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.

17. The Brewing Madness

Flesh. The buildings have flesh... Eyes... Teeth and hair. They pump and squirm as they excrete filthy venom into the very hearts-blood of the city. I see how the buildings many eyes - the 'windows' - watch and see and molest all things under their gaze. Their blank pupils belch sick phumes and toxins that pollute the brain with laziness and humanity. It reminds me of the doctors from the happyhouse.

They spit and puke boiling blood underground. Pipes! Pipes is what they call them BUT I KNOW THE TRUTH! They are vessels... Blood vessels. Veins! The 'pipes' pump and squirm and spew green and yellow blood underground. Into the hungry things below me. They wait inside the noxious muck within the bowels of the beast.

I watch as the hungry flesh towers sway and shake. I watch as the buildings all watch me. They hate me! They hate me because I AM THE ONLY ONE TOO SEE THEM! They mock me...! So I burn them down. I've burned many buildings before.

"Ohhhhh... No, no, no, no, no. Where art thou, thy kindred?" IT has been wondering again. IT has found someone. I saw IT with the kid. A kid. Boy. He's a small one... Smelly one. Smells like old socks. I don't like him. I don't like how the little one holds IT'S hand like child to his mother. Children... Ugly little pests.

IT is outside. I watch IT through a bubbling, oozing, bleeding, broken eye. I'm inside a building. The walls of muscle ooze old blood. Tears in the flesh permeate the smell of almonds. The uvula - the writhing fleshy thing in the center of this building's upper mouth - looks at me with a glare. Even that bulbous flesh sack has an eye, too.

"Hahahahaha! Hhehehehehe!" My voice echoes into the wet maw of the beast. I feel it's flesh squelching beneath my feet as I spin, "Betwixt thy vision with a ghastly visage! Poison thine flesh with pharmaceuticals! Yes! YES! Rot thee's soul into oblivi- hahahahehehehehehahaha!" I can't even finish the qoute before breaking laughter and giggles. It is funny.

Doors are mouths. All of them. They open and close to swallow. Buildings are traps. Like venus flytrap. They wait and digest the humans inside very, very, veeery slowly. Not me! They know I am a... Ha, 'spicy' meal. Not IT either...

IT is... Is... Not like humans. Or Grimm. Humans are hideous... They have melting skin, eyeless holes were the eyes should be, squirming fingers and bubbling mouths. Their hair hisses and bites at me when I touch them. Humans are uglier then Grimm - more likely to attack as well.

Grimm are meaner. They whisper about you while they prowl on hefty winged limbs. They will talk about all the things you wish you did but never had the chance too... The Grimm will use the voices of dead friends too make your heart bleed, "But I don't have friends! NEVER DID! Never ever will." They have to use the voices of mommy and daddy on me. What they don't know is I hate mommy and daddy.

Grimm are a bunch of bullies. They lie, cheat, and steal! They like killing... I do, too. It's a great exorcise! Very good for cardio. But at least the Grimm will kill me in the end.

But humans? They like having fun - especially if it hurts another. They use spikes, spoons, and tweezers. They use leather too pin me in place. Humans are the ones who sweat, who groan, who scream when they bleed. Humans will smile in order to lie. Grimm won't.

But Grimm aren't as forgiving as humans. They rip, they tear, they savage. The like too start with the soft places. The groin, the neck, or the stomach. They eat you alive without ever stopping. They like the screams... I do, too.

But humans do so much worse then just eating. They grab, they pull, they thrust. They stab, they burn, they grope. Humans inflict pain for the sake of pain. At least Grimm are only interested in your flesh for the sake of eating. But humans? No, no, no, no. So much more... Sweating. And punching. And choking. And gouging.

But IT is different. Has a face kinda like a human - but less melting meat and more placid flesh. IT has a body that is blacker then Grimm . IT has eyes where humans have dark holes. Eyes of silver and of blood. IT bleeds from IT'S eyes when IT gets sad. IT bleeds blood from IT'S mouth when IT gets angry. IT has the body of a shadow but the face an idealic girl. IT acts like a girl, too. IT is so dedicated to IT'S role that IT almost tricked me. Almost.

IT is shaped out of writhing black flesh. The flesh has no blood or meat or skin or hair or consitency. IT'S flesh is like freezing waters that melts into oily depths. Dark waters that whisper things...

IT calls out to me. That is how I found IT. IT needs me... Why? I watch IT sleep sometimes. I know IT is not human. IT'S face is too smooth to be one of them. Not enough blood or waxing skin. But IT talks like them...

Is IT an angel? A daemon? Is IT a God? IT doesn't act like a God. IT is too naive to be a God. IT is too soft to be a demon. IT is too violent to be an angel.

Then what is IT? A human soul in the body of a daemon? IT can't be human, though. Humans have rotten, festering, cancerous growths they call 'souls.' Little parasites inside their hearts... It whispers to them about 'empathy', 'normalcy', and 'mercy'. I don't have a soul. I am... What was it the doc called me? Oh, yes, I remember: clinically psychopathic. I am not a psychopath, though, I'm just... Ahead of everyone else. I see more clearly then they ever could.

IT refused to kill me. Why? All humans deserve to die. Me too. All of us need to die. Why did IT spare me? Stupid not-human... Stupid monster. IT acts too much like a human despite not being one. Why is IT so confusing?

Maybe that's why IT called out to me? Maybe IT needs a guide? Someone to teach IT how to be a proper monster? Maybe. Maybe... So. I was called a monster before. They say all those like me are monsters. That's what the doctor said before I carved a permanent smile into her face. I drop by her place occasionally. Last time I did I saw her body hanging from a noose.

"Sssggggghhhhhhaaaaa...!"

The building groans as blood seeps from the ceiling. Fleshy veins bulge from inside the walls of it's mouth. The gaping pit where it's tongue used to be now squirms and writhes as it chokes and pukes and keels. This place is rotten.

This building is dying. Good. This city needs to die... All flesh needs to burn. I despise all that lives and dies in this world. Living is evil - dying is good. The doctor called my knowledge a "Childish defence developed from severe trauma" but I am not traumatized. I am not a child. I am not defending anything. I don't think, I don't believe, I don't have faith - I simply know.

IT has a child following ITSELF. Why? Buildings feed on children's hopeless delusions. IT should know that. They eat with probing eyes and sharp splinters. The children always suffer the most... Always the children who die slowly. Screaming. I've buried forty seven children... Not all were in one piece. Some were stitched together from different pieces. Some were in little chunks. Others were mostly whole - but none were completely put together.

"Chilllldrrrreeeeennnnn?" The veins inside the flesh-walls rattle as the building whispers, "Mooooorrrreeee... Give me more children. I like the little ones... Give me more." The uvula shutters as the air grows moist and damp and heavy and salty. The smell reminds me of the shed from back in the day. Always smelt like shit and salt.

"Children. Children. Children. Boys? Girls? Boys? Girls? Why not adults? Men? Women? Men? Women?" The kiddies always scream when their bones are broken. Most adults, too, but not all. Kiddies are easier to trick then adults. The buildings get hungry... Someone has too feed them. Shovel chopped fingers and tongues and lungs into their bellys deep, deep, deep below the ground in place where the city's heart beats bright Red. It's where the Lurkers are. Have too hide from Lurkers or else they'll make you into a Lurker, too. Happened to me once.

Most of the grown ups cry when their little ones don't come home. Some come looking. Those ones make things complicated. I hate them. I ate them. Some do nothing. I like these ones. They blame themselves as they should. Others want their kids too disappear. I love these ones. A few even make sure it happens when they drop off the little oned unattended...

"They cry and cry and cry and cry and cry as I chop and cut and slice and tear. They stop crying after I get into the brain..." They usually don't die for about an hour after they stop crying. So ugly they are. Children are uglier then the mommies and daddies. Children have eyes along their brains. Their clumpy pinkish-gray thinking-meat is always so smooth, too. Gross.

"Feeeed meeeee a chillllld... I want a younger meal," I hate children. And their mommies. And their daddies, too, "Sssstttrrrrhhhhlllllaaaaa!" The floor squelches when I walk on it. It bleeds. It reminds me of the shed... So many dogs. I had to use a screwdriver. They looked like red cheese after. Daddy was so mad...

"It's ok, Cad... It's ok! I'm sorry about your foot. Do you want me to carry you?" IT'S voice carries to meeeee... Like the gradual rise of melodious choir. Through the broken building-mouth IT rings softly. Such soft cries, too. Boy's cries. Boy is crying. Child is a boy.

I hate little boys. And little girls. I hate the little ones. How they point, how they laugh, how they cut into me with their sharp nails and sharper tongues. Children feed upon happiness until all you feel is red, red, red, red, red, red, RED! And more red, too. That's why I make them stop breathing. I break the fingers, cut the tongue, and gouge their bulging eyes. They're always so surprised at first... That makes me angrier. I'd do it even if the flesh towers didn't want me too.

Was IT ever a child? Did IT have parents? Did IT ever kill? IT seems reluctant to do so. Why? What a silly goose... IT doesn't have a choice. IT needs to kill. All humans deserve to be butchered like meat. Cats, too. Dogs. Crows. Snakes. Crocodiles. Squids. Especially spiders.

IT ate human meat. I fed IT human meat when I first saw IT. IT ate the muscle without question. The meat came from a woman. Don't care who. Grabbed her. Brok her neck with my hands. Body is cooling in a dumpster now. What's left of her...

IT ate her flesh with a smile. IT liked the taste. I do, too. The flesh of humans is a true delicacy. Better then cats or dogs or rats or children or spiders. I bet if I feed IT more human meat it will develop a hunger for them... Kill more. I need to kill more. A lot more. Many more. Dozens. Hundreds.Thousands. Tens of thousands. Everyone in this city of grime.

I want carnage. Blood. Death. I want the human parasite to be crushed beneath my skinless foot. I want all the children to rot and starve as they become little gray lumps like I was. I want all the mommies to scream and cry. I want the daddies to fight, to claw, to bite.

I want the whole world bleeding in a corner as it giggles. I want everyone to see these cities for what they really are: parasites. Schemers. Users. I wish for everyone to stop lying about 'love' or 'sadness' and admit they don't care about anyone but themselves. Like me.

My daddy was a very typical human. He'd hold me down as he choked and beat me... Daddy would cut into me with a spoon. I cried then. Mommy did, too. Daddy would hit her but she could still sleep in the bed.

I was left in tge shed. With the dogs. They were nicer then daddy. They didn't say mean things - only growled and clawed. I was scared then. They weren't. I still have the scars to this day. Happy scars.

Dogs die different then people.

Took me awhile but I snuck a screwdriver into the shed. Daddy didn't notice - too busy kicking me, punching me, and pulling out my teeth.

I stabbed and cut and scarred the dogs until they weren't dogs. I ate a little of the big one, too. Ugly things. I used their teeth, a pipe, and some glue to make a spiked bat.

I tip-toed into the house. It was dark. Quiet. Daddy was sleeping. Mommy was crying in the kitchen. Soooooo I went to her and placed my hands around her neck. Thumbs penetrated her empty eye sockets. Daddy woke up when mommy sssscreeeeeeamd, "Hehehehehe... Good times."

I threw mommy to the ground. Daddy hit me good. I hit gooder with a steel pipe lined with dog teeth into his balls. I took out daddy's tongue with my teeth. He choked on his own blood when I carved away his skin. I beat daddy like he beat me. He died from it... Guess I hit harder.

I put daddy into the oven. I ate his kidney and liver. His liver was tough... Most human livers aren't. I cut open mommy's skull to taste her brain. That made me sick for awhile after, "Ugggghhh... That part wasn't so good."

"Ssssssllllllaaaaaasssssshhhhh!"

Long squelching steps echo. IT is nearing. I hear IT talking to the little one. I see IT'S shadowy form as IT emerges from the dark mouth of the beast. IT'S silver eyes almost seem to glow in the dark. Humans don't have eyes.

"Red?" I sit in the darkness. I like the dark. It makes me feel something, "Are you ok? I... I'm sorry about leaving like I did." Flesh bleeds as IT enters into the throat of the beast. Squirming veins of red drip from the ceiling. Little one is with IT, "Hey, Red, I... I brought a friend, ok? His name is Cadmium. He needs a place to stay." Questions. Questions. Questions. Which one? One? Six? Seventy one? Forty five? Nine? How about... Two? Two will do.

"Where were you? Cops are swarming the streets... Who'd ya kill?" IT must have done something. Killed someone, yes? IT wants Roman dead. Roman. Roman. Roman. Roman. Roman. Roman is a ghost of the Burnswick. There was a farm... Skeletons... A well. Lots of snow. Screaming for days. The things in the dark never stopped sobbing. They slept as the things in the well groaned and cried and screamed.

I was there - I did it. Me. I let them in. Carved a tunnel through stone, mud, and blood. Found a nest of the walking bones. I led them back to the well. I was the one who made them all lie down and starve to death. Me... Me and the things in the well.

"No one! I... I'll tell you later, ok?" Blood and flesh cries as IT walks closer, "Are you ok? I... I am really sorry about leaving you. I... I... I didn't know what else to do. sorry..." No IT isn't. No one is sorry. Not the little ones as I slice open their bellies. Not the big ones when I sever their tongues and flay their faces. Not the pretty ones as I remove their teeth and scalp their heads. Not the strong ones as they choke on poison and vomit out blood and guts in rivers of yellow and red.

"Stop lying. You don't care," My voice is a grumbling groan. IT mimics sadness in IT'S eyes. IT pretends to feel things. IT looks away from me as the little one steps to IT'S side. They are holding hands, "Why is he here?" Three.

"I'm not lying..." IT'S lip quivers, "His name is Cadmium. He's my firend... He's gonna be staying with us if that's alright with you." IT steps into the moonlight. IT is... Different from the last time I saw IT. IT has sharp teeth... Some of the teeth are longer. Sharp. Like a dog. They poke out from IT'S parted lips. IT is paler. IT'S legs and arms seem a little longer now. The blackness about IT'S body is darker somehow. So dark that even in the shadows IT stands out like a shining abyss. Like the darkness isn't black enough to hide IT anymore.

"I don't care," I turn to look out the window. The buidings outside pulsate as their bulging window-eyes stare at me blankly. I watch back, "Your different looking now." I noticed IT'S hair has grown longer. IT'S red flower on IT'S chest is less jagged looking. More like a real death-rose now. IT has grown an inch or two.

"WWWWWWWwwwwwhhhhhoooooo!"

Flashing sirens color the fleshy road red and blue. Five of them race by on screaming tires of muck. The cars bleed as their bulging eyes flash scarlet and azure. Their flesh is white and reflective. They are fast moving.

"What did you do?" I ask nicely. Kindly. Like daddy use to do before the beatings. I'm good at faking emotions, "Is this about the little one? You stole him." Maybe IT is already coming around to my way of thinking... Cook him? Yes. Bring the child out back and burn him like the others. Eat the body after. Humans are ugly yet tasty. I lick my lips... I can feel my mouth watering.

"No! No... I... H-he wanted to come! Right, Cad... Y-you did wanna come, right?" IT is lying to ITSELF. How very... Human of IT. Very much unlike a monster. So very pitiful.

"Ye... Y-yeah..." Little one lies as well. At least that one is human. They always lie. But monsters shouldn't. Monsters should be cold. Humans are hot. Emotions are hot. So much heat. Makes skin burn so much it melts. Monsters don't melt. They freeze. Cold to touch. They shouldn't feel... IT shouldn't be allowed to feel.

I watch as ugly slimy things crawl across the streets. They leave behind rotten yellow trails as they do. Fat veins whisle from tall and thin poles of bleeding flesh. The crawling things have strings leading from themselves to the fleshy poles. It feeds on their bile. Their green and brown waste. The poles excrete out a noxous pink fog from open sores.

"Kckckckckckckcstststsstststsstststsstststsstkckckckc!"

One of the crawling things stop suddenly. It pulls up to curb with a growling screech. Pustules widen inside the blobish waste of mewling meat as humans emerge from it. Their eyeless sockets scan my building. Hollow sockets meet my eyes.

"Hhhhmmmrrrrrrrhhhhh?" I tilt my head as he trails a long, slimy, skinless finger across the bubbling meat of his bulging neck, "Mmmmmhhhhh?" He gives me the middle finger as other wretched humans emerge from the blob. Some have guns, "Ooooohhhhahahahahaha...! Hahahahahahahehehehehehe! HeheheheheheheHAHAHA- urk! Huugghhh!"

"Red...? W... Are you ok?" Coughing hurts throat. Blood trickles from lips. Three... Five men exit the crawling thing. They ooze and bleed and stink up the streets. Kill... Kill them. I want too but they have guns. I would need to follow... To watch... To learn. Cut throats in sleeping beds. Or stab through skull while they are on the toilet. Or cut open their dog and place a boom-boom inside, "Red?" They never check inside the tummies. Tummies are good hiding spots for the bright lights of fire.

"They are outside. They have guns... Haha... Ha... Hehehehehehehehe!" I watch as the humans enter the building one by one. Loud footsteps downstairs. Gasp behind me, "D e a d... What does that spell, little one?" I turn to the child as he clings to IT'S arm like a... Like a child, I do believe. Disgusting, "It's what we'll all be one day!"

---

"Red! Don't say that!" I hold onto Ruby's arm even tighther. She's cold... Colder then snow. Or ice. I've been holding her hand so long it's making my fingers somehow... Warmer. They kinda sting now, "Y-you... Guns? Cad, stay here," She lets go of me. I don't let go of her, "Cad, I... Just a second, ok? I'll be back in a moment... I just have too see something." She bends down onto one knee in front of me. She puts her left hand on my right shoulder as she smiles. Ruby... Ruby has a nice smile. A really nice smile.

"I-I don't... I don't wanna be alone... W-with him..." She glances over to the creepy guy in the corner. He's staring out the window as he giggles to himself. His coat is dirty and gross looking, "Ple—"

"Bbbrrgggkkkksss...!"

"Spread out! Check each room in pairs!" I hear a deep voice yell further into the building. I hear banging and crashing sounds. I hear loud footsteps pounding against wood... They sound kinda far.

"I-I'm scared..." Ruby pulls me into a hug. I hug back, "D-don't go..." I'd rather be with her then him. She might be a monster but he's... He's... He looks at me wrong. Like how dogs do to bones. I don't like it... I feel like he's going to bite me.

"I know. I know... Uhhmm... Shadow? I could use some help." She's doing it again. Talking to the voices in her head. Her eyes dart around grow dark when she does that. S-she says it's an alien... Her... 'Suit'. Says it's her sister, too. H... How does that even work? Was... Was her dad the alien? Or her mom? How did they... 'Do' it? Like... Like wouldn't it be like 'doing' it with water? Weird. I don't know how any of this works.

I lean my face against her cold shoulder. She's so cold. Her 'suit'... Sister is. Why? Are all aliens cold? Is it because space is cold? What if an alien came from the sun? Would it be hot then? I'd imagine. What if one came from the moon? What would that be like?

"Not even a little...? I... I know you can DO it, though! Yeah, but, like... I know! I know... I'm sorry about taking you for granted lately, but..." I can hear Ruby's voice as she talks to herself... Or she talking to her sister? I don't know. She sounds upset and sad. I hug her a little tighter, "I fucked up. I know I did... I'm so sorry. I know how to make it up to you..." I feel her hugging me tighter, too. I feel her wet suit almost pushing against my cheek like... Like... Hard water? I don't know.

Does it hate me? I don't think Ruby does. She had two chances to kill me if she did. I don't think she would've listened to me an hour ago if she hated me, too. But I don't think her sister likes me at all. I think it - would it be an it? Or a she if it... She? it? Whtever is Ruby's sister? I don't know... I'll use it. Saying 'she' when talking about an alien made of goo doesn't feel right - I think it really doesn't like me.

"Kkkkrraaaassshhh!"

I hear glass shatter somewhere nearby. My feet feel cold. I think I cut myself earlier... My foot. My right foot stings a little. I hope I don't get sick from that like last time... Last time I could barely even walk.

"Hey, Cad, buddy?" Ruby starts whispering into my ear, "I talked to my friend, Shadow, and they said they'll watch you, ok?" She pulls back so her eyes are in front of me. I don't think that's much better then being alone with the creepy guy, honestly...

"Just hold still for a second," My arms and back feel warmer the moment she breaks her hug. Ruby slowly pushes me back a little. She plants her hand against my chest for a moment before pulling away, "There ya go! All safe and sound. Now just sit tight... We will be back." Ruby lets me go as she stands up. I don't want her to go... I look down to my chest. I can see a black stain or something on me. It dribbles down my shirt in thin veins... It's cold. It feels wet when I poke it.

"R-Ruby..." She stops by the doorless frame, "I... What is it suppose to even do?" I poke at the blob a few more times. Some of of it sticks to my finger and stretches into thin strands, "I don't get how a goop stain is suppose to help..."

"Oh! Well, they aren't a goo—"

"I hear a voice upstairs!" A man's voice yells, "Gnarl! Barl! Garil! With me!" I hear loud footsteps growing louder. Ruby frowns to me as she backs away. She sways for a few moments before making a clicking noise with her tongue.

"Gotta go, Cad! Seeya in a few minutes! Sorry!" She sounds so relaxed as she runs into the darkness... So calm. It's unreal! Like she wasn't a monster with fangs and claws just a little while ago about eat someone! She THREW a truck! At a Hunstman! And almost killed him! Crazy... And... And... Crazy! It's so, so, so crazy...

How is she abls to just pretend nothing happened? It's so fuckin' crazy to me... She had a snake tongue! Her mouth was so big she could bite my head off if she wanted too earlier. She looked like a Grimm but with white... White... Eyes? They looked more like triangle-shaped patches then eyes... Weird.

I hope she comes back soon. Those footsteps sound very close by... Do they have guns? The creepy guy said they did. Are they apart of Agatha's club? Or the Big Man's gang? Maybe Roman's crew... I made a lot of people mad. Should probably stop pickpocketing everyone I come across... Maybe I should start slinging Fire? Yeah... Dustheads will pay anything for a little Fire.

"Boookkkkssshhh!"

"What was that!?" I hear what sounds like wood being smashed and people yelling. Everything goes quiet. I back into a corner as far away from the creepy guy as I can. I don't like this... I don't like being here. Not one bit! This place is worse then my box! I hat—

'You shouldn't be here,' W-wha- 'We don't like you. Not... One... Bit,' W-what the fuck!? Who the fu— 'You are not welcome here, vermin. We could easily crush you...' I look around the room and see nothing. Where is that voice coming from!? I-It... It sounds deep. Kinda like mine, I guess, but... Deep. Like it's a version of me whose thirty years older and a hardcore smoker with lung cancer. I—

"Huuggh!" I feel a crushing weight on top of my chest. My skin is ice cold. I feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, "What t-the...?" The crushing melts away into a light pressing feeling. I feel a squeeze against me. I flinch, 'Your so weak, vermin. Small... You'd make a brief snack. We can't help but ponder if your blood will be sweet or bitter.' What the fuck ia going on!? W-wh—

"Boogghhh! Boogghh!"

"Gah! Shit!" I hear gunshots and screams. I hear loud bangs and cracks. It only lasts for a few seconds before everything goes quiet again. I... I... I don't know if I should be scared of those bad guys or if I should be scared of what Ruby is doing to them.

'We could punch hole into your chest. Make it look like a stray bullet...' I feel the black stain on my chest narrowing into a point, 'Would you like to die tonight, vermin?' No! No! I don't! 'Then do us a favor,' What!? Anything! Just d-don't hurt me! 'Ignore our Blood Flower - the one you call Ruby - for we - she - belongs too us! If you must engage with us - her - do so briefly. Understand?' W... W-who are you? 'We... Are eveyone. A thousand thousand souls wailing in Abyssal unlife. We are eternal rapture. We are the ever-growing predator that seeks your flesh of contempt and your blood of hate. If Ruby Rose is a monster to you... Then we are your new God. Compared to you, that is. An immortal, all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-devouring God.' I... I-I doubt... Y-your literally a G-God. Aren't Gods s-suppose to gl-glow? And... And have magical powers? I-I mean... Ruby said y-your an alien, so how can y-you be a God, too?

"Boogh! Boogh! Boogh!"

'Are you questioning us?" I guess so... Yeah, 'Vermin, you are a growing pain in our ass. If you desire to retain that youthful face of your's then you must stop,' Why...? L-like, no offense, b-but what did I do to you? Seems pretty unfair to me... 'You like pushing your luck, don't you? We see why so many hate you now. You need to stop being such a little shit and learn respect,' Same could be said for you, honestly, 'YOU LITT—'

"Little one... Are you afraid of dying?" The dirty man whispers. The alien goes quiet. I look up to see him staring at me. He's grinning. The blob on my chest tightens, "Do you wanna know what comes after the fun part? Nothing. Dying is like... Like being locked inside a dark and soundless box. Forever." I feel the cold slime against my chest shrinking down. I don't like this... 'We could kill you in such a way as to make him look responsible... Kill two maggots with one stone,' W-what...? 'Stay away from our Blood Fower! OURS! If you try to befriend her we will bleed you dry. Crack open your skull. Crush your bones! EAT YOUR BRAIN!'

"O-ok... I-I won't. I pr-p-promise!" I promise I won't! I-I'll run! I'll leave! 'No you won't! That'll make our other suspicious of us. You will stay but you will not be her friend. Listen to us, vermin, and listen well: Do not fuck around or you will find out. Understand?' C-crystal! Crystal clear! No need to tell me for a third time! 'Good. Ensure things remain so and we - you and us - will not have a problem going forward. Play your cards right, vermin, and we will compensate you one day. We know a good vessel when we see one.'

"C-compensate?" What do you mean? 'You'll see. They will all see... The whole world will see us for what we really are. Even the blind won't be able to deny us for much longer,' O-ok... B-but one question! 'Do not waste our time, vermin,' Uhmmm... S-so... Was it your mom or dad who was the alien? 'W... Wh... What?' You and Ruby are sisters, so... Which of your parents was the alien? 'We... You... What?' One of them has to be an alien! Right? 'Uhhh... We... That... Ehhh... Yes?'

"It's on the ceiling!" I hear screams. Bangs. Loud yells, "It's going for the window!" I hear gunshots again. I can hear wood being smashed, metal bending, and water spraying. Sounds like a fight down there... A real one. I hope Ruby will be ok, 'Don't worry about us, vermin. Worry for the gunmen. They are the ones suffering,' I... Is she gonna kill them? 'Regrettably no. Our other wants her first kill to be someone special - not a nameless thug,' Oh... That's... Reassuring. Are... You... Really an alien? 'Are you really a human?' Yes! 'Then you have your answer, vermin.'

"Boooghhh! Boooghh! Booghhh!"

I hear more gunshots. Loud cracks, too. These cracks are different from the others. Louder and deeper. I hear someone screaming and choking. It sounds more like an animal then a person, 'Are you scared?' N-no... 'You should be, vermin. We know everything about you now. You are the reason your mother is dead, aren't you?' I... You... No! My mom killed herself! I did nothing! 'Not what your dad said when he found her lifeless carcass. He seemed convienced you were at fault as he beat you into the ground. Hmmm... Needles? It was an overdose, wasn't it?' Yeah, so!? My mom's dead! My dad was a deadbeat! So!? It's not like I don't fucking know this already, you fuckin' dick! 'You are feisty now. Struck a nerve, did we?'

"Fuck you, man! Guzzle down a fat schlong, you creep!" I pull at the goo on my chest. Get off me! Go away! 'Is that so wise? If we left you'd be with him. Alone. We see how he looks at you... The way we see it you have two choices: Suffer us or suffer him. Suffer a beratement or suffer having your bones gnawed upon by that mutt. We, if push came to shove, will kill you quickly if nothing else,' That's not a fucking choice! Either I die quickly or I die slowly... I'm dead either way! 'Unless you listen, of course.' I hate you... I really hate you!

'The feeling is mutual, vermin,' Why are you all over Ruby anyway!? What's with you two...!? 'We are as we are. You will never understand so explaining is futile,' Try me! I've seen weird shit before! Not as weird as you but... But weird stuff! I once saw a man eat a couch! A COUCH! And he had no teeth, either, just gums, 'That is... Pretty unusual,' Yeah! It is... Hit me with it, jackass! 'Poor choice of words, vermin.'

"Huh? What?" A weird rope looking thing rises out of the goo on my chest. It's thin, gangly, and sways in place. It wiggles in front of my face, "What's that for? Wh—"

"Ppphhhsssshhh!"

"Ow! What was that for!?" It hit me! The rope thing slapped me! What did I do!? 'You did ask for it,' No I didn't! I asked you to tell me! 'Your exact words were 'hit me with it, jackass!' You LITERALLY asked for it,' That's a metaphor! It means tell me the truth! 'Not our fault you made a poor choice in words, vermin.' Fuck you... "And stop calling me vermin! My name is Cadmium!"

"Your a talkative one, kiddo..." The freaky guy is talking again. I don't like him... He gives me the creeps. He reminds me of a snake with how thin and tall he is. Creepy guy... 'We're almost done here,' What? 'Our other,' Oh... Ruby? Is that good then? 'Yes and yes,' Ok... Your gonna leave me alone after this, right? 'Yes,' And I have to stay away from Ruby, right? 'Yes,' Ok... I'll do that. I can, 'Are you lying?' No! Why would I lie when you could easily kill me? 'If you say so, vermin. Just remember the consequences of ignoring us. We might not kill instantly but we will if you lie,' I know! Just shut up and go away, would you? 'We would love too yet our other hasn't returned yet, now have we?' Whatever.

"You got a weird look in your eye, little one. A funny look..." The creepy man stands up and stares me down from across the room. His eyes shine from the moonlight, "Ever see what a hungry dog does when it catches a cat?" I shake my head, "You will."

"Hey, Cad!" I look to the doorway and see Ruby. She's back! But... But her hands are dripping with something red. Ruby's almost invisbile in the dark... Barely even a shape aside from her glinting eyes, "Sorry about that... Got hung up on the last one. He was good at hiding." The floor creaks under her footsteps.

'Remember our agreement, vermin,' I watch as Ruby walks closer to me. She's smiling. She looks so nice... 'Remember our words.' Yeah... I will. I'll never forget what you told me... Never.

"How are you? Are you scared? Do you want something to drink? Actually forget that last one. We don't have anything here a kid should be drinking," Ruby talks more to herself then she does me. She stops in front of me as her hand rests itself on my shoulder. Blood seeps down from her fingers... "Are you ok?"

"U-uhmm... Better then the goons, I guess," She plants her other hand against my chest. The alien blob oozes over her fist as she pulls away, "I'm fine... Perfectly fine!" Her brows furrow. Ruby's eyes are so silver... I've never seen silver eyes before her. Is that a part of being half alien?

"If you say so... I think we should go. Red?" The creepy guy looks from me to her. He frowns deeply, "What's with you? Why do you got that crazy look in your eye again?" The creepy man simply tilts his head as he makes a hissing sound like a cat, "Red...?" I don't see Ruby's face but I hear her heavy and stressed sounding sigh, "I'm too tired for this shi- crap! For this crap..."

"What did you to the bad guys, Ruby?" She looks to me again with a smile. Ruby's eyes aren't so happy looking though, "Are they dead?" Her sister - who has a very not sister-like voice - said they weren't but I don't believe it. I need to hear Ruby say it in her voice.

"They're fine, ok? Absolutely fine... Just napping. Wanna go for a walk? Find a new place to call home?" I take her hand. It... Her sister said I have to be rude too her. Something like that. I don't really want too... I don't wanna be mean to her when she's been nice to me. But her sister will kill me if I don't... But it also said I have to talk to her sometimes. I don't know! I don't wanna lie to someone whose saved my life...

"Hey, Ruby..." I bite my lip, "If... If... Hyp... Hypoth... Hypothetically speaking... Would you help a friend even if it meant you'd die?" Am I already going to far? Is it planning on killing me already? What it waits until we're sleeping before it strikes? I don't know... It's too late to unask my question.

"Well... Does my hypothetical friend actually care about me?" I nod. Ruby places a finger to her lip as she stands straight, "Hmm... I'd help my friend! I'd die to help my friends, ya know? Why ask?" I look down to my feet as I cusp my hands. I don't wanna lie. I also don't wanna die. Guess I'll compromise?

"Oh, I... Just thinking about what you said earlier," I stare at my toes. I rub my hands together as I breathe deeply. I'm not really lying... I did think about what she said to me earlier, "Where will we be going?" Ruby bites her lip so hard it dribbles blood. I flinch... That's gotta hurt yet she does it a lot.

"Depends, really. Red? Are you gonna come, too?" I see Ruby's thin and long fingers as she reaches her hand to me. I hear her and the creep talking. Her fingers... So the black goo covering her fingers is her sister? The voice that was talking to me? I hesitate to take her hand. She's cold to the touch... Her or her sister is. I'm not sure which, "Are you sure? You'll always be welcome with me, ya know! You might not think it, but we're friends! Honest!"

I look at Ruby's belly. At the red flower on her. It starts at her belly button - at least where her belly button should be - and slithers up her stomach and to her chest. It shines brightly in the dark. It's redder then blood. It's jagged, thorny, and shaped like a wilting flower. The head of the flower looks like it's blooming just below Ruby's neck. She touches it sometimes. I noticed when Ruby gets sad or mad she likes to touch the flower and smile. It makes her happy, I guess.

"Cad?" I shake my head and blink a few times. I was zoning out... "Are you ready to head out?" She looks into my eyes with such a big smile. Her teeth... Maybe I'm imagining things, but her teeth seem... Sharp. Really sharp. Like dog teeth but shorter and a little more square-shaped.

"Y-yeah... Yeah, I am," Ruby nods as her smile grows. Ruby has a pretty smile. A nice one. It... It kinda reminds me of a puppy. I don't know why but her smile does. Maybe it's because of her weirdly sharp teeth? She looks so happy... Is it fake? Is she faking it? "What about those guys? Are we gonna leave them? What if their hurt?"

"Oh... They're fine! A little banged up but they won't die. Not tonight, at least," She smiles at me so nicely. Ruby's eyes shine from the moonlight. It makes them look like their glowing, "Are you ready to go, Cad?" I nod my head. Ruby extends her hand to me. I take it.

I hope she's right about those guys. They be assholes, and probably killed people themselves, but they are still people. Even the weirdos with tails or horns are people! Even if dad said they weren't. They are! People - even the bad ones - can change for the better. Doesn't stop some people from being freaks, though.

"Red... I hope to see you again one day. I... Have a goodnight and... Please don't do anything stupid." She waves towards the creep. He doesn't wave back or even stare. He just leans his head out the window as he remains silent, "I... Goodbye," Ruby turns towards the hall as she takes a step out, "I'm gonna carry you s—"

"No! I can walk just fine!" The floorboards creek under our weight. I don't like it, "Carry yourself if your so worried. I don't need help walking!" It feels like it might give way at any moment. If it did how long would we fall for? The building has no stairs but it does have a ramp. The ramp moves in a circle to travel up into the building. It's weird... I think it's meant for people who use wheelchairs or have a tough time walking right. If it was any darker then I wouldn't of been able to see it. I'd have probably thought it was a long hallway, "I'm not a little kid..."

"Of course! But... Even a big, strong man needs to be carried sometimes, Cad. You can't do everything by yourself," Bullshit! If I was smart enough, strong enough, and fast enough then I wouldn't need anyone's help! One day I'll be the strong one! Or at least the smart one. Then I won't need anyone's help... Maybe I could help people then? Maybe I could beat up Ruby's sister! That alien... It's mean. Evil... Sounds evil at least. I don't wanna lie to Ruby but I don't wanna die, either.

"Are you ok, Cad? There's something in your eyes. Are you alright? Is this about... About earlier? When I... I... Ya know." When she was a monster. I squeeze her hand hard. I don't wanna keep lying to her. Lying is easy normally, but it's hard to lie to Ruby. It feels wrong... Like when I use to lie to mom. I don't like it.

"N... Yeah," I lie. My throat feels dry, "You were gonna kill that guy... Murder him." And he was trying to help her! If... If she's willing to kill people who help her... Then why not kill people trying to kill her? I guess she almost did earlier. Said she would to the guy with antlers at least.

"I... Cad, I..." I feel Ruby's grip tighten, "It's not that simple, Cad. He... That was a bad man. A liar! He was trying to kill me even though he said he wasn't." I don't buy that for a second! Not even one! That guy was there to help! He even said he loved her! Who kills someone they love!?

"He was trying to help you! He only started fighting because YOU attacked him first!" Ruby's shinning eyes scowl down at me. She stops in place. I feel her hand squeezing mine, "Ow! That hurts! Stop!"

"Sorry..." Her hand loosens around mine. My skin stings... I think I might bruise, "Cad, don't... Don't talk about things you don't understand, ok? You might upset the wrong person one day..." Her lips smile but her eyes don't. They're cold... Distant. She barely looks like she's seeing me. I feel a shiver run up my spine.

"B-but... I do understand! I understand enough, at least. How was he a bad guy when he was trying to help?" Ruby whispers something. I hesiate as she stops... Now or never, "I mean... Why not try? Why not give him a chance? I mean... He said he loves you. Doesn't that mean something?"

"I-I... W-well... Yes? Lies... Lies... But what if they aren't lies?" She's talking to herself again. Whenever Ruby talks to herself like that her voice gets real low. Like... Like she's struggling to speak, or something is caught in her throat. Her voice just... Sounds... Growl-y, "I understand that, Shadow, I do. But... What if he has a point?"

"Ssssssssswwwwwwwwwssssssswwwwwwwssssssss...!"

A low whistling sound comes from Ruby. Almost like a gasp but... But not a gasp. I look up to her, to Ruby's side, and watch as moonlight reflects silver stains off her back and chest. I... I'm not sure, but... It looks like Ruby's suit is... Moving? It looks to be stretching itself before shrinking back in. Like it's almost... Almost breathing. Creepy.

"It's just... I trust you! I do, it's not that. I just... I wonder if maybe we weren't a little... Reckless back there," Ruby starts walking again. I follow as I squeeze her hand, "No, no... I know... Maybe? Probably... Yes, your right. I love you, too. You do know that, right? I love you." I frown. I always hear people say those words... Never to me, always around me. I wish someone would that to me.

The walk is a quiet one. Ruby and me don't say anything. I think she's thinking about what I said... Or what her sister said. I don't know. I don't think Ruby's sister is such a good person... Alien? Whatever! It's mean, and a bully, and a dick! I... How are they even sisters?

"How does it work?" I whisper to myself. It really makes no sense. How does an alien and a human even... 'Do' it? Wouldn't... Wouldn't that be like if a person 'did' it to a tree? Or a bear? Is it different because the alien can talk? Or because their made of goo instead of skin or whatever?

The alien had to be the dad, right? Or was it the mom? How does ANY of this even work!? I really wanna know now! It's just so weird. Maybe... Oh yeah! I just remembered something! Ruby said she found her sister so that means they aren't related! Right?

"Ruby! Your sister is adopted, yeah?" Her silver eyes sparkle down towards me. Her brows furrow as her lips purse as she nods. Ok, that makes a LOT more sense! But then... "What was it like when you two first met?" I can see Ruby's pale tongue as she licks her lips. She does that a lot. Kinda reminds me of a dog... There's a lot of things about Ruby that remind about dogs. But what doesn't remind me of a dog is the color of her tongue. It's red. Almost like blood but really, really, reeeeaaally pale! Freaky.

"I'm not sure if that's a story for a kid to hear," She smiles towards me. I smile, too. Why shouldn't I? She has such a nice smile, "BUT I could tell you about the time we fought a killer robot?" Robot!? Like the Atlas machines? That'd be pretty sick...

"Yeah! What was that like?" I hear glass crunch under Ruby's feet. I stop... I look down to my bare feet, "Uhmm... Ruby?" I look up to see her staring at the glass as it relfects the faint moonlight. Ruby bites her lip for a second.

"Are you sure you don't want to be carried? I mean... That's a lot of glass, Cad," I feel my cheeks go warm. I... I don't wanna be cut up... But I don't wanna be carried like a baby, either! It's embarrassing. And humiliating! And... And... And all the other ings, too! "It's no big if you do. It'd just be for a few minutes, ya know."

"W-well..." I feel Ruby's cold fingers squeeze my hand. I squeeze back. I like her... I don't like her sister, though. That one scares me... "Fine! Don't ever mention it, ok!?" Am I already breaking it's rules? Am I already to close to her? What if it kills me while Ruby's sleeping? Or while I'm sleeping? I guess there are worse ways to die.

"Good idea, Cad! I knew you were a smart boy," I cross my arms as Ruby lets go of my hand. I feel her palm against my back as her other arm slides under my legs, "One day you'll be big enough to carry me instead! But you gotta eat your greens, drink lots of milk, and wait a long time before that, though." She lifts me into the air without even grunting. Am I really that small? Or is she just really that strong? She was throwing around cars earlier so she's probably just super strong, right? She's gotta be!

Glass cracks and crackles with every step Ruby takes. Moonlight gleams silver off her black suit. It's creepy... Like little silver eyes line her body. Weird. Why are her eyes silver? Is that the alien half of her? Why doesn't her sister have silver eyes then? Weird. Is the rose on her chest because of her sister? Or her? Weird...

"What happened to the robot?" I'm resting against Ruby's chest. Her hands grip me softly yet strongly. I can feel her muscles underneath. She's a strong lady, "Ruby?"

"Uhmmm... On second thought that story isn't very good for you either. Sorry. How about you... Ask some questions?" Questions, huh? Yeah... There are a few I'd like to ask. A lot, actually. Let's see... Oh, I know!

"Hey, Ruby?" She pulls me close to her chest as she walks. I rest my head against her neck. I can feel her chin against my hair, "Why is it a rose?" I'm probably pissing it off with every word I say, right? Since I'm not dead yet then that means it either lied about killing me or it can't right now for some reason.

"Oh, well... It's my symbol, I guess. The word rose is in my name, after all. So a red flower kinda just... Just fits me, ya know?" I think I can still be Ruby's friend without getting killed by her sister. I just... I gotta be smart. Watch what I say and when I say it, "Why do you ask? Do you think it should be a different shape?" I gott outsmart it... I'm not letting an alien push me around! No! I'm smarter then it is.

"No," I think a rose is a little lame, honestly, "I was just curious." I feel Ruby's hand against my back as she pats me there. Soft, cold, nice pats. Am I the first person Ruby kidnapped? Is this really kidnapping if I don't want to leave? If I did leave then where would I go? Back to my box in an alley? Honestly, I'd rather take my chances with the creepy guy or Ruby's sister. Better then pissing off Agatha and getting chased by her boys... At least they aren't freaks or literal monsters.

"Why are your eyes silver?" I stretch out my legs as I sink a little further into her grip. I can feel Ruby's muscles underneath her slimy clothes. Her arms feel musclular against my legs and back as she carries me easily. She doesn't look like it but Ruby's a strong girl. I guess she's just naturally thin looking. Does she work out? She has too. How many push-ups did she have to do to get a six-pack? "Are you a Huntress?" It would explain her muscle and her fighting skills.

"Uhmmm... Well, as to the whole Hunter thing, I... Was. Sort of. I never passed my exams so I was never a 'offical' Huntress but I have the training of one... Mostly," Ruby says that with a sad smile. Her eyes drop down to mine, "My eyes come from my mo... The woman who birthed me. I... Does... Do my eyes upset you? Are they... Weird?" Ruby bites her lip as her smile falls for a second or two. She looks a little scared. Why? Why would she be scared of anyone - let alone me? I'm just a kid.

"They're definitely..." I bite my tongue. Her eyes are... Are... Pretty? That's lame and generic. Unique? Not much better. What about... Special? That's pretty much the same as unique, though. I don't know... "You got cool eyes! They're nifty." Ruby's eyes look through me more then at me. Her mouth parts slightly yet nothibg comes out.

"Ruby...?" Her pupils widen until her eyes are black dots with silver rings around them. I feel her fingers grasp at my back tightly, "R-Ruby?" She blinks and shakes her head. Her eyes shrink down to a normal size as she smiles to me. What the fuck was that...?

"Sorry! Sorry... My sister and I were thinking to each other," Really...? That never happened before wen they spoke, "Sorry for zoning out like that, Cad. Thanks... Thanks for being nice about my eyes. I know you don't mean it, but... Thanks for pretending too." I wasn't pretending... I just didn't know what to say! There's a difference.

"What'd your friend say?" I can see another doorframe down the hall. Yellow light shines through it. I can hear a engine out there. A car engine. Is that good? Or bad? Neither? Both? "I wasn't lying, either. I do like your eyes... They're... Pretty." My face feels a little warm. I turn my check to rest against Ruby's shoulder as I look away. I feel her grip tighten a little.

"I... Thank you, Cad. Thank you..." She sounds surprised. Almost like she doesn't believe me, "They were just... We had a disagreement is all. How'd your talk with them go earlier? They mentioned you were being a little stubborn with them." Stubborn? Yeah... I guess so. What else have they been telling her? Were they lying to Ruby? Probably. Should I lie or tell the truth? Would it kill me right now if I did? How would Ruby react? Would she even believe me over her sister? I doubt it... Most people wouldn't even though I'd be telling the truth.

"Oh, well... It was—"

"They. They are not a it, Cad. It... 'It' is a ugly word. 'It' sucks out all the... The humanity out of whoever your using the word against," A black rope arm oozes out of Ruby's shoulder and caresses my cheek as she talks. I don't like that... I push ny head away from it. That's a threat. It just know it! "It is a very rude to call them an it, ok? Be nice." Ruby's tone is a little deeper then normal. Just a little, though. Only a small amount.

"Y-yeah, sorry... They were being kinda... Pushy in my defence. They were... Scaring me," I won't come out and say it. That's stupid. It'll kill me if I do, "They said... They don't like me much." I hope I'm not already going too far. I won't sleep tonight just in case! I gotta be careful.

"I... Is that true, Shadow?" Ruby's skin is cold against my forehead. Very cold. She feels as cold as pavement during winter. Her veins are dark, too. Not blue like normal veins but more... Purple. Ruby just looks weird in little ways. Small things. I don't know why - she just is, "That's not nice! It's very mean, actually... So? He's just a kid!" Did I start an argument? I use to do a lot... Back when mom and dad were around.

Ruby talks to herself as we leave the building. She's mad. I turn my face away from her to see a car. It has yellow headlights. If the engine is running then there's still a key in the ignition. Huh... I think I have a idea.

"Even if that's true it doesn't justify you treating him like that!" We could probably use it for tonight. It'll keep us warm at least... I wonder if anyone heard the gunshots? If they did the cops are probably on their way. Will they arrest Ruby? Or kill her since she's a monster? Ruby doesn't deserve to die. No one does, "It's uncalled for, Shadow! He's a kid!"

"Ruby?" She argues with herself some more. I watch the car as she passes by it slowly. I could touch it if I reach my arm out, "Ruby, the car..." I feel my fingers graze against the window on the passenger seat.

"Still! It is just plain mean! Plain old bullying... Your better then that!" I don't think she heard me. Maybe I should yell? No... Maybe? I'm not sure, "We ARE better then that! Both of us! We're not like them! We're better then them!"

"Ruby...!" I raise my voice yet she still ignores me. Rude... We're past the car now. I can see the red lights on the back of it eyeing us... It looks creepy in the moonlight, "Ruby!"

"But it's not right, Shadow! It's wrong! Evil even... Not very evil but a little, ya know?" Guess I'll have to yell... I hate yelling. It reminds me of dad. I didn't like mom. Not even a little, "Please see where I'm coming from... I care! I do... A lot! I care more then words could ever say. I lov—"

"RUBY!"

---

"Wh- C... Cad? W-what's the matter? Is something wrong?" I look into his big and green eyes. He looks upset. Did I say something to tick him off? I tighten my grip under his legs as I raise his back a little further so he can rest his head against my shoulder, "Was it something I said?"

"No, it's just... Ruby, the car!" My eyebrows furrow. I glance back to the car behind us. It's engine is running. The driver's door is open slightly. I look down to Cad's green eyes, "We could use the car, Ruby!" Use the car for what? I can't drive. I doubt he can either. What would we do with it? Sit there?

"What are you talking about, little guy?" I feel his warm breath against my neck as he sighs. His cheek is laying against my left shoulder. He's warm... Cad has such warm skin, 'Maybe we should abandon him? Leave him here with the rest of the garbage,' Shadow, no! N! O! No! I know you don't trust him - and he is technically a criminal - but he's also a kid! He deserves respect, too, 'But he is a liar. He lied to us during our conversation earlier. He said he would listen. He still isn't... Not even a little.' But he is now! Cad's listening just fine to me! Maybe... Maybe you weren't treating him right? You can't just yell and expect him to listen, ya know?

"I'm not little... I'm not little! I'm a man, not a kid! Put me down!" Cad starts kicking and pushing against me. My arms don't budge. I like holding him, "Let go! I wanna walk!" I sigh. I ower him to the ground before letting him go. I already feel colder without him...

"Don't do that anymore! I... I am NOT little!" He stomps his foot as his face goes red. I smile. He's... He's kinds cute. He reminds me of an angry kitty or puppy. He's almost like Zwei. He has big eyes like Zwei - and he has Zwei's temperament. He's a cute kid. He reminds me so much of Zwei. I don't think I ever called anyone cute before except Zwei... It feels kinda weird, "I'm a man! A man! Not a little guy! Or a boy!"

"You are absolutely correct! Your right, Cad, you really are. I misspoke," I raise my arms into the air. I step back until I'm resting against the trunk of the car, "Your a big man! Just in a little body, is all. What about the car were you talking about earlier?" Cad's angry green eyes drop. He's uncertain looking. He looks tired. Hungry, too. We all are... Some of us more then others. A lot more.

"D... Do you mean that? Or are you just saying it to make me feel better?" Cad asks with as his lips purse, his eyes narrow, and his little fingers grasp at his blue pants. I smile towards him as I step forward.

"Of course I do!" I understand where he's coming from. I hate being called little, too, "Why would I lie to you? We're... Aren't we friends?" His lips drop into a frown. His eyes look dark. He turns away from me and to the empty street ahead of me, "Cad?" I like him. I really do... 'We shouldn't. He is a liability, Blood Flower,' So!? He's my friend! 'He's a liar,' How!? What, exactly, did he lie about? 'Well... He... Why value him over us?' I don't! I value you both, 'But why him? He is a criminal. We should kill him,' No! We're not killing anyone right now! 'What if Roman just so happened to walk down the street? Would we still hold the same opinion then?' Obviously not! That's different... A-and your changing the subject!

"I guess so..." Cadmium slowly shifts forward. I extened my arm as I open my palm to him, "I think we should sleep in the car tonight. You should drive somewhere that isn't here, though. Somewhere far away in case the cops show up." Oh... Yeah, the police. I forgot about them. I'm sure they'll be here soon. Huh... Shadow, if the cops attack us should we fight back? 'Of course. Why ask?' Because their not bad guys, 'But aren't they like the Huntsmen and Huntresses? Evil people pretending to be good,' Kinda... Sorta... No! Huntsmen and Huntresses and police officers aren't evil, just... I don't know, stupid? Some of them - like Taiyang or Qrow - are evil but not all, 'We see... We understand. We believe that changes very little.' Yeah... I guess so.

I move away from the car with a long step. I turn to the cracked open door... I look to Cad, "That's not a bad idea, Cad," He nods up to me as his lips rise into a very small smile. I step forward and open the door all the way. It smells like cigarettes in here... Gross. I step inside and slide into the driver's seat. It's warm... The car has seat warmers. There's a yellow light shining from the roof. The keys are in the ignition, "Seems we're luck for once."

I glance to my right to see Cad resting in the passenger seat already. Weird... I never saw him get in. I look back to the steering wheel. I place my hands onto it... Ok, this should be easy! I rest my foot lightly on the gas pedal. There's a stick. It's in park. Right... I rest my right hand on the shift and my left on the wheel. I relax into my seat. It's a little tough to see past the dash but I'll manage.

"Do you know how to drive?" I glance down to Cad's uncertain eyes. I smile down to him - I have absolutely no idea how to drive a car. I know how to ride a bike! And how to steer a boat, but... I've never driven before, "Ruby?" There was that one time with Qrow, I guess, but that ended with us in a ditch. Taiyang was not happy about that when I got home. He didn't even yell. He just gave the 'I'm not angry, just disappointed,' speech.

"No! No... I don't. But I can learn!" I grab the stick and shift it into reverse. I've watched enough movies to know what to do. I watched the Swift and the Angry! The ones about the race cars and the bank heists and whatever the that fourth one was about. Yeah... I just gotta put my foot agai—

"Dddrrrrrrrrrssssss!"

"Bbbbggggghhh!"

"Fuck!" Cad swears when the car hits something. I don't know what but it makes the vehicle rock a little. Whatever it was it fell onto the car and dent's the roof inwards a little. I flinch... Ok, too much pedal to the metal, "What is wrong with you!?" I shift the stick into forward gear. I rest both of my hands on the wheel. Ok... Take it a little slower.

"I never drove before! Sorry!" The wheels make a screaming sound against the street. I see smoke through the review mirror. A wall, too. Is that what we hit? The wall doesn't look like it was hit, "Put on a seatbelt! We're gon—"

"Ddddrrrraaaaassssss!"

The car goes careening forward before I can even focus on the road. I twist the wheel right as the car veers down the road. It shakes, twists and quakes. I see Cad from the corner of my eye as his hands grab at his own knees. Storefronts, street poles, and the occasional person fly by the windshield. Like little blurs of color. How fast am I going? 'Sixity miles... Sixity three... Sixity five... Seventy one,' Ok! I get it, 'Then why ask?' Just curious, 'Then look at the speedometer.' Oh... Yeah...

Ttttrrrrraaassssssshhhhh!"

The wheels scream as I veer the car left and down a wide street, "I have no idea where I'm going!" I can hear Cad yellinh swears from his seat. I feel my body pushing into my own seat from the momentum of my sudden turn. I could run ten times faster then this car drives if I really wanted too but... I wanna drive! It's kinda fun. Reminds me of that old Plumber Kart game I use to play with Yang.

"Ddddrrrrrrrrssssssssss!"

"Ruuuuby!" Cad screams my name as the car speeds forward. Lights blend together. The road looks more like a black line then a road like this. I see white stripes passing by. My fingers squeeze the steering wheel as I feel myself pressing against my seat painfully. I glance to the speedometer... One hundred miles per hour? Too slow! I wanna go five hundred! Or a thousand! 'Not possible. This vehicle is reaching it's limit.' Damn it! That's lame...

A litte red light blinks on the dashboard. It shows a tire symbol? I don't know what that means. I can see we're running low on gas, though. That sucks. I glance to Cad... He's not wearing a seatbelt, "Cad!" He looks to me with wide eyes. He's scared. He must not be use to fast rides, eh? Yang loved going on fast rides with her bike... Fun times. I let of the wheel with my right arm as I press my palm against Cad's chest, "You gotta be—"

"Wwwwwwwwhdhdhdhdhdhdhd!"

"LOOK OUT!" I look forward an— "Fucking truck!" I veer right as it veers left. We narrowly avoid each other as the pick-up speeds by. I slam my foot against the brakes. The car spins as the wheels scream and pop against the pavement. Tendrils shoot out of my chest and into thr dashboard to keep me in my place. I hold my hand against Cad so he doesn't fly out the windshield or something.

"Kkkkkkkkkrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!"

I watch as the world slows to a stop as the car skids across the road. It stops against the pavement... Convenient, I guess, "That... Was fun!" I'd like to do it again! Hopefully soon, too! Our heart is beating quickly. I smile a little, "That was awesome..."

"FUCK! Shit... Shit! SHIT!" Cad starts yelling and screaming from his seat. He's pale faced and wide eyed. I scowl at him, "Fuuuuck!"

"No swearing, Cad!" He's overreacting! It was just a truck. We woulda been fine even if it did hit! Shadow would've protected us, "Swearing is bad." Kids shouldn't swear. It's bad for the mind.

"So is crashing and fucking DYING!" I flinch a little. He's right about that, "Maybe I should drive next time!?" Ha! No... He's little man! He wouldn't even be able to reach the pedal. I glance over to him as I rest my hand on his head. He scowls. I smile... He looks like an angry cat.

"Don't overreact, ok? We're fiiiinnne! I know what I'm doing," I can pretend too, at least, "Ok... I'm gonna drive slower this time, alright?" His green eyes go wide. He grabs my wrist with both hands as he stares into my eyes. He looks so... So... Vulnerable. I just wanna hug him! Make sure he knows he's safe...

"No! No more driving! I-I... We can walk, alright!?" But where? I... I look past Cad and out his window. There is an alley down there. Hmm... "PLEASE!" He looks so scared. I... He kinda reminds me of myself when I first saw Yang's hair catch on fire. I didn't know it was apart of her Semblance back then. I panicked and dumped an enitre bucket of water on her head... That was years ago, though.

"Ddddrrrrrrssssss..."

"Ok, ok, ok... I'll park in that alleyway, alright? We'll rest there for the night or something," The engine sounds weak. Did I damage it? Cad makes a loud whining groan. I glance to him to see his head in his hands. I frown, "What's wrong, little guy? Are you ok?" Yellow light from a streep pole shines in through my window as I back up the car.

"No! I almost died! AGAIN!" I look into the rearview mirror as I shift the car a little left so the hood points towards the alley. I lightly press on the gas pedal, "You almost killed me! For the third time!" Third? Wha... No!

"Ok, the first time was my fault. I admit that! The second time - right now - really isn't, though! I didn't know a truck driver was gonna come outta nowhere! And when was this 'third' time where I 'almost' killed you?" The lights from the streets are cut off as we drive into the alleyway. I can hear Cad softly crying. I let the car slowly drift to a stop, "Where's your seatbelt?" He never put it on... That's the real danger.

"Who cares about seatbelts!? I almost fucking die—"

"Stop! Swearing! Your fine! Your NOT dead! We know what we're doing!" I fight with myself to not just grab his little neck and squeeze. I bite my lip hard, "It's in the past! Get over it!" He's still crying... Why does Cad have to be SO emotional over a fucking car!? I hate the stupid little feelings! I just want him to stop crying! I - he - that little - Fuck! "Uugggghhhh!" I bite my tongue hard. Why is he STILL crying!?

'There is a way to shut him up, Blood Flower,' How many times do I have too keep saying this, Shadow!? no killing kids! We are not killing a kid - any kid! 'We don't have too. Why not use some of our mass to shut him up? Use a tendril or two to hold his jaws shut,' I mean... That might work. I look over to Cadmium... He is really annoying right now. Thin tears fall down his cheeks, 'Do we want us to shut him up?' I... N-no... No. I don't. He deserves to be able to say what he want. Or cry like an overgrown baby, 'Even... Swearing?' Ehhhh... Yes? Ok, not the swearing part. That one is bad! But if he wants to cry let him cry, ok? He is still a kid.

"I'm hungry..." My belly growls. When am I gonna spit blood again? I haven't done that in awhile. Come to think of it I haven't been lightheaded recently, either. Huh... Is there a reason for that, Shadow? 'Yes,' And that is? 'A reason,' Thanks for being so helpful, 'We're welcome.' Gee, thanks. I look over to the kid. He's still crying...? I cried a lot when I was kid, too, I guess. He's raised his knees to his chest at some point. I feel bad for him... I shouldn't. He's just being a baby but I feel bad. No one was there for me when I cried as kid... No one who wanted to be. I want to be here. I want to cheer him up... But how?

I extend my right arm over his little back as I rest my hand on his right shoulder. He shakes a little when I touch him. I pull him closer to me - up and over the... The... Eh, box? The container thing inbetween the seats - I pull him over until he's sitting on my right knee with his back against my stomach. I slide my arms under his arms as I pull him into a tight hug. I rest my head atop his head.

"It's ok... It's ok... It's ok, Cad. I... I'm sorry for saying that stuff. I was just angry," I whisper in as calm a voice as I can. I rest my hands against his sides as I pull him a little closer. He slides up my knee and towards my stomach, "I... I'll always be here, ok? I'll protect you even if no one else will. I have protected you! From the bad men... And that mean truck driver, too! I'll make sure your safe, ok?" His cries quiet down into huffs and gasps. I raise my head up before pushing my lips against the back of his head. I give him a short kiss against his hair. it's a soft one; just to let him know I care, "If you want, Cad, you... You can be my brother?"

'He... B-brother... What?' I... I love him. Like I did Yang, 'W-we... Love him? Love the child? L-l... Love? Brother? W-wh-what is the meaning of this devilry?' I... Devilry? 'Don't change the subject!' I... Ok. Uhmmm... That's weird. Well, Shadow, I care about Cad. A lot. I love him like a brother, 'B-b-b-b-bu... But we're the only one we love! Not the boy! US! We promised!' I still love you, Shadow, I do! I love you more then anything else in the world... 'But we still love him, huh!? How... How many more lies, Ruby?' I... Ruby? R-Ruby... Ruby!? You never call me Ruby!

'This isn't a decision our strong and intelligent Blood Flower would make! It is one the weak and soft Ruby Rose who loved her tormentors would condone,' I'm not Ruby anymore! C-call me Blood Flower! 'We will when we act like it,' I AM Blood Flower! Not Ruby! Screw her! I am we! 'Then why lie to us so pointlessly so? Our precious starry-eyes would never lie to us about love,' I haven't lied, though! I never said I wouldn't love someone who isn't you - I said I'll never love them as much as you! 'We recall different. Something to the effecr of 'I'll never love anyone but you, Shadow! I promise!' Whatever happened to that sentiment?'

"S-Shadow..." I... I-It's not like that! I LOVE YOU! I do! I... M-maybe I used the wrong word when I said I loved Cad, ok!? I-I... I like him, yeah, but I don't 'love' love him like I do you! He's just a friend! 'Really? We thought we said he was a brother,' I did, yeah, but... You don't HAVE to love your brother, right? I love you! I LOVE you! Not Cad, you! 'Then act like it. Don't love him, Blood Flower, love us. Only us. It is one thing to have a friend - which is already pushing our boundaries - but... Too... Love another? That is evil. We said so ourself once upon a time... Don't be a hypocrite.'

I am not a hypocrite! I'm not a bad guy! I AM BLOOD FLOWER! A monster! I... I love you, you know that! I'd kill for you... 'We love us as well. That is why it hurt for us to say such a wicked thing...' I won't do it again! I wasn't thinking! I'm so, so, so, so sorry! 'It is... Not ok. But we accept our apology as long as it remains a one-time mistake. We can never love another - no matter how slight or great or the form of the love,' T-thank you! thank you, Shadow... I love you. I really, really, REALLY do! I love you! 'We love us as well. More then any human or Faunus - child or otherwise - ever could.' I know! I know... Thank you, Shadow, I—

"R-Ru... Ruby...?" I feel Cad's hair tickling my nose as he moves against me. I feel... I don't feel well. I feel like something heavy pressing against my belly. I feel... I feel like my bones are made of paper. I feel so tired, "W-w-why... Why are you t-the way... Way you are?"

"W... Well, t-that's... U-uhmmm, that's a pretty loaded question, Cad," I blink as I pull my face away. How do I even answer that? 'Tell him that we are perfect. He doesn't need to know anything more,' Are you sure? That doesn't answer anything, Shadow. What if... What if I compromise? Tell him a little but keep it vague? 'That is acceptable.'

"We're just... I had a tough childhood. My sister had a rougher one," Is that vague enough? 'Yes... We suppose so,' You don't sound so sure, 'We preferred the original answer.' I think mine's better.

"That d-doesn't ans... Answer my question, R-Ruby." Cad's voice is steady now. Calmer. More concise... That's a funny word. Concise. Weird word to say. Or is it think in this situation? 'It is think,' Thank you, 'Welcome.'

"Ok... I'll yell you. My... 'Mom' hated me. My 'dad' hated me. My lying BITCH of a sister hated me! My unc—"

"No swearing!" I feel his little chest heave against my arms. I feel his back against my belly as he twists around, "It's bad! Swearing is wrong! That's what you said!" His green eyes look up to me with anger and confusion. I lick my lips... He's right. I shouldn't swear... 'Why not? We're in charge,' Because it's not fair otherwise! I gotta lead by example, right? 'But we... Hmmm. Yes... Yes, we're right,' Thanks for agreeing. It... It makes me feel better, 'We're welcome.' Thank you.

"Your right. I'm sorry. I am sorry. Swearing is bad," His head slouches down as he sighs heavily. I give him a little squeeze, "Is there anything else you'd like to know? Aside from how much my family hates me," I feel his hands as they worm against my arms. I feel his fingers slide over my palms as he grabs my hands. He gives me a squeeze. I squeeze his little palms back.

"Y-yeah, well... I have a couple. Like... Like... Which one of your parents was an alien?" I... What? Alien? What is he talking about? 'He asked us about this earlier as well. He believes we are literal sisters,' Oh! Really!? H... He thinks you and I have the same parents!? 'Yes.' That's kinda... Kinda funny. I smile... Imagine how different things would've been if we were sisters like how Yang and I were sisters.

"Well, Cad, it's not like that. Remember when I said my sister was adopted?" I hear a little 'oh!' from him as he nods. He raises his head until it rests against my chest. I rest my chin atop his head, "I'm just human. They are just alien. We... We're like... Symbiotic! It is a symbiotic relationship! Yeah... Symbiotic." I remember when you described us like that. Symbiotic... I really like the sound of that word.

"S-sym... Smbeotic?" Cad struggles with the word. I feel his head shake slightly against my second skin, "Symeoec? S... S-y-m-b-i-o-t-i-c. Symbiotic!" I can't help but smile. He remembered my lesson! The one about sounding out tough words. That's... Awesome! That's really cool! I... I like that. It makes my chest feel a little fuzzy like when I taught Zwei to open canned dog food.

"Good job! You did a great job, Cad. Do you know what the word symbiote means?" He shifts his body to look up at me. He shakes his head. I kinda figured he didn't, "It means two things - people, animals, even aliens - that come together to help one another. It's like a partnership, ya know?" Cad's head tilts as his lips purse. He's thinking it through, isn't he? That's good... Very good! I don't want him to just accept what I say - I want him to think about it. To actually understand, ya know? 'Yes, we do know,' I know you know, 'We know that we know that we know,' That's overly wordy, Shadow. Why do you have to word it like that? 'Because we can, Blood Flower. Why did we have to say he can be our brother?' I wasn't thinking! I thought you forgave me for that? 'Still feels bitter... what if he accepts now that the offer was made?' I... Uhmmm... I—

"S-so... Your sister is... Like a symbiote? Or are they one?" I mean... Yeah, they kinda are, I guess. Wouldn't you say so? 'Yes, we are symbiotic in nature,' I know that but my question - Cad's question, really - is are you a symbiote? 'No, but it's close enough.' That'll do, I guess.

"Pretty much, yeah," I lean back into my seat. Cad slides down my lap a little. I feel him pressing into my belly. I don't mind - Yang use to use my stomach like a pillow when we were kids. She always said I had soft skin, "Do you have a sister? Or a brother?"

"No," I lower my right arm so my hand rests against Cad's belly. He's warm feeling. I pull him as close as he can get before wrapping my arm around him, "Your cold..."

"I know..." I lean to my right until we're all lying against the box-thingy. My head lays on the passenger seat as the box digs into my back. Cad laying on top of me with his back against my chest. My right arm is around his stomach and holding his side while my left arm is still holding his chest. He's so warm... "I'm sorry."

His head is against my neck. I can feel his stomach slowly rising and falling as he breathes. Cadmium is a good kid. A good boy... 'He isn't necessary for our plans. He can't kill Roman. We should leave him here...' I don't want too! 'But it's—' NO! I am NOT arguing right now! I'm tired... We'll talk in the morning, ok!? 'But... Fine. We WILL talk about this, though.' Yeah, yeah, yeah... Tomorrow... I'll talk tommorrow.

"Uggghhh... Always arguing. So annoying... I love you, Shadow," But you can be extremely annoying sometimes! Can't we ever have a nice day where we don't argue? 'Maybe if we listened better' Don't do the 'lecture talk' shit with me! Come on, talk to me like an adult! 'No! We're being mean and childish!' I'm being mature! Acting like an adult! Your the one acting like a little kid! 'No, we aren't!' Yes! 'No!' Yes! 'No!' Yes! 'No!' No! 'Yes!' Ha! You agreed with me!

'No, we... That's cheating!' So? Does it matter if I cheat as long as I get what I want? 'Yes! It very much does!' That's not what you said before. We had a conversation like this one except for the part where you said cheating is ok if I get what I want, 'That was under a different context! We are miscontruing our words!' Or are you being a hypocrite? I think you don't like to feel cheated, Shadow. I get that. No one does, 'It's not fair...' I know. I'm sorry, 'Don't do it again...' If you promise to stop being so overbearing, 'We promise not to be so annoying then.' I promise not to trick you again.

"Ruby...?" I feel Cad's legs shifting against my knees. I feel his hand squeezing my arms. I smile as his hair tickles my lips, "Can you tell me a story?" I never did tell him one earlier did I? Ok, I can do that. I got a lot of stories.

"Yeah," Hey, Shadow? 'Yes?' Do you have any good stories I could tell him? Like... Like the dragon one! The black dragon with ruby eyes, 'Why not tell him the story of how we came to be?' Huh? I don't get it... 'Tell the boy how we and us came to be as we are now. Surely his dull and painfully limited mind will find that entertaining,' He's not dumb, Shadow! He's just a kid, 'A dull one. We were smarter at his age,' Was I? At his age I was fighting dogs in the woods and getting bullied in-between getting yelled at by Taiyang, 'That doesn't mean we were dumb, now does it? Just reckless,' So is Cad then! 'Let's agree to disagree.' Fine! Fair enough by me... "Always arguing."

"What are you talking about?" I feel Cad moving and twisting as he spins to face me. His nose is so close it almost touches mine, "Is it your sister?" His green eyes are so... So... So... Peaceful. He looks almost happy. It makes my eyes feel heavy and hard to keep open. I hold Cad up a little so I have more wiggle room.

"Yeah! Yeah... They were talking about how smart you are!" I feel Shadow tightening against my skin. I bite my lip, 'But we didn't,' Just go with it, ok? 'But we don't want too,' If... If you love me you will? 'We... Fine! Fine! Lie to the child then! Just know that we think of him as nothing more then meat.' You do that then! Whatever makes you happy...! I just... I want everyone to be happy, "I-I... You asked why I am the way I am earlier. Do you want to know truth?" He nods to me. I frown a little... It hurts to remember.

"It... It started with a fire. And a long fall, too. I was fighting a bad guy before he threw some explosive Dust at me. It hurt... I hurt for a long time. We both hurt for so many years. I was alone in the dark, freezing, as I bled to death," I feel a shiver run up my spine. It hurt so much... Nothing ever hurt as much as the fire did, "My dad did it. Or my uncle. One of them paid the bad man too... They wanted me gone. That's why I hate them do much." I feel my heart going cold again. The warmth dying down as my veins freeze over. I get cold when I'm angry or sad. I like the cold.

"W-why?" Cad's lips frown as his eyes darken. He looks sad. Sad and angry, "Why would anyone do that!? It's evil!" I push my forehead into his as I close my eyes. I hug him tight. I think I would cry if I had any tears left, but... But I don't feel so sad anymore. Just angry about it.

"It's what evil people do, Cad. They're evil... It's why they deserve to die," I whisper in a low voice. I feel Cad's own arms as they slide over my back as he hugs me, "Evil people need to die so good people like us can be safe and happy." I've never been this close to another person who wasn't related to me. It feels a little strange, but it also feels right. I like having Cad close to me. He reminds me of when Zwei use to crawl into my bed and lay with me. I miss Zwei... I use to hug him so tight at night. He never whined or tried leaving or biting. He was the only one of them who ever actually cared about me... He never hated me. I miss that dog a lot...

"B-but... But doesn't killing them make you as bad as them?" I feel his warm breath against my face as he talks in a low voice. That is a very simple perspective he has... I thought like that once, "Everyone always told me killing is wrong. Everyone I liked, at least."

"I was told that, too. But... Well... Cad, the average person is... Kinda stupid?" That came off more harshly then I intended, "They haven't... Most people haven't felt true hurt. They don't know what it's like to kill or be killed, ya know?" I feel his face nodding as his forehead shifts against mine. I smile a little. I hope he understands me... I really hope so. I'm tired of arguments and debates.

"I think I get it, but... Still, why hunt people down like dogs? Like I get defending yourself but that's not what you did when you saved me. You... You hunted down those guys in the alley. You hurg them all... Even the guy who tried running. You could've killed them!" I frown. Kill? No, no, no! I made SURE they would be alive! I held my hits, Shadow only attacked non-vital body parts, and we didn't throw them THAT hard! We went too easy on them if anything.

"You have it all WRONG!" His eyes go wide as I startle him, "I-I mean... They aren't dead, Cad! I just roughed 'em up a bit, that's all. A-and I HAD too hunt them! They would've killed you if I didn't!" His lips fall into a thin frown. He looks away as his lower lip quivers slightly, "Cad... Someone NEEDS to protect this city, right? If the cops can't save people like us then I will! Even if I have crack a few eggs to do it..."

He doesn't answer. I sigh before lying down again. Cad is still sitting up. I raise my arm and plant my palm against his stomach before gently pulling him down to lay next to me. I just wanna go to sleep... I'm so tired. I'd kill for some sleep, 'What about the bo—' I don't wanna hear it! If I'm tired you are, too! That's a new rule from here on out. We sleep at the same times. Cad shifts against me... I think he's about to speak. I just want to sleeeeeep!

"I-It's not ri-right! No one des-deserves to d-die!" His face is bright red as his eyes begin to water. I push my head into his neck as I tighten my one-armed hug. He's so warm... I could sleep so easily here if he just stayed quiet for a little while. Just a few minutes...

"I know it isn't... I know. But someone needs to do it, Cad. I need to do it... You'll understand one day. Some people genuinely do deserve to die," I hear him let out a loud huffing whine. Poor guy... He just can't understand yet. It gets him all confused and emotional. When he's older he'll get it, "I think you should try sleeping, Cad. It's really late. I... Would you like to hear about the time I fought a killer robot?" I won't tell him the full story. I'll tone down the bloodier parts.

"R-r-robot?" I hear his small voice whisper, "I saw a robot aday or two ago. Killed a guy in front of me." I... Oh. Oh... That explains a lot, doesn't? 'What does it explain?' Why he doesn't like the idea of killing people. He saw someone die so he's scared of it... Probably lost his parents if I had to guess, 'What about the machine he mentioned? Is it connected to we know?' I don't know and right now I don't care. I'm too tired.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Cad. I... I'm sorry," I can feel him snuggling closer to me. He likes being close to me, too. I like that he likes it. I smile, "I... I was nearly killed by a robot. In the woods. About... Three? Four? Maybe even five days ago," I can't remember when. Everything kinda just blurs together, "It was a long fight. Tough. I almost died..." I had Shadow blasted off me, too, but Cad doesn't need to hear that. But... Oh, he'd like the lightning blast! Yeah, he'll like that a lot I bet.

"It could turn it's arm into a lightning cannon! That was honestly pretty cool. Really cool... I tore it's arm after awhile, though. It stabbed me in the belly with a sword after... Or was that before?" I feel Cad sliding his hand into my own. He's so quiet right now. His breathing sounds so light. Maybe he's falling asleep? "I turned invisible, too! That was pretty fun. I learned I could stick to walls during that fight. That was kinda weird."

I roll onto my side as I shift Cad forward slightly. His knees rests against the steering wheel. He groans a little as I move him. I rest my head against his. He's so warm... Warmer then Zwei. Or maybe he only feels warmer because I'm colder now?

"Cad?" He doesn't answer, "Have a goodnight, ok? I... I like you." I close my eyes as I rest. Guess storytime is over, huh? 'Yes,' Shadow... Goodnight, Shadow, 'Goodnight, Blood Flower. We love us... We are the only one who ever will.'

"I love you, Shadow... Your the only I'll ever love."

---

"Sabertooth is doing quite well given the circumstances. Wouldn't you agree, Specimen 6?" I stare through the black-tinted glass as the hulking mutant dismantles an advanced Mark 6 android. It is derived from the Penny project - modeled directly after that pitiful drone. They lack the Penny machine's weaponry and advanced AI, however. A pity such things are highly classified beyond even my clearance.

"NooOOOooo..." It speaks from it's cage. I have constructed for it a new vessel of transportation - something I can carry by hand. It makes securing it easier, "He isssss wEAK! And SLowww... STUPID, toooo..." It's voice is a droning hiss with lulls and rises. It reminds me of steam and boiling water. I would enjoy such a melody if it did not want me dead.

"I dare say he is more then strong enough for Specimen 1. Especially with Specimen 10 bonded to him in order to augment his abilities further," It was my idea. Too implant the Specimen deep into Weapon-X2's vertebrae before the base of the skull. Most implantations occur via a Specimen latching onto a host or being injected into the bloodstream. I was curious about injection directly into the bone marrow. It incited... Unique results if not unexpected results. Nothing extraordinary yet interesting nonetheless.

"Tttttrraaaakkkkhhh!"

"SSSSSSaaaaarrrRRRRGGGGGrrrrr!"

"Ssssstttrrrriiiiissss!"

I watch as the seven foot mutant tears and shreds and rips apart metal limbs as I would paper. The machines - all equally as fast and strong as their predecessor - are no match against the parasitically enhanced Weapon-X2. His body is writhing in thick yellowish-red tendrils and veins. They intersect and intertwine to bury his sickly pale skin underneath a foot or more of extraterrestrial mass. He doesn't look human anymore... He barely did before, to be fair.

"HE IS ControllED and USed by a INFANT...! I am older; STRONGER! Let me HAVE HIm as recompENSE AND I will spare YOur flesh..." It's vocabluary and speech have grown tremnedously over the last forty eight hours. It's temper, however, has not. It remains eager for a release it will never know. I would laugh were my voice box not horribly rended. It's a shame how the human body refuses to heal such wounds even decades after they were received... Pathetic.

"But you won't be controlled... The other one will be. My colleague, Doctor Styx, has arranged an impantation of a killswitch into Sabertooth's brain," Very simple yet ingenuis. It angers me slightly that I did not think of it myself, "The device will deliver a sudden and continous electric discharge that will cook Specimen 10 and Sabertooth alive." Very clever strategem. The cameras installed into Weapon-X2's eye sockets allow my colleague to monitor all the subject percieves. Doctor. Styx can even alter Weapon-X2's sense of sight if I so desired of him. The killswitch also monitors brain activity so we may get a better gauge on the Specimen's effects within the organ.

"I will KILL YoU ONe day... SloWLY!" Always such generic threats from that one. So... Insipid. It is something I must stomach, however, as I have much to do that requires Specimen 6's survival, "I HATE your KIND!" Amusing. Nostalgic, really.

"Many of my Faunus subjects said the same thing," I can't help but smile as Sabertooth defaces a Penny replica. Protruding spikes of solid bone serve as his claws and teeth now. His eyes have become blobs of blood-red discoloration. Even in such a pure state he still retains the limited vestige of a human... Disappointing, "None ever lived long enough to see their threats through. I doubt you'll break that tradition."

"Sssssrrrrrrraaaaaaaggggggsssss!"

"Kkkkkkkrrrrrrrrkkkkkhhhh!"

Metal twists and snaps and groans and rends as the hulking mutant-alien hybrid raises a Penny replica before snapping her in two against his knee, "Haha... Reminds me of father." Oh the things he did too poor mother... She always was a poor cook and poorer listener. At least she died in the happyhouse where she belonged, I suppose. Ah well, enough of that dribble. Onto something that actually matters.

"I would've preferred a more cybernetic enhancement for Sabertooth, but... Oh well. A Specimen is viable enough to augment his capabilities." Yet therein lies my quarrel - why augment what he already has when we could make him SO much more then he already is? Why content ourselves with near-perfection within what is inherently imperfect when we could create perfection through chemical mutation merged with cybernetics? Those fools will never see the true brilliance of my SR-13, let alone the soon-to-be SR-14. All I need is functioning nanotechnology... A microscopic drone to manipulate the molecular structures of organic and inorganic life. Then I could evolve the whole of Remnant within days - a week tops. The whole world turned into organic metal... A perfect playground for my imagination and creativity.

"You are SHORTsightED, DocTOr Merlot... I will DEVOUR YOU one day SooN..." Yes, yes, yes. I've heard it all before, "I WILL conSuME YOur MinD and SoUL... Alllllll that IS YOU wIll be ME and MiNe...!" Quite threatening - albeit not intimidating. I find this pitiful attempt to frighten me most baseless. I removed a large portion of the amygdala section of my brain years ago; I cannot feel fear... Amongst other things. All sacraifices necessary to remove the portions of myself that make me human.

"If I really was so shortsighted would you even be here?" It releases a creaking groan in response to my question. I glance backwards to see a pedestal atop which rests the hand-held containment unit. The creature inside is hidden by a lair of reinforced, chemically enhanced, steel. There are small dents protruding outward from where Specimen 6 attempted to escape. It is such a foolish creature. I am close, however, so very close... Soon Specimen 6 will become a true union of human and alien DNA. It will not need a host to survive like the rest. Of course I will have to eliminate it by that point - this Specimen well not be controlled. But once I have learned how to produce true hybrids then I can reverse the experiment; blending alien DNA into human bodies. I wonder what freaks will be born of those tests? All stepping stones to perfected human-Specimen cyborgs with the capability of assimilating almost all matter they come into contact with; the endpoint of all evolution.

"Think of our future, my slimy prisoner. Imagine a universe where a union of our species spread amongst the stars to colonize the entire galaxy and beyond to rule over all as immortal Gods.. That is my dream of the future." All those who died during my experiments are nought but necessary sacrifices towards my shining utopia of black stars. I will reign over them as the Supreme Intelligence... Yes, I will. What will I call the new breed of half-men? Hmmm... Oh, yes! I know.

"Skrulls," Yes, Skrulls. That will be the name of my children. Half-Specimen, half-human; cybernetic powerhouses... The Skrulls will have the ability to modify their own genes at will: granting them the similar shapeshifting capabilities as the Specimens. They will retain the human power of sexual reproduction and individuality - albeit tempered by the Specimens ability to mentally connect with one another and a lack of sex drive to prevent overpopulation, "My Skrulls will be perfected evolution. Constantly changing to become masters of the universe." My only true children... My legacy. Through them I will be a God incased in undying metal... I will become omniscient.

"YOU havE STupId namES..." I hear it's rasping voice echo from behind. I watch on as Weapon-X2 dismembers a machine one limb at a time, "SKRULLS... Arrrre stuuupiiid! TerrIBLe NAmeEEEeee."

"I will admit that perhaps 'Skrull' isn't the most creative or inventive, yes, but it is fitting. It's etymology originates from that of the desert Skrulkers," I managed to capture one once. I was merely thirteen at the time. It killed my previous subject, a mutant cat suffering from a severe case of merged fetus syndrome, so I took it's freedom as recompense, "The Skrulkers are—"

"A GENUS Of specialized insECtoiDS! Not GRIMM despite the... SIMilar characteriSTICS!" I turn to the containment unit. Most... Peculiar. I didn't tell it that. Interesting. Suspicious. Dangerous.

"What else do you know of Skulkers?" I turn fully to face it's cage. It needs a constant supply of oxygen now. It breathes. It requires water as well yet it does not produce any waste. The Specimen has yet to develop limbs but it has mutated primitive organs, "How extensive is your knowledge on the subject?"

"Hhhhhhsssssssss..." It makes a hissing noise as it breathes deeply, "I knoW THEy are... ParaSiTEs. ThEY FEed on GriMM flesh... PrOducE larvae inSIdE them." Most curious indeed. How has it aquired such knowledge? Or rather, I suppose, who has it been talking too?

"Who has been seeing you in my absence?" No one besides myself or the General is permitted access to Specimen 6 - and the General has no interest in doing such a thing. There is a lurker amongst our ranks... Is it Doctor Varan? She always was a pesky one. Always asking questions above her station.

"FREE me and I WIll teLL YoU," I fix my gaze onto the window seperating myself from the mutant out there. The androids are destroyed. He lurches about now as he claws at the walls and the floor like a rabid dog... Or cat, rather, "Freeee meeee..." What a pity. I had hoped my creation would be more forthcoming.

"We are at a impasse. You may keep your secret then. It matters little at this point," I lean down towards a shinning console. I press a button causing a speaker to spark to life, "Doctor Styx?" Buttons and bulbs blink and glow with life. I keep my eyes focused on the mutant.

"Yes, Doctor Merlot?" The slightly distorted voice of my colleague rings through. He sounds eager and excited. Good. Doctor Styx always shared my fascination for the darker sciences in spite of his upbringing as a surgeon. Quite a career change when he pivoted into electronics and astrology. Useful skills now yet I must ponder his motive for doing so all those years ago.

"Ensure proper monitoring procedures for Weapon-X2 are prepared. Activate the killswitch and the surveillance module. Inform the General. This roudy animal is soon to be released from my custody and into the wild to begin the hunt for Specimen 1," I speak plainly and clearly over the speaker system. I hate having to repeat myself for those too daft to understand, "And send Sargent Glade to my office. I want a word with him." I need security heightened about my quarters. While any interlopers are unlikely to cause much harm to my plans there still exists a small margin of danger.

"Right away, sir." The speaker fuzzes into static before going silent. I will need additional cameras installed... Motion sensors as well. a fingerprint scanner for the door, of course. Maybe a defensive drone to secure my quarters whilst I am attending other affairs? Yes, yes. That will do. I do despise the unwanted sticking their nose where it is most undesired of them. Always so many questions to answer when I need to make them disappear.

"Ccccrrrrrrrsssssshhhhh!"

I raise my gaze to Weapon-X2 as he rakes his bony claws across the thin barrier seperating us. it fails to do any harm beyond leaving behind a mere scratch. Amusing that he thinks he can harm me in my own domain... Here I am like the Wizard of the Seasons, save my powers are of technological progression rather then superstitions. I lower my robotic hand until my finger rests before a blue glowing button... I stop. I press a yellow one instead.

"Sabertooth?" My voice echoes into the reinforced holding pen he resides in. He does not stop wailing against the glass, "They promised you freedom, didn't they?" He slashes with a wild ferver that my own intellect prevents me from ever feeling. Such is a true genius that they cannot feel such rage... Fury is a emotion for animals. I am not a animal. At best I feel annoyance, or anger, mayhaps hate for the stupid. Never blind fury, however. I am always rational and in control. That is why carved out portions of my brain in order to replace them with processors and a cpu - it grants me the ability to interface with certain technologies such as cameras, drones, or Scrolls.

"You'll never see it. They lied. You'll die a caged animal..." His slashes and attacks grow ever more ferocious. I smile slightly. He roars. He has such sharp teeth... Like a shark's. Triangular and flat. Built for crushing, "You will be able to kill, however. Your feeble mind will delight in that I am certain." The animals always enjoy the thrill of the hunt. Such pesky beasts. Useful as enforcers if nothing else.

"RRRRRRaaaarrrrrraaaaaaaggggggggsssss!"

I turn from the console and towards the pedestal containing my latest fascination. I hear the beast's rage growing. Good... Let it be wrothful - it'll think less that way. But my attention falls to my as-of-yet greatest creation. It is bloody, slimy, fleshy, angry. A true animal. It rivals even the Grimm in it's near-perfection. I envy it's biological purity... Such an admirable trait. I hope to emulate that one day.

I stop before the containment unit and implant my robotic fist into it's frontal interface. My mechanical fingers extend into it's gears before rotating counterclockwise. Bolts begin to unscrew.

"Daaak!"

"Daak!"

"Daaak!"

"Daaaak!"

The bolts falls to the ground one by one. The containment unit spews a thin white mist as it begins to widen and open wide. I see the faint outline of an orb glowing a faint blue as the metal and wires bloom like a rose.

"YOu marveeeel MEeeeEEE..." It speaks in a husky and raspy tone. A bulbous and pupilless silver eye stares at me through the Hardlight cage. Silver tendrils spew bloody rivets as they squirm. The center mass pulsates as it's toothy mouth breathes in Ice Dust powder. It's gaping hole of an orafice houses writhing pinkish-red tongues shaped like a human, "I AM BEautifUL, aren't I?" The Ice Dust is too slow it's movements and heart rate. Fascinating how it grew a heart in only thirteen hours after injecting the latest dosage of SR-13.

"Yes... Yes, you truly are gorgeous," It's near perfection leaves me with few words. It's protruding bones vaguely resemble ribs... Or maybe spines? It reminds me of the long extinct hallucigenia. Such a marvelous creature. If only I could be so perfect, "You are... Wonderous." It is a true beauty. Something that makes me proud too behold in it's full splendor... It reminds me of the Angel, Vulkon, from the proto-Mistrail tribes that once inhabitated the island before the construction of the Kingdom. The Angel was said to be a thing of silver fire and of unending fury with a penchant for violent justice. Maybe I shall name it so? Vulkon.

Yes, my Vulkon is very special. So very deadly. So very inhuman.

So very beautiful...

So very unique...

It is my first child.

My firstborn Angel... But not my last.

---

Aria of Ashes here.

How are you all? I hope your all doing well and dandy. I've been in a much better headspace recently and I hope the same extends you guys.

For the last couple months or so my production of new chapters has slowed but I think it's safe to say that's changing around. Now that I'm doing better mentally I've started writing a lot more again so expect more regular updates - about one chapter per week. Give or take a few days depending on how long the chapters turn out to be, though.

I also think I jumped the gun when I said this would be "The darkest and most brutal chapter yet,' because it's really not. The original version of this chapter was EXTREMELY dark. So much so that, for the first time in my entire writing 'career', I actively took a step back and had to go "Is this TOO dark?" And the answer was a firm "Fuck yeah it is." So I cut most of it out and here is what I frankensteined together with what was left combined with (mostly) new material.

For those wondering what the original chapter was like I'll give you a hint. It was set entirely from Red's pov and I was taking huge Silent Hill 2, Hills Have Eyes inspiration, and the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre inspirstion. I'm sure anyone familiar with those can piece together a vague sense of what I had planned.

Other then that... Next chapter is a Crimson and Ruby one. We will see the Beacon Bros impart on their first (unofficial) hunt for Ruby. Someone finds her. Might be them or it might be Sabertooth or it might be U or it might be someone entirely new. You'll have to read to find out. Now my favorite part! The comments.

bjlpcell - I'll say that chaos is brewing in Remnant so far. Something wicked this way comes - and it is bleeding insanity into all around. Or, rather, it will in the admittedly not-so very soon future. I will say this Creeping Madness won't make a proper appearance until the very last chapter of this story. Don't worry - I already have an idea for a sequel to Black Stars. I'll shut up now before spoiling anything else.

firewyrm2 - I'd say this turning point is a mixed bag. Good and bad seeds are planted and we'll all see how they grow from this point. Thanks for the adice, by the way. I appreciate all I can in life but a lot of the time it feels like there's very little that appreciates me back. it is what it is, I suppose.

And that is all, I'm afraid. I hope you guys have a wonderful day/night.

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