Howdy Folks,
I would have had this done yesterday, but unfortunately, I got busy.
anyway, I hope you enjoy the chapter!
(I don't own West of Dead, I don't own Re:Zero)
"I see a woman staring into the flames of a house fire. A blackened corpse swings from a burning beam as the flames dance. I move toward the woman, take her hand in mine and tell her something. It's more than comfort. It's a promise. There will be justice." - William Mason, West of Dead
You Flourish Before You Die
I bullet downed another one of those berserker creatures, it let out a huff, like it was annoyed that it had died before going limp. Their quiet nature gave them an air of intimidation that even affected Mason to some degree. Swaying diminutively from side to side like a narcoleptic drunk. Their fingers were long and sharp, scraping against the stone. Like hunting knives, ready to gut and dress their kill. The silence afterwards left Mason feeling irritable.
His boots scuffed as he came to a stop just before rounding the corner of another alley and into a wider street. Clutching tightly onto the Evans, he flipped open the trapdoor and loaded more cartridges. The streets were eerily quiet aside from the fatter creatures moseying around.
He peeked, finding that a few of those creatures were moseying nearby. To his luck, the fountain was in view. He could clear the place for later, assuming that none of the other monsters roam into this area. But the pattern suggested otherwise.
The creatures themselves have directives. None that make sense at first glance, but they might hesitate a moment before chasing you too far or pause before deciding to investigate potential victims just a little too out of bounds of their…area.
They were assigned zones of occupation. Being on par with a baby in terms of autonomy and critical thinking, that didn't exactly bode well. The behavior was unnatural on such a large scale for these freaks. Either Bauer spent a little more time than usual playing with these monsters' minds, or they're getting smarter.
Mason hummed to himself. The flame that engulfed his head twirling in patient thought.
No. They were still dumb. They just have their orders. It just depends on how detailed those orders are. There's no real chain of command, just Bauer at the top and the rest below him.
So they're all slaves.
It doesn't particularly bother Mason for the most part. A lot of them are monsters, but every so often he'll see a corpse hoisting a rifle and marching in dusty, navy blue. Then the flames on his head dance a little higher.
A moment or two passed without any noteworthy disturbances, and Mason took that as his cue to move again. His boots, laden with dust from collapsing structures and general upheaval in Lagunica, clopped on cobblestone as he advanced across the street. The relative quiet didn't put him at ease, but lately picking up on the little buzzing in his head that's supposed to tell him about danger has been pretty much the only thing that was free of suspicion at the moment. Currently, that buzzing was mute. No sixth sense warning signs. Nothing. Unfortunately, that only made it worse. He was sure there were a lot more monsters then what he's taken down so far.
Things shouldn't be this mutable. Curses that cause the bearer to travel in time upon death? Maybe that's not your average Tuesday, but Mason prides himself on having experience with the supernatural. Whatever reason that witch had for cursing him, Mason can't see how it was necessary. Knowing that she needs him and Mason for something does little to assuage his notion that she's playing the long game. A game too long for even him to fathom. Or perhaps, it's not about being long? She does have the ability to mess with time after all. Bah! He's getting in his head with all of this. A lack of a target makes this shooter's mind wander.
A squelch at his boots, Mason turned his gaze down as he came to a quick stop. Blood and chunks of…someone. Not a lot, certainly noticeable though. He knelt down, his candle of a head making the viscous gore seem as if it was being revered by divine light.
It was definitely human. Or at the very least, not a native of Purgatory. Which…didn't bode well, but the blood isn't set…can't have been more than ten minutes at most. Mason surveyed the area around him. It wasn't much more than a bare spot among mountains of rubble. The skeletons of some structures still endured, standing tall, half ruined and deformed. The strength and magic of the monsters blemished them if they weren't brought down. Sent their bricks tumbling down for no other reason than they were in their way. And in the midst of all that a fountain nearby, water no longer surging from it. No sign of who the blood belonged inside of, and no clear trail away from it. Which was a little strange…
Mason stood again, the stock of his Evans creaked under his grip. Perhaps…
The buzzing in his head thrummed from steady to lopsided. Like it couldn't quite decide just where the danger would be coming from. But it was coming. Mason had little time to scurry behind a large piece of rubble, something like a large chunk of the building that was supposed to be to his right. Once he did, the quiet was replaced with something far more irritating.
Screeches. Like banshees in droves. A window shattered from one of the ruined buildings and a typhoon of large bat-like creatures came out, belching bursts of burning magic with the power of three muskets. Swarming above and giving Mason a headache with the shrill noises they make.
Encounters with these creatures are best kept to a minimum. But that could really be said about anything one might bump into in Purgatory. These pests rank as some of the more…galling, to say the least. The rifle's iron sights lined up with one of the flying creatures and Mason fired. The crack in the air from gunfire and the smell of gunpowder left nostalgic emotions festering in the chest of the undead cowboy. Not all of them good, but not all of them bad either. Regardless, having a rifle in his hands again after all the crazy hogwash that took place recently? It feels right.
His fingers twitched and his rifle moved, critter after critter. Bullet after bullet. One fell for every pull of the trigger. Like dipping his numb body in ice water, Mason felt himself entering that state of focus and flow. Not thinking and just acting, shooting as many of the creatures as he could.
Sixteen. Rack. Aim. Fire. Seventeen. Rack. Aim. Fire. Eighteen. Rack. Aim. Fire.
With every rack of the lever, spent cartridges ejected and hot brass hit the ground with small metallic dings.
Twenty one. Rack. Aim. Fire. Twenty two. Rack. Aim. Fire. Twenty three. Rack. Aim. Fire.
Mason's cheekbones scratched against the stock, the burning flame having no effect on the weapon as his eyes settled down the sights. It followed another of those flying creatures, the majority of them trying to gurk out magic projectiles at Mason, causing him to lower himself behind his cover and peek out for only a few seconds to shoot.
Twenty seven. Rack. Aim. Fire. Twenty eight. Rack. Aim. Fire. Click.
He jolted back behind cover as a glob of scorching magic practically melted where his skull was just a moment ago.
"Hellfire!" He cursed. Flipping open the trapdoor, he fiddled out more bullets from the bandolier around his torso, just over his poncho. He slipped them in one at a time, racking the lever while doing so. The screeching of the many flying rodents at their fallen brothers and sisters only served to make Mason reload faster.
Before it was done, one of them perched atop the large chunk of building he was taking cover behind, its gaping mouth lined with sharp teeth began emitting a glow. It's throat bubbling up magic in an attempt to melt Mason.
The marshall paused reloading, his peacemaker slipping out of his holster with a leathery creak. The hammer was pulled back with a metallic click before the barrel was leveled at the bat-like creature.
BANG!
It practically went up in a mist of black blood. Disappearing from the world forever. And the screeching from the others above caught his attention, now diving down to him all at once. Angry and carrying a death wish. After all, he couldn't shoot them all down at once could he?
Well, perhaps. But the question would remain unanswered.
A stripe of white streaked through the air where the vermin were dive-bombing for him, their maws open and nearly ready to turn even more of him into a burning heap. And now, little more was left of them say for a lingering red mist that too dissipated a few moments after the whole ordeal.
Quietude once again, and Mason stood stock still, his revolver pointed half hearted at the sky and his mind flummoxed for a moment in shocked disorientation. He, at the very least, found it in him to close his gaping jaw.
"Can't see how this ain't a good sign.." He mumbled to himself. Still feeling a little on edge. The sudden quiet filled him with an unease.
"You speak?" A slightly surprised voice behind him. He spun around, his gun still in his hand. He stilled slightly at the sight of someone actually alive.
Red hair, very red. On the cusp of looking unnatural until you blink a couple of times and realize maybe it isn't. And on the opposite end of the spectrum, soft blue eyes. But striking in their contrast with the rest of his features. What really made him off put however, was his clothes.
A clean white. From his tail coat to his pants.
A flash in his mind. The veil hung over her beautiful face as the organ haunted the air with promises of a happy future. He reached his calloused hands towards the veil, her smiling face looking at him.
He swayed for a moment. Not expecting the memory to fall upon him, and cause so many emotions of loss and regret to shower him. But he quickly found himself pulling the hammer back on his revolver, halfheartedly keeping it ready in front of him.
No, now that he sees it, his whole attire wasn't white. He had black shoes and gloves. A black undershirt. What was he thinking? He did look young though…perhaps as young as he was? No, no he was a little older when he met her.
"You speak, and you aren't attacking me. That tells me you are at least capable of listening to reason." The young red-headed man in front of him tilted his head a little. As if waiting for a response. Mason just now noticed how the hands of the one standing across from him was dripping in the dark blood of the creatures that were infesting the skies not long ago.
It didn't take much to interpret what the young man in front of him was offering. An ultimatum. And judging by the speed and precision at which he was able to take out the bat-like things, Mason gathered he might not be the faster one in this regard. It seems as if every adversary he crosses paths with turns out to be stronger than him. If he wasn't a man…er…Plainwalker who cheats death on the regular, and reaping the rewards of fearlessness and recklessness that comes with it, then he would say with absolute certainty that he would have about as much of a chance as surviving in this world as Subaru does at surviving Purgatory alone.
So, he supposed, it was time to put his money where his mouth was. And hope that the young man in front of him wouldn't attack him outright.
He had to start making allies after all.
"Yep." Mason uncocked his revolver and slipped it back into his holster. Taking a moment to make sure the area around the both of them were clear. "William Mason. I ain't like the rest of them freaks. I'm…well, friendlier than them." The red head blinked at his words for a moment.
"What's that supposed to mean?" The one across from him was still. No signs of nervousness even graced his face. Stoic as all hell.
"I ain't a fella who's afraid of gunsmoke. But only when needed." Mason raised his hands in what was hopefully a placating manner. The young man's face marginally softened.
"I have…many questions, as you can imagine."
"Yeah." Mason said dryly. "I'll do my best, pard. But I don't wanna waste no time chit-chattin' with these monsters out and about this town."
"I share the sentiment." He closed his eyes for a moment as he chuckled. They opened and his gaze sharpened as it stared at him. Mason still had the rifle in his other hand, gripped loosely by its barrel, the butt of the stock resting on the ground. He looked as if he was searching for something on Mason. Uncomfortable moments passed. Mason hoped against hope that the warrior in front of him would be as he had thought to himself before he set off further into the city…don't judge him by his appearance, but by his actions.
Perhaps he had seen him shoot the flying creatures. And speaking with him would help his case…but this was all up to the one across from him now. Did he truly deem Mason a threat? In all honesty, he wouldn't judge. Him looking as he does only inspires feelings of fear and apprehension.
At the moment of truth, the one in front of him spoke.
"Then I suppose I'll join you in ridding these monsters from hurting anyone else." His tone was righteous, a light smile cracking his face. "I am Reinhardt Van Astrea, apologies for not introducing myself right away."
"…I suppose so, then."
"I should say that I'm currently gathering civilians to a safe zone to keep them out of harm's way."
"I was plannin' on clearin' out the area around the fountain. A friend of mine is gettin' backup from some other folks I know in the outskirts, and then he's gonna meet me there." Reinhardt's eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"I see. Not many of these monsters have made their way to the slums. If your friend can bring more help, that would be welcome. But first, it seems more of them have shown up."
True to Reinhardt's words, several shambling corpses rounded the corner, groaning, some of them holding rifles themselves. Led by a wendigo and a tall mage draped in a dark opulent silk cloak.
"Well, reckon we gotta handle 'em then." Mason loaded the last few bullets into his repeater and racked it, eyeing the crowd of familiar enemies wandering into the area.
"Then we shall." Reinhardt smirked and dashed at the wendigo. Mason raised his Evans and began firing at the reanimated corpses. He managed to take a few out before they raised their own lazily, firing the same as him. He dove out of the way and climbed back to his feet while opening fire on the remaining riflemen.
Reinhardt's fight with the wendigo was painfully short, much to the bitter envy of Mason. A single kick and it was sent tumbling backwards, where he simply slammed his heel down on the hulking monster's face. Caving it in with a crunch. The wendigo twitched once then went still, a pool of blood running into the cracks of the cobbled stone like a macabre red web.
The last of the riflemen fell with another trigger pull of his rifle, then his line of sight was blinded by a huge ball of luminous fire. The mage cast a fireball in their direction, aiming to take them both out in a fiery eruption. Reinhardt, however, seemed to take notice of this before the undead cowboy did. In a flash, Mason's ally had jumped toward the fireball, picking up a discarded sword off to the side that perhaps some knight had lost in the chaos.
Panic swelled, and he fruitlessly raised a hand as if that would stop Reinhardt from being practically vaporized by it. Of course, that panic turned to awe and bewilderment as Reinhardt had just deflected the growing orb of raging flame with a swipe of the dusty and abandoned sword he had obtained a moment ago, the fireball impacting another nearly ruined building not too far away and leaving a scorch mark the size of a sequoia trunk.
The mage growled and nearly put his hands up again to cast another fireball before Mason shot him center mass with his rifle, dropping him like a fly. Reinhardt blinked and turned back to him.
"My thanks for your assistance. At least one good thing can come of today, a new ally is always welcome."
"Ah…right. Well, I reckon you coulda handled it just fine from the looks of it, pard." Reinhardt smiled a little before turning his gaze to the sword in his hand, a soft glow Mason had not noticed before had dissipated from the blade and suddenly it disintegrated into nothing but brittle little bits of slag. Reinhardt mumbled something to himself before looking at Mason again.
"Yes, well, I'll always prefer the company of those who fight for what is right rather than braving it all myself." He said. "Now, I believe we should go and check on those civilians I mentioned-"
"Woah, hey now, look-" Reinhardt stopped and blinked at Mason. "It's just…You're takin' this in stride. Look at me, son." Mason gestured down to himself. It felt wrong to look a gift horse in the mouth now of all times. But the certainty in the way Reinhardt spoke of him as someone who fights for what's right might have rubbed Mason the wrong way…even if he was a lawman. He made mistakes. Lots of them. "It's just strange how you gone and trust me all of the sudden. I ain't exactly someone who's gonna be looked favourably upon by folk."
"I know when someone is truthful or not. Besides, you seem a good man, if a bit frightening to look at." Mason gaped a little and then sighed. The lack of reaction by Reinhardt at the sound would have plastered an annoyed frown on his face, but…well, he shouldn't complain about being full when he asked for a full plate.
"Alright then. Let's go save some lives." He racked his Evans.
Subaru coughed, attempting to cover his face with his sleeve. Attempting being the keyword, as it was difficult to do so with a child he had been tasked to protect in his arms. It probably wouldn't have even done much against the smell anyway. His footfalls were erratic and every so often he had to wipe tears away from his face. The smell was just that awful.
Every step, every lunge. And the sounds of battle sounded closer and closer. He stopped just before crossing a small rickety looking wooden bridge, more of a plank really, and set down Plum. She was standing at the least but was coughing and retching a little like Subaru. He covered his nose and took a slow breath into his mouth, trying not to imagine what the taste of the vile smell would be like on his tongue.
Well, not to put too fine a point on it, he imagined it tasted like shit.
But he kept his cool. Looking at Plum as he sank to a knee.
"Plum, I need you to listen to me-" He put a hand on her shoulder, the other pinching his nose and making his voice sound funny. Plum looked up at him and quickly seemed to follow his example. Her bright watery eyes staring up at him. A flash of uncertainty crushed Subaru's next words. What should he even do?! He can't bring her over to a fight! God…
"Plum…you need to hide somewhere nearby. But not too close! You can't get caught in the crossfire of this." She looked peered up at him shakily.
"No no no no…" She repeated to herself quietly. Subaru winced.
"It'll be ok! I'll come and get you, and then we can set off with a few more…friends of mine. You'll be even safer that way. But what isn't safe is bringing you in the crosshairs of these monsters." He squeezed her small shoulder in what he hoped would have been a comforting way. The little girl looked up at him and a moment of tense silence passed as she shook a little from anxiousness.
"O-Ok. I'll hide somewhere…" Subaru breathed a sigh of relief. "...But…where?"
Subaru looked around, buildings that were worn dorn and looked rotted and abandoned seemed to line most of the dirt streets around the slums. Perhaps one of them could serve as a temporary shelter for Plum? He didn't particularly like the idea of leaving her in a dark derelict building to wait for the fighting to end…
Subarus' eyes nonetheless roamed the surrounding buildings and eventually they fell on something that gave him pause. It was practically a shack made of matchsticks but a white cloth tarp fell over the entrance. Subaru grabbed Plum's hand and rushed over with her, pulling her inside the small shack.
"Ok…you'll stay here. Just…keep quiet and hide until the fighting is done and I promise I'll be back for you." She looked up at him and her lip trembled as she brought her hands close to her, curling in on herself slightly. Subaru frowned at the sight.
"Listen…" He knelt down again. "You're being incredibly brave, and your mom and dad would be very proud of you. But I'm going to have to ask you to be brave for me a little while longer…ok? Can you do that for me? And if not for me, then at least for your mom and dad?" A beat of silence passed as Plum sniffled and looked to the ground.
"Ok." She said smally. Wiping away tears and coughing a little more at the permeating stench.
"I'll be back…I promise." Subaru said once again as he exited the small shack, pushing the white cloth out of the way and beginning to run again as he covered his nose. Crossing the small plank over the stream. He nearly stumbled as he peeked over and saw the color of the water had become a bright violet that somehow made his stomach churn.
The sounds of fighting grew closer and closer and as he rounded the corner of one street, panting and pinching his nose to keep the smell out, he saw them.
Both Lia and Felt, as well as Puck here and there, were throwing attacks left and right towards a lubberly looking humanoid who was as ugly as sin. Using a flail to swipe out the spikes of ice heading for him or just waving his hand and melting them in a mist of purple poison.
Subaru felt the bite of fear. Felt the doubt that wiggled his way into the forefront of his mind. Telling him how useless he truly was, that couldn't just jump into the fray and help…
And then he felt something different. He felt it being muted. Like pressing a button…and then he was reborn, for lack of a better word. All that fear and apprehension disappeared as he scowled and rushed towards the giant, unholstering his revolver.
"HEY! BUTTERFACE!" He yelled. Raising the revolver as the enemy turned to him, the others took the opportunity to attack right when he pulled the trigger. The bullet hit the fat creature's gut and it flinched slightly, but while distracted, a volley of ice spikes embedded into its back and it let out a loud bellowing sound akin to that of a bear.
Its beady eyes throughout it all were focused on Subaru. Just staring.
A purple ball of strange magic began forming in its hand, and Lia off to the side began forming her own ice magic to attack with. Subaru raised his gun again, his jaw clenched tightly. This time aiming for the head. But as the monster began lumbering toward him, Felt emerged. Jumping onto it's back and planting her dagger straight into its throat. She opted to leave the sharpened steel stuck in its neck and jump away quickly. As quick as greased lightning however, the beast grabbed Felt. She gasped, fear plastered all over her face.
The bullet ripped through the monster and blew half of its head off. For a moment, things went still. Felt scrambled out of the beast's grip and fell back on the ground, gaping up at its stiff form. The flail dropped from its hand and it fell back like a tree that was just sawed down. A loud crash as it collapsed in the dirt. Dead.
In an instant, the smell dissipated like it was never there to begin with. And Subaru had to release a sigh of relief. Holstering the gun and rushing over to Felt. Upon hearing him Felt rose to her feet quickly and rushed to take her knife out of the dead monster.
"Uhh…" Subaru said awkwardly as she took a moment to pry it free before turning to him and holding it at the ready. He raised his hands in surrender with a look of exasperation. "Are you for real?! I just saved you!"
"You could be with these freaks for all I know!" She squeaked in a high pitched voice.
"He doesn't look like he's with them." Lia said, appearing next to him, which gave Subaru a start. She scratched her cheek just under her sharp ears with a nervous laugh. The sunset casting a bright glow across her newly framed face. Subaru thought he began staring too long for a moment and started fumbling over his words before Puck commented.
"Nah, I sense no dastardly evil thoughts from this one!" Puck said dramatically, waving his paw in front of Subaru. It took a moment for him to shake off his surprise at the spirit popping up so close to him, but once he did he went straight to business.
"Look, I need you guys' help…" They all paused at that, Felt scoffing but nonetheless lowering her blade just a smidgen. "There's a little girl that I'm trying to protect and you're the first people I've come across. I'm…not capable of protecting her myself. So please." He hung his head a little. Lia blinked a little in surprise and concern.
"You've gotta be kidding! You'd think I'd fall for that? Huh? Whatever dipshit! I'm not nearly as much of a dumbass as you seem to think-" Before Felt could continue, a rustling sound and a small sound of surprise. Subaru turned and found Plum rounding the corner, wading through a small tuft of tall grass.
"Plum! I thought I told you to stay put!"
"Uh…he wasn't…lying!?" Felt had a dumb look on her face that would have made for a good laugh for Subaru if the situation wasn't so serious.
He rushed to Plum to make sure she was alright…
SHINK!
He slowed to a halt about halfway to Plum, her face twisted in horror as tears began streaming down her face. He turned to look back at Felt and Lia, confused. They both had their hands reached out and frozen in alarm. Pain blossomed. At first, Subaru felt it near his stomach. Then it spread to his waist, and then to his back. Blood seeped through his clothes at an alarming rate.
He fell to the ground with a choked sound.
"Thought you could just pull the wool over my eyes, huh? No." A familiar sickly provocative voice. Elsa leaned down, observing as Subaru could feel blood rush out of his esophagus and bubble through his lips. "You could never kill me. You're far too pathetic…"
The panicked voices of Lia and Felt around him became mute aside from Plum's cries. Elsa simply stood there and watched as Subaru bled out. Noises of pain erupted from him as he gasped for air to replace the blood tricking into his airways. He tried to look at the damage. Finding nothing below his stomach but blood and spilled guts piled around at Elsa's feet as she smirked down at him. His eyes widened in terror as he spotted his legs, his entire lower body, laying farther from him than it should be. Even more pain blossomed and he screamed hoarsely when the realization struck that he was bisected.
The pain didn't fade. It just grew. And he screamed and screamed. There was nothing but screaming and pain and muted cries. And then black swam around his vision…and then…
Subaru gasped and coughed, hacking out a glob of phlegm from his throat onto the brick. And desperately trying to get some air into his lungs.
"WHAT IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT'S HOLY!?" Mason roared beside him. He turned to see him looking around in a frenzied state of devastation. He finally focused on Subaru, his flame dancing a little taller than usual. "What the hell happened, boy!?" He demanded.
Subaru swallowed dryly, looking around the alley they now found themselves in again.
"I…I died." He trembled. His hand clutching at his stomach again. Too many times now he had died by her hand.
Mason clutched at his skull with one hand. "I was just chewin' someone's ear off a moment ago and then…" He sighed. "Yeah. This shit ain't got a lack of frustrating qualities…" Subaru could only nod mutely.
"Ok…well, at least we ain't in Purgatory this time. Now, I think-"
They were both interrupted by the sound of three pairs of footsteps. The three clowns once again converge on their location. And Subaru could only look up from his place on the ground hopelessly.
He really…really doesn't wanna die this time around.
I'll try to remain on schedule next time guys.
leave a review if you'd like to! tell me your thoughts, give me some feedback if you feel inclined.
catch ya'll next chapter.
