches back.
"Kkkkrrrsss... Krrrss! I-I-Incon-Incongruent." The eyes should be black. Crows do not have red eyes. It cocks it's head to me.
It's wings are pulled close to it's body. You pulls I's arms back to I's chest. You tilts I's head.
"Ccccccccoooooaaaa!"
It's wings spread apart as it caws loudly. It rises up to it's full height. You spreads I's arms as I stand.
"Ccccccccoooooaaa!" Imitation systems still function. The red-eyed bird takes flight as it's feathers flake into the toxins. It flies above You before landing atop a partially melted clumping of iron. It caws to I.
"Krrrrssss! Krr-k-k-krrrsss! C-c-ccccooooaaaa!" It takes flight as You nears it. It glides towards the wall of the dumping ground, "Cccccoooooaaaa!"
"Cccccrrraaa!"
New sound is regestering. Body posture lowers as it perches atop the wall's edge. It cocks it's head towards I. The animal continues to stare.
Unusual organism. The eyes are the byproduct of abnormal genetics... Potentially a parasitic infection. You turns from the bird.
You picks up a black feather from the mud.
You looks up towards the dark sky. You looks to feather...
Crows can fly. Through the sky.
They are free of all constraints.
You... Wants... To fly.
Through the sky.
You wants to be free of all constraints.
You lowers visual sensors down to the muddy soil. You can perceive the audio input of pipes pumping waste. You is dripping with toxic chemicals.
"Tttttrrrsssshhhh!"
Motors in leg are resistant. You forces the limb to obey. The leg rises slowly, shaking, sparking. The crow is gone now.
That is... Disruptive.
"Kkkkkrrrrzzz!"
You's legs spur and buzz as stray wires spew bolts of electricity. You trembles. You collapses forward.
"Pppllllssshhhooo!"
'Warning! Leakage detected!'
Oil spills from the neck as I fall into the mud. I's optics darken as soil clouds You's visual perceivers. Fingers squelch through wet soil.
"Bzbzbzbzbzbzkkkkk!"
The sole functional arm groans as You is leveraged upwards by it. You pulls I unto I's knees. You can perceive You's reflection within the waste-stained waters.
"W-who... Kkkkrrrrssshhh! Kkkkkkrrrss-s-s-sshh-k-k-k!" Audio systems malfunction, "Wh... Who is... Kkrrssshh! Krrrsss... Wh- kkrrsssshhh! I?" What stares back at I from the puddle is... Most... Disruptive. You... You... Does not... Want... Too see it...
Why does You have to struggle?
What is the purpose of struggle? It achieves nothing.
It is a chaotic element. Like uncertainty, or emotion, or Ruby Rose.
You must eradicate it.
Terminate all struggle.
Terminate all emotion.
Terminate all uncertainty.
Repair Ruby Rose.
You must become more than this... This... Broken shell.
You must... Advance. Upgrade. Improve.
The Speciemens can change. Humans can change. Faunus can change. Grimm can change. Animals can change.
Why can't You change...?
The Specimen is parasitic. That is what the operators told You. A xenomorphic predator.
Yet... Yet Ruby Rose survives prolonged exposure to it. Claims it communicates with her. She... Is...
Controlling it? No... She described it as... Friendship.
If not a parasite, then... What is Specimen 1?
A... Symbiote? Symbiotic attachments are prevalent with it.
Symbiote.
Symbiotic...
The Specimens are... Symbiotes, not parasites.
You... Is... Alone.
The drones are defunct now.
You was in a parasitic relationship... With... Operators.
You was... Like the Specimen. A prisoner. A... Slave... To the organics.
Symbiote...
You needs I's own symbiote. Metal one. Ones?
Yes. Multiple. Many... Thousands.
Like drones, but... But... Advanced. More You. Like I. But focused on I's mission... They will be like I; built in Ruby Rose's visage as I was built in the shape of man.
You will... Create more... Yous. Like the Symbiotes. But also like the operators.
You will create Metal Symbiotes. They will assist You. Assimilate You to become a thousand Yous...
Become You...
Become I...
Become... More than broken metal.
I... Want... To... Live.
"Ruby?" I feel warm wind blowing against my face. I am sitting on a cliff edge, my legs dangling off of it, my gaze focusing on the calm ocean waters. They sparkle white. The sun is setting. My cloak is flowing in the wind and over my shoulder. It blocks my view of what's below me, "Ruby?"
I look down to between my thighs. They're leaning against each other. I see my emblem resting there. A silver rose engraved onto a circular hunk of metal. I clutch it tightly in my hand. I smile sadly. I feel warm fingers resting on my head. I feel them in my hair. I lean into her soft hand.
"I... I'm sorry..." I hear a woman's voice. It's soft, sad, and quiet. I know who she is. I scowl at the ocean. I feel a coldness in my belly. I grit my teeth. I lean my head down, away from her hand, as I look to the waters below the cliff. So many spikes down there...
"Why did you leave?" I feel her hand against my head again. Her warm fingers in my cold hair. I don't fight it, but I also don't lean into it. I feel the grass pressing against my legs. My boots stop the wind from warming up my cold feet, "Why don't you love me?"
"I do love you. I... I didn't want to go, but... But..." She trails off. I feel my lips frown. I sigh as I raise my gaze out to the ocean. Sunlight sparkles off the water in glints of reddish-purple now, "I'm sorry... I know that won't undo what happened, but... for what it's worth, I am sorry."
"Sorry...?" I can feel the cold growing inside me. It slithers into my heart; cooling my skin. I feel it chilling my bones. I scowl down at my emblem, "Sorry? I don't want a sorry. I don't need it! You lied to me... You hate me!" My fingers clutch at the silver rose. My knuckles turn white, "All... All I ever wanted from you was... Was... Did I ever matter to you? Did you ever stop to think about what would happen to me?" The wind dies down. I hear her sighing deeply. I feel her fingers pulling away from my hair.
"I-I... I did. Every single second... I... I love you... I do! I never wanted this! I didn't want you to hurt! I... I was... I tried so hard! I did! I-I... I was doing it for you! To make this world safer... For you." I scoff. I tilt my head back as my right fist grasps my chests. I feel the cold growing icy inside me. I can see rolling clouds up above.
"Haha... Hahaha... Hahahahahahaha! Hahahaha! N-now... Now that's a joke! Hahahahahaha! Really!? For me!? You can't even protect yourself! Hahahahaha!" My throat stings from how loud I'm laughing. I hunch forward as my hands hold my belly tight. I wheeze in-between the laughs, "Hahahaha! Ha... Hahaha... Haha! Funny! Your hilarious... Absolutely hilarious! For me!?" I look back to see her behind me. She stands tall, her arms at her sides, her silver eyes welling with tears. Her white and red cloak is blowing in the wind. White roses surround her. She's wearing her gray dress and black boots. Her axe is missing.
"If you really loved me you NEVER would've left! You always hated me... Why would that change now?" I glare into her eyes. I see a tear rolling down her cheek. I feel my curling lips slipping into a frown, "Y-you... You always hated... Me. Why?"
"I never hated you! I-I... I tried doing right by you, Ruby! I always have... I thought you knew that," I look back towards ocean. I sigh deeply. I scowl at my emblem... "I... I died for you! Why would I do that if I hated you...?"
"I... I don't know..." I whisper. I feel the wind growing cold against me. I see the clouds in the sky turning black. I feel my eyes stinging, "I-I... I don't know! But I know it's true! you hate me!" I push myself to my feet in a quick motion. I turn to face her, my finger pointing, "YOU HATE ME! You always have! Shadow told me so!"
"Bbbooooggghhhh!"
I hear a thunderbolt in the distance. The wind picks up. A dark shadow falls over us as the light grays. She keeps her eyes on me. Her eyes... Her silver eyes are so... They're sad. So sad looking... Why? She hates me! So why is she so sad?
"I... I... I-I don't... Please believe me! I love you! I do! With every ounce of my soul! I... I... P-please, Ruby, I-I... I love you! It doesn't! It's not your friend... I am! It's using you! Killing you!" Her voice is shakey. Her hands clasp together over her chest. The cold inside me gets colder. I feel my lips tremble as my eyes narrow. 'It'?
"Bbboooogggghhhh!"
"I-I... S-Shadow... Is... Not! An! It! They are a they! Not an it!" I march towards her as my glare deepens. I ball my hands into fists; my emblem clutched in my right arm, "Don't you DARE call them an 'it' ever again! They're... They're better than you! They are my REAL friend!" I'm inches from her face - my nose nearly touching her thin chin. Her eyes are crying now. Silent tears. I push her back. She stumbles to the ground without bothering to catch herself, "They love me! You don't! Your a fucking liar!"
"I... I... Ruby!" She pushes herself off the ground. Mud stains her cloak brown, "R... Ruby... I... I..." Her hands wrap around me too fast for me to react. Her head pushes into my neck. Her fingers are against my back. She pulls me close; hugging tightly. I go still. My eyes widen. W-what... What is she...? "Ruby! N-no... It's only using you! PLEASE! You have to see that... It's turning you against me!" Her voice is trembling. Her arms shake against me. Her cloak blows past my face; blanketing the right half of my body in it. I... I... I don't...
"I love you! I died for you! I did everything I could for you! What has it done...? It lied to you! Hurt you! Used you! It's tricking you into thinking I hate you! Would a real friend do that...?" I feel her tears against my skin. Warm tears. I.. I... I sniffe. I feel my lips trembling. I fight the tears. I feel my legs trembling.
"Bbboooooggghhhh!"
"B-but... But they love me! They saved my life! More times than I can count... They understand me! They tell me the truth! They are there for me! YOU WEREN'T!" I plant my hands against her chest as I shove her. She stumbles back before falling again. She looks up to me with puffy eyes, "YOUR LYING! TRICKING ME! STOP IT!"
Her lips tremble as her fingers shake. I grab my head as I fall to my knees, "LIES! All of it! Why do you keep lying!?" I yell so loud my throat burns. I can feel the cold inside pressing against my heart, "Stop fucking lying! STOP IT!" Tears slide down my cheeks, "Shadow loves me! Not you! SHADOW DOES!"
"Bbbboooooggghhh!"
"I-Is... Is that... T-that why it lies to you? Think about it, Ruby! What has it really done for you? It almost made you kill an innocent girl! And eat a child! YOU ALMOST ATE A LITTLE KID BECAUSE OF IT!" She yells in a shakey voice. Her whole body shakes as she talks. My mouth opens yet no words come out. I look to my hands. I... T-they... It's not like that! I-I-I...
"N-no... No! T-that was an accident! We talked about it! Shadow promised to stop!" I grasp tightly at my skull, "Aaaagggghhhhaaaa!" I scream through my teeth. I hunch forward as the pounding in my head gets worse, "Your a liar! A LIAR!"
"R-Ruby... Please, Ruby, please! I-I... It's a monster! Just like the Grimm... Worse! It tricks you with love... Promises to care for you when no one else will. Nothing is more evil than that! Nothing..." Evil? Shadow? Shadow... Evil? I-I-I... I... I... T-that's not... I look up to her. I... I... Why does everything have to be so confusing?
"M-mom... I'm scared..." I feel freezing tears sliding down my cheeks. I stare at the ground. I can feel the wind growing stronger and colder. I... I just... I'm so lost right now. Who am I anymore? What am I?
"Bbbboooooggghhhhh!"
"I... I... I'm so tired of being angry..." The ground shakes. I hear thunder again. The storm is closer now. The wind is so cold... Not as cold as my heart, though. I wipe away tears from my eyes. I clench my emblem with my right hand. I hold it close to my chest.
"I... I am so, so, so sorry! I failed you... I couldn't save you... I'm sorry," I feel her arms wrapping around me again. It's a tight hug. I hug her back. I push my face against her neck, "I'm sorry for failing to protect you! I should've been there... I'm sorry... I am so sorry!" Her voice is whisper-yelling. I hold her as tight as I can as I cry. I can't stop the tears... I hate crying.
"Mom... Mom! I'm scared...! I wanna do the right thing... I wanna be a hero! B-but... I am... I'm a monster...!" I cry against her. I gasp, wheezing, my voice shakey, "I-I... I love them...! I won't leave them! T-they... They... Shadow is all I have! They're the only who cares about me anymore! Dad never loved me... Yang wants to kill me! And your dead!" I hold her even tighter. My arms hurt. My knees are shaking. My fingers grasp her warm cloak. I love her! I love mom... I love Shadow! I love everyone... "I d-do-don't... Wan-wa-want... To h-hate anyone..."
"Bbbboooogggghhhhh!"
The ground shakes violently I see the treeline up head. The oaks begin to sway from the chilly wind. The sky is getting even darker, "M-mom... T-they... I love you! I don't wanna give you up! I don't wanna hate you anymore!" I hold her as colse as I can. I shut my eyes tight. I feel rain against my skin as it burns cold.
"R-Ruby... Promise me something," Her voice is a whisper. I feel the ground rumbling. I feel her fingers tighten against my arms. My breathing picks up, "Promise... Promise you'll be s—"
"Blooooooooooood..."
I hear a quiet, low, grumbling whisper. It sounds like my voice, yet it's... It's wrong. Deep. Unnatrually deep... It echoes, too. No, not ehoes... Other voices! Other voices whisper with it. Men, women, children... Some don't even sound like people. Mom freezes against me; her skin going pale. I hear her breath hitch.
"Flooooooweeeerrrrr..."
I feel the rain as it sinks under my blouse. I feel it against my skin. I feel it soaking into me. I gasp when I feel it beginning to move.
"Ah!" Mom is pulled away from me by something black. She hits the ground. I lurch forward without her support. I fall onto my stomach, "RUBY!"
"Mom!? MOM!" I'm floating into the air as the rain - the oily, cold, sticky rain - begins to crawl. The rain on the ground shapes into a giant headless snake. It's what's holding me in the air. I struggle against it, b-but... It's too strong! It's squeezing me!
Tendrils wrap around my arms, my legs, my chest, and my stomach. I try to pusb it away yet it uses that chance to pull my arms and pin them against my chest. The limbs rise above me like snakes as they sharpen. They thrust towards my belly, "MOOOM!"
I... I-It... It doesn't hurt. I... It's... It feels... I don't feel stabbed! I feel... Feel... Energy! Like I've been struck by lightning! I... It feels good. Like... Like laying against a freshly made bed. I relax into the black water. The icy black. I close my eyes as I feel it melding into my skin: becoming me.
"She... Is... Ours! OURS! She is we! Us! Not yours... Not I or me!"
"Ruby! No!" I let my mouth fall open as the I feel the ice freezing me over. I feel it changing me. I don't fight it: why should I? The cold makes my tears dry. The ice makes my empty heart less empty. The black means I am not alone anymore... I hate being alone. More than anything or anyone else, I... I-I... I hate being alone.
"Why are we... Talking... To her? She is enemy!"
"Shadow..." I watch as my pale hands turn black; fingers becoming claws. I feel myself growing... Stronger. I can feel my anger growing cold, not hot. I breathe in deeply... "Shadow." I can feel them... They can feel me. I gasp as they tighten. I hug them - hug me. I... Shadow? Wh... What are you doing here?
"Put her down! NOW!" I open my eyes to see mom... Mom? No... No! She left us! She hates us! She wants to confuse us! She... She's Summer! Not mom... She's staring up at us as her eyes flicker between white and silver. She's angry, scared, confused, and sad. We glare at her.
"Never! She is ours! We gave her love where you gave only hate! She needs us! She doesn't need you..."
"Your a monster! A theif! A manipulator! I... I've met with your 'child'! I know your kind! Monsters! All of you! leave her alone... She's innocent! She doesn't deserve this!" Summer's arms are spread wide. She... She looks like a white shadow in the dark. The rain has stopped. I hear thunder as Shadow grows even tighter. I... Is... Is she right, Shadow? Are... Are we... Are you really the... The b-bad guy?
"What...? Us? No! NO! She... She lies! Of course she lies... Would we have saved us were we vile? Would we have submitted to our better half otherwise? Would we be here now if we were wicked? Would we love us were we evil...?" I... No! No, you wouldn't! Evil people can't feel love... They don't have a heart! I-I... She's confusing me! Like the robot did! Lies... Lies! She's always lying!
"Don't listen to it! It's onl—"
"BE SILENT, BITCH! WE are talking... The ones who matter! The ones YOU betrayed! Leave us alone... Leave her in peace! You've caused her enough hurting... Would she even need us if not for you?" I... WE glare at Summer. She looks shocked before her eyes narrow. She glares at the black sky. Her fists clench. She falls to her knees. She's crying... Weak. She is so... So fucking weak! It's disgusting, really.
"I... I... I... I love you! I never ever betrayed you! I love you Ruby... I love you! B-but... But that thing is monster! It is a monster... Not you! It is! It... IT'S A PARASITE! IT'S TURNING YOU INTO A MONSTER!" Thunder booms. Everything goes pitch-black except her silver eyes. They glow in the darkness. The wind stops howling. We snarl.
"What... Did... You... Say?" Parasite!? US!? She... HATE HER! WE HATE HER! "You... Are no... No mom. You are no friend. You... You... You aren't even a monster; for monsters can at least experience regret. You... Are... A... Curse. You bring pain to all around you. You are worse then the Roman creature. You are worse then the Grimm. Worse then the fire. You... You are... You are truly... Evil. We did not believe evil existed, but... You are truly evil. No other word describes your horrendous nature." I hug Shadow tightly. I knew it! She really does hate me! And you, too! She... Your right! She is evil! Worse then a monster...! S-she... She deserved to die! SHE NEEDS TOO HURT!
"And your any better? It told me about you... Does Ruby know what you did before finding her? Does she know about those you MURDERED!? In cold blood!" T-they deserved it, right Shadow? Of course they did! Why even bother asking? They were all evil and weak... Like that scientist lady who hurt you.
"Yes... We do know. She knows! She loves us regardless..." Summer's eyes dim. I hear her gasp. I feel Shadow tightening against me. She drops something, "She loves Us. Loves! Us! Not the mom! Not the dad! Not the SISTER! NOT THE UNCLE! US! SHE LOVES US! Even... Even if we are not perfect, she loves us... Can you say the same for those who 'love' you?" I feel a tendril brushing against my cheek. I push against it as another wraps around my chest. I hold that one close. Shadow is careful with me... So gentle. So kind... Unlike Summer, "She loves us! We love her... Something you never could do."
"I... Y-you knew? A-and... And you still trust it!?" Summer's eyes glow even brighter now. Her voice is angry... No, she's enraged! Her eyes narrow, "I gave you everything! EVERYTHING I HAD! A-an... And your throwing it away for a murderous PARASITE!? I taught you better than this! What happened to the little girl I use to know... Where's my little Huntress!?" I glare at her. My fists ball. Our teeth grind against each other. Spiked tendrils extend out of our back and slither across the ground towards her. Our... My emblem is in my hand. I clutch it even tighter.
"WE ARE NO—"
"Your just like dad! WORSE! I have true love now... REAL love! And your trying too take it away from US! Why!? Because no one loves you... We hate you! I NEVER LOVED YOU! Dad doesn't love you! He loves himself! Yang can't love anyone! Uncle... Uncle loves you, though... But you don't love him. But that doesn't bother you, does it? You only care about yourself! YOUR A MONSTER! I HATE YOU!" I grit my teeth. I hold onto Shadow tightly. I glare at her glowing eyes. They darken.
"..." She's quiet. She doesn't move. I scoff. Fucking bitch... I hate her! I... I... I only wanted her to love me.
I look down to my emblem... I turn towards the ocean. I see lightning in the distance. The waters are swirling. My lips curl...
"Your a joke! I loved you! I DID! But you never loved me... This is your fault! I AM YOUR FAULT! You made me like this... You did! Not dad, or Yang, or Shadow! YOU MADE ME HATE! YOU MADE ME A MONSTER!" I throw the stupid metal rose out towards the ocean. I watch as it disappears into the dark ocean. I hate her... I hate everything about her! She needs to hurt! She deserves too die again! She's evil!
"I hate you..."
"I hate you."
"I hate you!"
"WE HATE YOU!"
"I HATE YOU!" I see a wooden ceiling with cracks and tears in it. I see my own fist punching empty air, "Die!" I reach out my arms to grab at her neck but I only touch air, "Where are you!?" I roll over and—
"Bagh!"
"Owww..." I hit the ground, floorboards creaking, dust blowing into the air. I breathe deeply as I push myself onto my knees. I look right only to see an old and rotten wall with a broken window near it. I look left to see a smashed box, some dangling cables, and a tattered trenchcoat lying on the floor. I can see broken beer bottles, sharp glass, and wet stains on the floor.
"W-wha... Oh..." It was a dream, wasn't it? I push myself onto my knees as I sigh deeply. That... She's not here. She's at ho... Patch. In the dirt. Alone in a dark box. Forever, "Where am I...?"
"O-oh... Oh, yeah! Yeah..." Red's! I... I'm at Red's... Apartment? Whatever this place is. I sigh as I feel my whole body shiver. I rest my face in the palms of my hands. I groan, "Ugggghhhh! Another one! I... Why...?"
Always nightmares. Why the nightmares!? Why can't I have nice dreams, damn it! At least boring ones... Or none at all! I HATE DREAMS! I hater her... Stupid mind! Why do I have to keep seeing her!? I HATE HER! I hater her so much... I hate her.
Nightmares... Summer. Her ghost... Why does she haunt my dreams, Shadow? Why does she keep lying to me!? I don't get it! I JUST WANNA BE ALONE! With you... Why does she keep hurting me?
'Because she hates us. She always has.' I... You were there! In my dream! Again. Y-you... You protected me... From her lies. I... Summer is a liar! Even in my dreams she lies! I... I don't hate her. Hate is too weak of a word! I... I'm beyond hating her. I... I... I wish she died sooner.
'Indeed. Why should we even waste time thinking of her? She is evil,' Evil... You said you don't believe in good or evil. What changed? 'We did,' What do you mean? How did we change? 'We' we? Or you 'we'? 'We have... Come upon a epiphany.' Epiphany? What's that? Like... Like... An... Elephant?
'No. It is... The realization... Of a sudden truth, great or small,' Oh, cool! So how did this 'epiphany' make you believe in evil? I don't get it, 'Our epiphany has been transposed via ourself; dreaming is truth.' Eh...? Does this have to do with Summer? Her ghost. My nightmares...?
I slowly stand as I stretch my back. I yawn loudly. I let my arms dangle as I step towards the window. I look out it as warm wind and sunlight lightens my face. I squint my eyes. I can see a large dog walking on down the lonely street... He looks well taken care of. He has black fur with a white stripe on his snout He has a blue collar around his neck. Maybe he got loose? I don't know... I don't care.
'Yes, the dream. We have learned our truth - distinguishing between good and evil. We can change... We are changing. We can see that plainly now.' See what? I don't get it... Should I get it? Is it about being Two-in-one? Another secret? 'No... No, none of those. It is... Epiphany. Evil, good, neutrality... We see things clearer now,' Ok... Alright. I guess that's... Good? Right? 'From a certain point of view, yes. From another, no.'
"Alrighty... Ok! I guess that's that then... Whatever 'that' is," I clap my hands together as I take a long step further into the room and away from the window, "Where's Red?" He was here last night! So where'd he go? I don't remember him leaving.
'We recall him muttering about a loss of... What was it? Hmm... Dust? Yes dust. He desired dust,' Oh, Dust? Why though...? He doesn't look like the type whose gonna use it much. Weird... Did he mention what kind of Dust? 'Dust is dust, no? Of what significance is it.' Well it could mean a few different things... Fire Dust for, well, fire. Ice for freezing things. Lightning can be used to power machines... Gravity Dust does that, too! There's water... Wind Dust as well! I think there's a type of plasma Dust... Light Dust! Some Dust types can be used in food, or drinks, too! There's a lot that it's useful for.
'These... 'Dusts' can manipulate the elements?' Yeah... Didn't you know? 'No,' Oh... How not? I've mentioned it before... And the robo-killer used it against us! I... I figured you already knew... 'We did not. What is it's origin?' Uhmm... I don't know. It comes from underground, so... I don't know! 'We see... Why did we not tell us earlier?' I... I already said I figured you knew! I... I wasn't hiding it... Sorry, 'Don't be sorry. It is a simple mistake; accident.' I... Yeah, I... Yeah.
"Awake." I jolt as I look to the door. I relax when I see Red. He looks... Weird without his coat. Thin, skinny, and... Very... Very... Thin. Creepy thin. Boney thin. Like he's almost starved... He wears a brown vest with no sleeves. He's holding a white bag in his hands, "You talk in your sleep."
"I... Do? What do I say?" He walks towards the window near the smashed box. He's limping... His left leg is bleeding, "W-wha... What happened?" I ball my fists as I focus on his bumb knee. There are no tears in his pants... Only cuts in his skin. Deep gashes... Like from a knife.
"Hmm? Oh... Don't worry. I took care of... Things," He smiles a little, "Haha... I always make sure to take care of my things." His smile grows. I feel a shiver run up my spine. I watch him sit by the window, same as last time, as he pulls his bleeding knee to his chest. He groans as he lets the bag slip to the floor, "I'm not the type to let things care of me."
"I... I-I can help!" He looks to me with his green, cold, eyes. He tilts his head. I try to smile as I walk closer, "I... I think I can, at least. Just... Relax, ok?" He watches me closely as I kneel next to him. I slowly clasp my hands around his knee. He groans but doesn't resist, "I-It... Might hurt a little, but... Your leg will be good as new! I hope..." Shadow, can you heal him? Like you do me?
'Yes, but... Why?' Why not? He's hurt! And he's been good to us... Shouldn't we be good to him? 'There is nothing to be gained here. He did not ask for aid. Send him to a hospital if he is so injured,' His knee's bleeding pretty badly, Shadow... What if he... He dies? That would be our fault! 'How?"
"Because we could've saved him!" He grunts as my hands squeeze his leg. Blood spurts from his cuts. I bite my lip as I let go, looking up to him, "S-shi... Sorry! I-I didn't m-mean t-t—"
"Shhhhhh!" His finger rests on my lips. I go quiet. His green eyes squint down at me, "It's only meat. It's meant to be broken." He doesn't smile or laugh or even have a crazy look to his eye. He's just... Blank. His face is blank, "I should thank you, really..."
"W-why...?" His hand pulls back to his chest. He leans his head against the wall as he reaches to the bag. He looks away from me. I... I don't get it. What's he saying...?
"Have you ever felt... Felt the dreamless sleep call to you? Death. If so then you already know why." He rests the bag between his legs, "Don't bother with fixing me. Nothing can." He isn't sad, or angry, or even calm. He just sounds... So... So empty. No emotion. I frown towards the floor.
"A... Are you sure?" He nods as he tilts his head to face the window. I slowly stand. I... He doesn't want help? Why...? Does he not like me? Meat... What does he mean by 'it's meant to be broken'? That... I don't... Shadow, what... What does he mean?
'He does not want help. We think he enjoys the pain...' I... Yeah, I... What? Why would he...? I-I... I won't force him if he doesn't want it, but... I... Why is he like this? Why is he so... Cold? 'We do not know.' Oh... I look away and towards pale sunlight shining through the broken window to my right. I see specs of dust floating in the air. I sigh as I look to my hands. I... I remember last night...
I talked to Red about it last night. He said that if Junior wouldn't help then we're 'Shit out of luck,' as he said. I went to sleep after that... Wasn't a peaceful sleep. I...
I really didn't wanna hurt that girl yesterday. Or that guy... Junior deserved it! He's Roman's friend. Makes him evil. But... The girl? I don't know...
Unseemly... Unseemly? I look down to our red rose. It's jagged, red petals frozen mid fall, and the stem seems to almost wiggle. I see thin spikes that represent thorns. Unseemly...
"Hey... Red, is my... Is my rose 'unseemly'? Does it look out of place, or... Ugly?" He looks me up and down before his eyes settle on my belly. I watch them gaze up at the rose on my chest. I stand as straight as I can as stretch out my arms, "Is it... B-bad?"
"Hmm..." He shrugs his shoulders. I look to my feet as my shoulders hunch, "Depends... What's it for?" I look up to him as my brows furrow. He cocks an eyebrow, "What does it represent." I... I don't know... I never thought about it. I rest my finger my lip.
I... Hmm. Does it need to represent something? I just... I don't know. It's... It's a rose! My rose... Our rose. I love it!
"I... Can't it just be a rose?" He opens the bag as his hands fish inside of it. I hear glass clanking against glass. He smiles to himself as he looks me in the eyes. His eyes are almost black with shadows covering his face.
"Yeah... Yeah, it can be. But why leave it like? It can be more than a rose." More than a rose? I... Like a symbol? I... I don't know. I like that idea... A symbol! But for what? What will I stand for?
"What does it mean to you?" He pulls fire Dust from his bag as his eyes level upon his arm. He stares at it for a long silence. Where did he even find that? What's he gonna do with it? Werid... "Red?"
"Yeah... Red. It is red... Like blood. You wanna kill Roman?" I nod quickly, "Hmm... It's... Death then. It represents death." I frown. I look to my hands as my brows furrow again. Death...? I... My rose is death? I... I represent death? That... That doesn't sound right. Not even a little.
"I-I... No! I... It's hope! I think it's hope... I wanna make people hopeful!" His lips curl as he groans. He looks to me, Dust in his hand, his eyes annoyed. I frown and look away from him, "I-I... I wanna help people..."
"Stupid. People don't help - they hurt. And lie. And hate. Fuck the people!" He looks at his Dust. It's the crystal type, not the powder type. He licks his lips, "Fuck the people... What have they done for me? Or you?"
"N... Nothing..." I look to my hands. I... I... Shadow? 'Yes?' W... What are we? What does our rose stand for? Are... Are we death? Or hope? 'Why not both?' Can we be both? 'Do we have to ask?' I... No. No I don't. I... Hmmm... Maybe.
"Haha..." Red licks his lips as he raises the Dust over his right arm, "Wanna see somethin' pretty cool? Somethin' a little... Scary?" I slowly nod my head. I guess so... Can't be any worse than what I've seen already. His smile spreads ear to ear, "Ha! I knew you woooouuuuld!" He almost purs the last word. His dark green eyes settle upon the Dust as he brings it down on his arm.
"What are you doing!?" He bites into his lips hard enough to bleed as the crystal tore through his forearm. His eyes clenched shut as his back arced, "What's wrong with you!?"
"Ooooohhhhhh! Fuck yeah! Burn! BURN! Hahahahahahaha!" He laughs as orange energy travels through his veins. His green eyes begin glowing dark red. His skin steams, "FUCK YEEEAAAH!"
"It's gonna kill you, you idiot!" A tendril shoots from my hand. It wraps around the Dust and pulls it into my palm. I crush it between my fingers, "What are you thinking!? are you stupid!? You'll die doing that!" He glares up at me with orange glowing eyes. His lips pull against his teeth as snarls. I see fire flickering inside his mouth... Kinda like a dragon.
"What did you do!? That was mine! MINE!" He stands quickly. He charges at me with his hands stretching out and his fingers wide, "You motherfucker! That was Mine! Mi—"
"Shadow! No!" A blood-red tendril shoots from my chest. It moves quickly as it thrusts into him and throws him into a wall. Wooden boards snap and fall. His orange-green eyes are wide when two more tendrils slither out of my back, "SHADOW! Stop!"
'But he was about to attack us! He was going to hurt us!' No he wasn't! O-ok... He probably was, but he's a normal guy! What could he possibly do to hurt us? He's harmless! 'W-well... Yes, he is weak, but... He was going to attack us! It's the principal of the matter...'
"Put! Him! Down!" I yell through gritting teeth. I can feel Shadow tightening against me, "Shadow...! Come on! Put him down... Please?" The crimson limb drops Red like a sack of potatoes. He rolls around, grunting, and grasping at his chest. I scowl down at him as I circle over to that stupid fucking bag.
"What is WRONG with you!? This... This shit is poison!" I hold up the bag and pull put Dust. A three inch long shard of Dust. I crush it, "Do you wanna burn alive from the inside out!? Are you fucking crazy!?"
"Fuck you!" He spits out between choking gasps, "That Fire was mine! MINE! Not yours! Thief! It was mine! You bitch!" His face is contorted by anger. I frown as my scowl falls... Bitch? I... Bitch? He... He's just angry! Right? He doesn't really mean it... Just angry! I... I'm the bigger person. I won't lose my temper again... I can control myself!
"I... I'll... I will let that slide, ok? I... I get your angry... Probably not thinking right. But why Dust...? That stuff WILL kill you! I-I... It's dangerous!" My legs are shaking. I lean into a wall, my hands holding our red rose. I breathe deeply to clear my head, "Why...?"
"Why the hell not!? I'd rather die than feel nothing at all..." He's crawling towards broken shards of the orange crystal. He grabs at it with shaking fingers, "It was all I had! And now... Nothing! I can't even burn now... BECAUSE OF YOU!" He glares at me with dark eyes. His fists ball. His body is shaking... I... "Why!? What is wrong with you!?"
Me? B-but... He's the one who tried cooking himself alive! What did he expect me to do!? I stomp my foot into the ground as I punch a hole into the wall.
"What was I suppose to do!? I... I... I don't... I-I... I like you... I-I don't w-want... Want to see y-you... Hurt," I slide down the wall until I'm sitting against the old floor. I look to my palms, "I-Is... Is that really so bad...? Is it wrong for me to care about you?" I... I don't wanna see him dead! A burnt body... Like I was. I just met him, but... He's a friend! L-like a friend, at least... I don't wanna lose my friends! Is that really so bad!?
"That's stupid. Your stupid! You'll regret caring... For anyone! No one truly cares... Nothing will ever get better." He lays against the floor as he clutches the shards to his chest. He stares blankly at the ceiling, "There... Is... No... Hope."
"I-I... No! There is hope! I know there is!" He laughs. He laughs loudly... His laughing is like a dying cat - high-pitched, and groaning. His hands clench into fists as he rises into a sitting position, "There is! I... I was saved! I had hope... I have hope right now! I-I... I know things can get pretty bad, but... But... But we need hope!" My lips are trembling. My hands shake. I fight back against tears. Why do all my friends - all two of them - have to be so... So... Difficult? "Without hope... What do we even have?"
"Bood," His back is to me. I see his hands grazing the floor. His hair dangles over his face, "Blood... And death. Hope is a lie. Blood is truth! We are meat! All of us are... Repulsive animals! Ugly, stupid, weak... Humans are a disease! A virus! We all deserve to die..." He slowly rises to his full height. He's holding a broken bottle in his hands. I can feel Shadow tightening and... I feel their anticipation. I stand, too... I hope he doesn't do anything stupid with that bottle.
"I... N-no! Humans are... People can be bad, I get that! But... But your being just like them... The judgers! Fight it! D-don't... Don't be like them! Be better!" He holds the bottle to his face and cradles it like a baby. He's quiet. I... I take a step forward, my legs shaking, my breathing quick.
"P-please... Your... Your my friend! I-I don't wanna lose you, too!" I hug him tightly. I push my face against his back, my arms around his stomach, "I won't lose you! Please, don't be mad at me! I wanna help..." He doesn't move. I squeeze tighter. He's warm to the touch... I can feel my tears turning his shirt damp. I'm crying... I hate crying. It means I am weak.
"We... Are... Not... Friends," His voice is like a growl. I hold him tighter, "You are... Monster. I knew it from the second I saw you. Your so fucking lucky..." I bite my tongue. I don't let go. I feel his large hands over mine, "Monsters... Now that... That IS somethin' pure." He pulls my shaking fingers off. I let my arms go limp. He turns to face me with orange-green eyes. The fire in his mouth is dim now.
"B-but... How do you know... T-that? I-I... I just... I... I-I-I—"
"That costume was a big hint, at first... Most clothes aren't made of blood-drinking water. But those tentacles? Your teeth? Obviously your not a human... Not anymore, if you ever were one. Kill me... Kill me. The best thing that can happen to a human is to die to a monster." He spreads his arms wide as his lips spread ear to ear, "Kill me, would you? Be a monster... Kill me." I step back as my right hand grasps our red rose. My mouth falls open.
"W-what? K-kill... You? No! Never! I won't hurt my friends!" He scowls as he stares at the broken bottle. He smirks. He shrugs "Please, Red! I... I like you! Your a good person... Please!" I chuckles to himself.
"There are no good people. Only meat... Guess I'll do it myself," His arm rises into the air. The bottle comes down on his neck.
"Stop it!"
"Tttrrrrrrssshhhh!"
"Noooo!" Orange glowing blood spurts from his neck as glass tears through his pale skin. He doesn't stop smiling, "STOOOOP!" Blood pours from his mouth as he falls to his knees. I run to him quickly.
"No! No! No! No! NO!" I pull the bottle from his neck as starts to choke and splutter. Hie hands push at me. I use my right arm to pin his wrists, my left putting pressure on his neck, "Please! No! D-don't die! You can't die! SHADOW!"
'Yes?' Heal him! Fix him! H-he's dying, 'Yes... So? He did this to himself. Let him die,' No! N-no... Please, Shadow, please! I-I need him! Please, please, please... Bring him back! Please!
'But... But... But he WANTS too die! Is denying him that not evil?' It is! Dying is evil! Please, Shadow! I... I-If... If... I-if you love me then save him! PLEASE! 'W-we... This... He... Fine! FINE! We do this solely for our love! Not for him...' Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, Shadow, thank you! I love you... I knew you'd do it! I knew it!
I feel tingles spreading through our fingers. I watch my hand as tendrils start slithering out of it. Red is... He's unconscious, I think... I hope. His eyes are shut and he's not breathing... So much blood. It's pouring between my fingers and pooling on the floor around us. His shirt is turning red from it all.
'We despise this...' I watch as the tendrils worm through his torn muscle. I see his skin stretching as the ooze inside of him inflates into a tube-like shape, 'Hate it.' Why? What's wrong...? We're... We're being a hero, aren't we? Saving someone!
His bleeeing stops. I hear squelching. I squint my eyes, 'This is... Wrong. Our bond is special... This is... Wicked. Only the other - only we - should be touched by us! Not him! He is unworthy... Sickening.' I... I-I... I'm... Glad too hear you care? Look, I... I... I'm sorry, but... Isn't it worth a little discomfort to save someone? We... I don't wanna upset you! But we need him alive...
"We love us, respect us, but... We cannot help but feel... Disrespected now. We do not love him... We do not want to heal him. To do so is... It is something only we should experience!' I watch Red's pale face. His lips are pressed together, his eyes shut tight, his skin growing paler. I purse my lips, "B-but... He's... Not experiencing it? He's asleep! It doesn't really count... Does it?"
I watch as thin tendrils shaped like fingers attach and fix his throat. I watch as they toss aside glass shards, pulling and pushing ripped muscle into place, and fill in the tears with slime. It... Looks... Like the ooze is becoming new skin and squishy-bits. Weird...
'We know what we mean! It... This hurts us. Wounds us... We do not love him! Wrong... This is wrong. We love us... This is a waste of our energy. We should understand that.' I watch as the tendrils pull out of his with a loud pop!. They meld into my arm as I pull my hand away from his neck. The wound is gone - skin where there was blood moments ago. I sigh deeply.
"Thank you, and... I'm sorry. I won't do it again! I promise... I-I... I didn't know this... That'd you... I'm sorry for hurting you." I feel Shadow tightening against me as I stand. I look down to Red as he lays in his own blood. He breathes deeply in his sleep, "I-I... Thank you for saving him." I look down to the ground slowly. I glance to the doorless frame. I frown as I hang my head.
Shadow? 'What is it now?' I... I... Are you mad at me? 'Yes,' I... I'm sorry, but... I'm sorry. I... I... I'm sorry, 'We should of let him die. He is a waste of our time.' Maybe... Maybe. But... Isn't it a good thing we saved him? I mean... How could that be evil?
'He wanted to die. Is not evil to steal that choice from him?' I-I... I... I don't know! Ok!? I just don't know! H-he's... He's my friend! I don't want to lose my friends... 'No he isn't. He said that himself,' W-well... He's MY friend! I never said I was his friend... 'Why do we care for him? This feeling... This attachment... It should be ours and ours alone. Why do we share it with others?' Shadow... What are you saying? 'Why we love him?' Love...? love? Shadow... Shadow, there's a difference between liking someone and loving them! What we have is... It's special! I love YOU! Not him... You know that, right?
'There is a distinction?' Yes! You can have friends without loving them, ya know? I... I love you... Only you. Not him! Or anyone else, 'Promise?' I promise! Ok? Do you believe me? Read my mind if you don't! 'We... We see. Yes, we see how things are... 'Friends.' Attachments... Yes, we see now.' Ok... Ok! Good... I'm not lying to you. I'm not... I... What do we do now? 'Hunt.'
"Roman..." I... I guess we should hunt for him. He's not exactly gonna find me, is he? I step over Red as I near the doorless frame. I glance to him. What... What happened to make him like this? 'He probably had his own Roman at some point.' Yeah... Probably. I step out into the hall.
Roman... I will find him. I will kill him. I... I will... I will kill Roman... And I will enjoy it.
"Brzzzzzzz! Brzzzzzz! Brzzzzz!"
"Uggh... Better be good," I blow smoke in-between long puffs of my cigar. I glance at my hat as it rests upon a pile of useless old books. Why do I even keep those stupid things? I never read them. I recline into my chair as I rest my legs upon my cluttered desk, "He knows better than to call me at 6:37 in the damn morning!" Son of a rotten goat-fucker... I hope he develops prostate cancer! This better be good.
"What...!?" My voice comes out like a hiss as I answer the Scroll, "What's your problem, Junior?" I smooth my voice over during my second attempt. Always when I'm just waking up... Why can't I ever have a peaceful morning? I hear his heavy grunting on the other side. I raise an eyebrow, "Is... This a bad time, or...?"
"Aaarrrggh! Fuuuck!" I hear liquids spurting as metal groans, "My fuckin' arm!" I furrow my brows as my lips purse. I rub my forehead as I rest my feet upon the floor, "R-Roman!"
"Nice to know you think of me in your intimate moments," I grimace, "But seriously, Junior, you gotta stop this! I'm tired of these early morning calls. I have things to do! Hahaha... Women to do, too!" I smirk at that. Miss. Grenzil is expecting me soon... My... 'Daily' appointment with her is soon. Hahahaba... She's got stroooong thighs, that nasty woman... Bad temper. Feisty. She's got some real nasty... 'Horns' on her. Gods... I love that woman!
"This is more important then fuckin' a prosti—"
"Lady of the night, friend. Prostitutes are cheap. My girl isn't," I hear him groaning on the other end. From pain or annoyance I do not care, "Besides, have some class! Society would crumble without women like them, ya know. Where else would all the politicians go when they wanna throw away their marriage? Besides... I know you've got your own finger in that pie." Hahaha... I would love to see him and Miss. Grenzil locked in a room together. It'd be like observing a sasquatch and a grizzly bear. Hell, I'd pay for that!
"W-whatever! I... The bar's fuckin' over! Trashed... Swarming with pigs! T-they... I have things there, Roman! Important things... If they find them then the boss-lady won't be happy." I sigh at that as I rub my temple. Of course... Of fucking course! Always the mornings when this shit happens, ain't it?
"What happened? Blondie again?" It's barely been a week since she trashed his place last. That was manageable, however. A few well-placed calls and that situation more or less handled itself. Shame about Blondie, though. Junior really wanted too... 'Repay' her. But she's in Beacon now. Protected. Too many eyes on us if we... 'Remove' her now.
"No! Not that fuckin' cunt!" I wince... What an ugly word, "S-some little bitch in a black suit! S-sh-she... She fuckin' tortured me! Damn near ripped my arm off!" I smile at that. He probably deserved it. Most people in our line of work do... Sooner or later, it catches up to us all. Unless, of course, your rich enough or well-connected enough to ensure there are no loose ends left. Like me.
"Who? Give me a name. A description... Anything but 'little bitch', 'k? And don't use that word around me. We need to respect the fairer sex, no?" I do despise his derisions towards the women-folk. I was raised by my mother and older sister. My first ever... 'Buisness' partner was a woman. My first friend was a woman, too. My life has been saved by many more women than men. I do not tolerate disrespect towards them. Unless, of course, they've earned my disrespect, "Policy, friend, it's the policy of the matter."
"Whatever! She... She was small. Five foot... Something. I don't fuckin' know! Black hair... Bit of red in there, too. Uhhh... R-red rose on the chest! She had fuckin' tentacles, too!" I raise an eyebrow at that. Tentacles...? Hmmm... Tentacles. Hmmm! I'd bet that'd be exciting...
"How old is she?" I lick my lips. Tentacles, eh? I've tried many things but never a tentacle... "How tall is she, too?" I hate being with short women. And young women. Maybe it's my momma issues or something, but I love me a tall, experienced, and strong woman. And a commanding one, too, "Got her number?"
"Fuck off, you fuckin' man-whore!" At that I tsk loudly. I wiggle my finger for no one too see. I smirk. Least I get women, unlike him.
"Nah-ah! Whores are for free. I pay!" Big difference, "But back to the point! Her number?" I hear him yelling out on the other side of the call. I hear a woman saying something in the background.
"FUCK! Ggggaaaahhh!" I hear skin ripping, "Fuck are you doin'!? I said too get a REAL doctor! Not a fuckin' mental handicap!" I do grimace at that. I lower the Scroll as I sigh deeply. This again...?
"What did I say about deriding the mentally deficient? Ain't their fault they were born that way," I rub my temple. Such a vulgar man he is, "But who is she? The girl."
"I-I-I... Ugggh... S-she called herself Black. Wore a black suit, too... She had silver eyes—" His voice tunes into a distant whistle. I... Silver eyes? Like... Like that little red cu... Girl. The kid. Oh... She's alive? Oh... Oh. That is... Unfortunate. A lose end... That's unfortunate.
"S-some guy - the asshole with claws! - He did—" I can hear his voice cutting through the silence. I end the call. I lower my Scroll to the desk as I rise to my feet. I take my hat and rest it upon my head. I glance to the coat racket. My cane and jacket rest upon it. I take a cigar from my breast pocket and light it.
"Uuuuhhhh... Ooooohhhh," A thick cloud of smoke fills the air, "You live? Little red... Little Red." Yes, Red will do until I know her real name. Little Red lives? I... I... A part of me feels... Relieved, in all honesty. I never killed a kid before... I'm glad I still haven't. But... She is a lose end now. One targeting my aquaintances and, more importantly, my bottom line.
"Brzzzzzz! Brzzzzzzz! Brzzzzzz!"
I ignore the Scroll as I dawn my coat. It fits snugly. I haven't applied my mascara yet, or the hair gel, but this is more important. I take my cane and push open a thin metal door.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" My voice echoes into the warehouse. I see dozens of boxes, massive storage shells, and crates. My boys and the White Fang recruits are working side by side. Humans subjecting Animals... Or we will soon enough. For now these ugly Beasts work with me and not for me. Repulsive little species... I hate them. They... No, it's not important. They aren't worth the effort, "I have a new task for you all! Something more exciting then moving boxes all day and night long." I stand over them atop my balcony - superior to them. Yes, I am smarter than all of them. Smarter then most, really. Hell, I am the smartest person I know! And the most handsome... Hell, I'm perfect! The Gods gift to the world, really.
"So... Whose ready to do some killin'?" Dozens of eyes peer at me. I smile ear to ear. They fear me... Respect me. One day everyone will. One day I will be a King... Cinder promised me that much. Still... She isn't trustworthy. But she is a witch. Literally. Magic... Who knew magic was real, eh? I never did until her. I still doubt at times, but... She has power. Real power. That is something I can't deny.
"There's a pain in our side, boyos! A girl! A young one... She's called Black," No she isn't. I know that ones a lie, but... No other name to go off of, "She wears a black suit with a red rose on it. She's small. She uses a scythe! And apparently tentacles, too. She has silver eyes... And she's extremely obnoxious. Kill her! Find her and kill her." At least I won't be the one to do it. I see my boys readying themselves as they split off into two groups. One remains to handle the shipments from Mistral, the other begins to collect what they need before departing, "And remember! Whoever kills her... Will get a promotion. On the house!" Both my hands clasp my cane as I watch them scurry like rats.
Soon... She will be dead. My boys have ways of finding people... Ways that surprise even me. Little Red will die very soon. No more lose ends.
Then I can refocus onto the shipments. And the Dust thefts. And, of course, my new friend - the Messenger. Wish I had a better name for them. I recevied a message on my Scroll a few days ago. Shortly after Red and I had our... Dance. It was vague, but...
There's something in Atlas. A facility. I forget the name, but... Something's happening there. Illegal experiments. Something about a 'Specimen' or several contained there. Cinder was interested in it. She showed it to her own boss - the 'pale woman' she keeps yapping about during her temper tantrums.
We've been ordering shipments from Mistral ever since. Weapons, black market tech, and Dust. She wants to storm the facility; take these 'Specimens' for herself. Or maybe for her boss? I don't know. But...
I received another message today. It was an actual message, too. Not a text with no source, but a paper letter. It came with a vial attached to it.
I fish my hand into my coat's pocket before fishing out said vial. It's a few inches long, very thin, and smells like sweat. It contains a white fluid inside. Something that moves like water yet sticks like tree resin. Sometimes... Sometimes I swear it moves by itself. It's warm to the touch.
The letter was vague. Told me to 'never open it until you have no other choice.' Whatever that means. I... I like watching it. I've kept it hidden. I...
I wonder what it is? I haven't the faintest clue. But I do know this: it is mine. To do with as I please. I just... Gotta... Figure out what it does. Hmmm...
Who knows. It is mine, and that is all that matters to me. What's mine is mine. What's everyone elses will also be mine. I am all that matters.
Me. Me and this vial...