Here it is. The final chapter of this arc! Let's go!
Arc 1: Chapter 12
Hei screamed as the building began to collapse all around him. Flames soared high as they spread and lapped at his body.
The heat was suffocating, and all his screaming did was waste precious air. Air that was being sucked out to fuel the growing inferno around him.
The exit was right there, not even a scant two metres behind him, and there was hardly any rubble to block his escape. However, he could not flee just yet.
He glanced at the smouldering beam that lay atop of Ruby's legs.
She just lay there, unmoving.
Hei collapsed to his knees in a coughing fit as smoke pervaded his lungs and began to choke him out.
He shuffled on hands and knees towards Ruby.
"Ruby…!" He wheezed out, desperately hoping for a response.
He got none.
The groan of weakening wood above him clearly announced that the building was not intending to stay in one piece for long.
He finally reached Ruby, the fire growing. He couldn't stay here any longer or he'd begin to burn and suffocate alive.
With a bloodstained hand, he tried to shake her, to see if she was still conscious or even alive.
He got no response, and for a second his heart stopped. Until he saw the smallest rise in her chest.
She was breathing! She was alive!
Without wasting any more time, he began to tug on her body, trying to pull her out from underneath the fallen timber that was alight.
He couldn't move her, however. There was just too much weight.
He hissed in pain as fire caught onto the hem of his jacket and the flames danced around him. He ignored it however, his body pumping with so much adrenaline.
It didn't long for him to realise that he wasn't going to be able to pull Ruby out, not with the burning support beams atop of her.
He didn't have time to think anymore, he needed to act, and now!
Struggling to stand up, he reached out for the burning wood, and then he grasped it firmly with his bare hands.
The flames showed no mercy, and his skin began to instantly blister and cook under such intense heat.
He screamed, no, roared, in pain as the flames travelled up his arms, but he didn't stop pulling with all of his available might.
The wood groaned, as did his muscles, but still he pushed on.
If he couldn't even save one little girl, then what use was he to everyone else?!
The beam lifted ever so slightly higher, revealing Ruby's legs.
The thick, padded pants that she was wearing showed extensive signs of beginning to smoulder away where the beam had made contact, but otherwise shielded her from most of the damage of the flames.
The same couldn't be said for other more exposed parts of her body such as her face and hands.
There was no time to worry about that, however.
With a final heave and scream, Hei levered the burning beam up off her before letting it crash to the side, where smouldering chunks broke off.
Panting, and in excruciating pain, Hei desperately fumbled around to grasp Ruby, parts of her clothes catching fire.
The skin on his hands had blistered away, and the sensation of exposed nerves being set alight, let alone touching anything to grasp firmly, was otherworldly.
However, he couldn't stop. He had to push forward.
And so, he desperately grasped Ruby and dragged her out of the burning building by her legs.
He screamed as he burst out into the crisp fresh air, the nearby snow showing signs of melting from the intense heat escaping the building.
No. As he looked around in a daze, he realised it was the whole town.
There was fire spreading everywhere from building to building.
The sky was covered in ash, soot and smoke so it looked as if it were night. A sickly orange glow permeated from everywhere ablaze, casting an amber hue across the smoky coverage.
The air was thick with smoke, even outside, and so he coughed, hacking up blood and soot before tumbling over, letting Ruby roll out of his grass onto the snow.
There was a cry from nearby, the sound of closing footfalls crunching in the dead grass and snow, before the sensation of being hoisted up carefully, an arm around his chest, and another across his back.
He turned his head blearily to see Roman of all people.
"Hei! C'mon, get up! We've gotta go!"
Hei wanted to ask what Roman was doing there, but all he let out was a pained groan, his arms flopping uselessly to his side.
He wanted to turn to see Ruby, but Tony was already there rolling the girl in the snow and ground to extinguish any flames clung to her before scooping her up.
"Roman! What the hell are you doing here?! You're supposed to be with the rest of the kids?!" berated Tony.
"So were you!" Roman bit back with clenched teeth.
"I told the kids to hide in one of the buildings until the twins arrived. We'll go catch up with them and then we can get the fuck out of this shitshow," he explained.
Tony shook his head in frustration, but ultimately had no choice but to relent. Hoisting Ruby over his shoulder, he turned to Roman who was already helping Hei walk up to Tommen up ahead.
Tommen was kneeling over Jess who was lying on the ground, blood slowly pooling out from under her. DJ could be seen panting and dripping sweat as he tried to assess Jess.
"Neo! Help Tommen get Jess up! We need to regroup fast," hissed Roman, and Tony was caught off guard as Neo appeared in the corner of his vision to race over and help Jess.
Jess let out a cry of pain as Neo began to pull her up and wrap an arm around her shoulder.
Tommen remained frozen on the ground, eyes wide as he relived what just happened.
Tony snapped at Tommen as he jogged over.
"Tommen! Snap out of it! We have no time. This place is burning down, and Jess needs treatment. Hell, she's not the only one," he amended as he glanced at the extent of everyone's injuries, including the boy in front of him.
"I've got him," called Lauren as she raced back, Emerald in tow.
Tony nodded sharply before turning to address everyone.
"Then let's haul ass people!"
He barely took a step forward when something howled. Like a wolf, only louder and much more vicious.
Everyone stilled and felt a chill run down their spines collectively.
There was nothing to be seen, however.
"What was that?" uttered Roman, eyes darting around.
Hei coughed as he looked up.
"Grimm. Those psychos mentioned something about attracting the Grimm to destroy this town."
"Grimm? What?!" Panicked Roman.
Tony grimaced while Neo tensed.
"Then we better get out of here really fast, then."
With that, everyone could agree.
It didn't take Tyrian long to circumvent the burning orphanage and end up down the main street leading to the town entrance.
As he strolled down the empty roads he focused his hearing to pick up any signs of nearby life.
The sounds of distant screaming could be heard growing in number and volume, mixing with the sound of monsters roaring.
The Grimm had already reached the town.
He let out a satisfied sigh, a peaceful smile adorned across his face.
So much death. Horrific violence and tragedy. Oh, how he loved it so. The sounds of destruction and screams of terror turning to death throes in the distance were like a symphony to his ears. And the best part was he had the honour of being a part of such an orchestra. Ah. Truly, his life was such a blessed one, and he had his beautiful goddess to thank for such.
"Now," he wondered aloud as he passed by a rundown building on his right, the stench of perspiration and fear reeking from it, deep within. Multiple stenches, in fact.
"Where are you at, little children. Hmm?"
His ears picked up the sound of faint shuffling, as if someone were moving away from a window.
He cast a side eye to the suspect building. It was two stories high, and the doors and windows were all wide open. It was dark inside, but his eyes allowed him to adjust and peer within the dark, even in his peripherals.
He could make out several silhouettes in the back in the corner, tall and small alike.
He smiled widely.
"Hehe. Bingo."
And so, he kept walking by the building casually, until he disappeared out of sight.
Inside, the children huddled in the large, open room. Cast in darkness.
After several tense seconds, one of the little children, Laura, piped up cautiously.
"Is it okay for us to leave now?"
An older teen grimaced before speaking up.
"Roman said for us to wait. Miltia and Melanie will be here soon, and then we can leave. Until then, we just need to hide here."
Laura pouted, crossing her arms.
"I hate this waiting."
"Shhh. We have to be quiet, remember?!" whispered Timothy, while Grover nodded vigorously in affirmation.
The older teen nodded slowly.
"He's right. So let's just pipe down and wait until…" he trailed off as the wood above him creaked ominously.
Everyone went silent as the wood continued to creak and groan for several seconds longer, until finally it stopped.
The silence was intense, and dragged on indefinitely.
"Wait until what? Please. Enlighten me?"
Everyone startled, turning around to address the source of the voice, only to find themselves fumbling in the dark.
"Oh right. You humans can't see in the dark easily. Such a shame. But you can hear just as well, I'd assume?"
The sound of sharp metal being unsheathed could be heard.
"Let's have some fun and write a song, children. I'll play the instrument, and you can all give the vocals! He haha!"
Chaos ensued, with horrific screaming following.
The last thing the older teen saw as he found himself flying through the open window, his head relieved from his body, was the sight of blood pooling out of the room as children as young as four tried to run, only to be mercilessly cut down. And then the darkness closed in on him for good.
Death. The air reeked of it. That was the first sign that Hei knew something had gone wrong when he and everyone else arrived at the agreed upon location to wait for Miltia and Melanie.
The second sign was the lack of any living bodies. At least nearby. The screams from further in the town could be heard beginning to echo out.
The third sign was the blood spatters outside of a building to his left, replete with several small bodies carved up and drenched in blood.
"Oh no…" whispered Tony, and Hei felt his heart stop as he and everyone else looked on in horror at the sight before.
Lauren broke first, letting go of Jess and forcing Tommen to bear all her weight as she ran forward, tears streaming down her face as she pleaded aloud in denial.
"No. No, no, nonononono!"
She fell to her knees upon reaching the doorway, wailing as she saw the carnage.
Hei, Roman and Tony finally reached her.
"Fuck. Is anyone alive?!" screamed Roman.
"Roman, keep it down," grunted Hei uncomfortably as his arms were bumped by Roman.
Roman began to pant.
"Keep it down, Hei?! KEEP IT DOWN?! Are you seeing this, right now?! Because I sure fucking do! IS ANYONE STILL ALIVE!"
There was no response, except the sobbing from the members of their small ragtag group.
"Dammit, you idiot," shot Tony as he made to grab and cover Roman's mouth.
"You don't know if whoever or whatever did this still here," he hissed. Roman batted Tony's arm away.
"What fucking difference does it make, Tony?!"
Tony was about to argue, but then he saw the manic resigned look on Roman's face as tears welled up.
Hei spoke up with a pained grunt.
"Look for survivors. Where are the twins?"
Tony's lips thinned.
"Not here," he replied grimly.
Roman pushed forward to look into the building, but he stepped back, pale as a ghost.
"What is it?" came Tony's voice, dreading the answer.
"Everyone. They're dead… all of them." He sank to his knees, until Neo came over and grabbed his good hand supportively, casting a grim glance into the darkened interior.
Emerald pushed her way forward, tears running down her.
"What?! What do you mean?! Laura! Timothy! Grover!" she called out in a panic, eyes wide as she trembled.
Before she could reach the doorway, Roman reached out and wrapped an arm around her, stopping her from taking another step forward.
"Wha-? Lemme go! Torchwick! Let me go, you asshole!" she screamed pathetically, struggling against Roman, and now Neo who placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You don't need to see that, Mint," came Roman's voice, devoid of mocking.
"No! Laura and the others are in there! They need to come out! They can't just be gone!"
Roman looked resigned as she bucked and wailed.
"They are."
"NO! They aren't! You're lying Torchwick! You-you… you lying Void-freak!"
Neo's grip tightened and Roman winced.
Emeralds sobs blended in with Lauren's, and Roman instantly knew she was simply in denial.
Hei slowly approached the building in question, and a reluctant glance revealed the horrors within.
All of the children from the orphanage lie inside. Butchered.
Blood stained every surface, and not all bodies were in one piece.
He pulled himself away from the building with a bitter curse.
"Fuck's sake, this day just keep getting worse…"
The sound of wooden wheels on a paved road alongside horse trots could be heard approaching around the corner.
Tony and Hei lifted their heads up to see what was approaching.
The sight they were greeted with was one that offered much relief to everyone present.
Coming right around the corner, sitting atop a basic walled wooden cart and being towed by two horses, one brown with a black mane, and the other white with spotted black marks, was Melanie and Miltia.
"I see you guys made it," quipped Melanie with a smirk, only for it to die as took in the sight before her eyes.
Her expression went grim upon seeing Jess and Tommen's state, she gasped as she laid eyes upon Hei, and the way Lauren, Roman, Neo and Emerald were positioned facing a building in defeat didn't do anything to ease her sudden worry.
"Guys? What happened?" voiced Miltia, pulling the reins to stop the horses.
"They're gone," stated Tony bitterly.
"Help us load Jess and Hei up. And then we need to leave."
Melanie jumped down from the carts driver seat, approaching the group with worry.
"Where are the other kids?" she demanded, only for Tony to cut her off, placing an arm out to stop her from walking any further.
"They're dead," he stated grimly.
"And so will we be if we don't load up those of us left and leave. Now."
Melanie clenched her fists angrily, biting back rage that threatened to spew out.
Miltia jumped down and approached Jess.
"I'll help load her up then. Tony? A hand?"
Tony let his gaze linger on Melanie a second longer, before pulling himself away and trudging over to help Miltia and Tommen.
"Sure thing."
The next two minutes were a quiet affair, at least in terms of chatter. No-one was game to speak. Not after what happened.
Melanie had the horses turn around so the back of the cart was more accessible to load Jess up into.
After using Roman and even Hei's jackets as makeshift tourniquets and padding, she was laid down on her back.
Tommen was the first to hop up, instantly crouching by her head.
Roman and Neo helped Hei up on account of his hands being unable to grasp anything.
Tony helped load Ruby and Emerald up.
"Are there any supplies at all?" asked Hei.
Miltia shook her head. "Couldn't get anything."
Hei grimaced.
"Well. Looks like you get your wish then, Roman," he began weakly, forcing a smile onto his face.
Roman looked up at him miserably. "How so?" he drawled out.
"You always wanted to go Vale city. That's the only place close enough for us to head to."
Roman cocked an eyebrow.
"For real?"
Melanie rolled her eyes.
"If you paid attention you would remember that Saint is a pretty lonesome settlement."
"Oh, right," Roman drawled.
"Forgive my lapse in memory on account of all the shit I've had to endure right now, please," he spat back to Melanie.
"Hey, hey," she put her hands up placating as Miltia took the reins. Tony hopped up onto the back of the cart.
"Let's keep it cool…"
Any reply Roman had in mind was promptly cut off by a sudden bestial roar. One that was uncomfortably close.
Everyone's heads snapped to look behind them near the building where all the children's corpses were.
Lumbering out of a small alley in the side was something straight out a nightmare.
A Grimm.
Bulky, imposing, and with snarling visage, a hulking Grimm Ursa lumbered out on all fours, its hungry gaze directed at the people sitting atop the cart petrified.
Bone plating covered its entire body, and pulsating veins of glowing red ran under the gaps in the plates. Predatory eyes glowed hot red as it stared up at them, a growl emitting from its throat.
"Uh, Mil?" started Melanie, eyes wide with fear.
"I think we've overstayed our welcome…."
Miltia didn't need to be told twice, and with a crack of the reins, the horses began to bolt, just as Lauren jumped into the cart.
The cart jolted as it picked up speed. Meanwhile, the Grimm roared, and suddenly the group found themselves staring down a horde of Grimm around them in the town as they began to race off.
"Keep going! Don't stop!" screamed DJ in a panic.
"I'm trying!" screamed Miltia back as everyone hung onto the cart for dear life, several Grimm breaking off to follow them directly at breakneck speed.
"TRY HARDER!" screamed Roman.
They broke out the town, racing along the dirt road that led deep into the forest, kicking up plumes of snow.
They weren't the only ones, however, as the Grimm kept pace.
They were locked in a stalemate, with whoever exhausted first being the obvious loser.
Until one Grimm, a Beowulf, saw fit to leap through the air ahead of its brethren.
It was a smaller one, so it didn't capsize the whole cart when its claws collided with the wood, but it did land with enough force to jolt everyone.
Including Luaren who tumbled nearly rolled off of the cart if not for the timely sudden grab by Tony.
She screamed as her body and feet dragged in the ground below, only her arms being held.
The Grimm right next to her snapped its teeth and roared as it clung on with its front claws, it too being dragged in the snow.
"Fuck there's too much weight and drag!" screamed Melanie.
"Pull me up! Pull me up!" screamed Lauren as the Grimm loosened its grip on the cart.
"I'm trying!" gritted Tony. Roman and Neo both went to reach and pull Lauren up, but the Grimm angled its head at them, snapping its teeth, forcing the two to abort.
Time seemed to slow as Tony locked eyes with a desperate and frightened Lauren.
"Please," she whispered pleadingly. She didn't want to die. The words weren't even audible over the cacophony of chaos right now, but he heard and saw them on her lips nonetheless.
That was the last thing he saw of her before the Grimm, realising it was losing the battle to stay aboard its lunch-train, opted to take the one free easy meal on its way out as its grip loosened.
"LAUREN!" screamed Tony, lurching forward as the Grimm snapped its maw and began to tear into her shoulder, causing her to suddenly be yanked from Tony's grip.
He barely managed to keep himself from being tossed out of the cart.
Lauren was not as fortunate. And neither was Emerald, who happened to be sitting too close to the edge.
Emerald tumbled over the side of the cart with a sudden cry, everyone screaming in panic.
Lauren was ripped clean out of the cart, and as she tumbled to the snowy road with the Grimm wrapped around her, the hordes caught up.
Tony, and all the other passengers in the back could only watch in horror as Lauren was ripped limb from limb apart by ravenous Grimm, blood and entrails flying as she screeched a bloodcurdling scream of terror and pain.
The majority of the Grimm broke off from their pursuit to gorge themselves on the hapless girl in a bloody frenzy.
"Stop! We have to go back for Emerald!" screamed Roman.
The girl in question had quickly righted herself and could be seen struggling to run after them, waving and screaming desperately. But the cart was too fast, and she too slow.
Tony could only watch helplessly as the Grimm began to catch up.
"We can't stop!" shouted Melanie.
"If we stop, we're dead!"
"But Emerald?!" screeched DJ.
"Is gone!" snapped Melanie.
Tony looked behind them, Emerald now a small silhouette. She made a sudden sideways dash into the woods on her left, the Grimm following her.
Tony tried to suppress the urge to vomit, but he failed, emptying the contents of his stomach out the back of the cart.
"I'm sorry," consoled Hei weakly.
The Grimm were no longer pursuing them. But now, two more people had died.
There was no way a small child like Emerald could survive that.
Everyone struggled emotionally as they raced down the snow covered dirt road, the cart bumping and jolting harshly with every small stone and ditch.
They had survived. But what was it worth?
Hazel and Tyrian stood atop a distant hilltop, enshrouded by trees as they watched the town burn down to the ground.
Fire consumed all as thick heavy smoke blotted out the sky for miles to see. All the while, the distant wails of people screaming and dying, and Grimm roaring and gorging themselves carried through the wind.
Tyrian leaned back against an old tree, its rough bark falling off. Hazel meanwhile stood impassive on the hill edge, giant arms crossed.
"The brats are dead," finally spoke Tyrian, cocking an eyelid half open.
Hazel grunted, resuming his silence.
"I thought it was what you wanted?"
"It isn't a matter of what I want," began Hazel slowly, taking in the destructive scenery with a dead gaze.
"It's a matter of what is necessary."
He slowly turned to face Tyrian, a look of almost disappointment marring his features.
"This?" he gestured behind him to the dying town below.
"This wasn't."
Tyrian rolled his head back, sighing aloud.
"Ah. But what's done is done, my friend. You tried, and they didn't want to make things easy for us. You yourself said as much."
Hazel began to steadily walk by him.
"Perhaps. It doesn't mean I wouldn't like to avoid a repeat of this. Perhaps next time you can practice more patience?"
Tyrian scowled.
"We solved a problem. It was bound to happen either way, Hazel. Whether by our hands or hers."
"Perhaps…" trailed off Hazel.
Tyrian pushed himself off the tree, skipping over to Hazel, his previous expression and demeanour gone in exchange for an enthusiastic one.
"So. Where are we headed to next, I wonder?"
"We'll reunite with Jax and his crew. Make sure they are still on-board the plan. After that, then we will resume our hunt for any more Grimm-Whisperers."
Tyrian let a dangerous smile gleam.
"And if Jax is not on-board?"
Hazel sighed unhappily.
"Then violence will be necessary to put him back in line. You cannot kill him, however. His semblance is far too valuable to waste."
"Seems like a risk if we leave it," warned Tyrian.
"All the more reason to return," he answered ominously, and at that, Tyrian chuckled, before it exploded into outright maniacal laughter…
"Stop! Stop the cart!" screeched Roman, and DJ in a panic pulled on the reins. The horses let out a whinnied cry as they both bucked upright on their hind legs, before crashing down. The cart jolted as it came to a stop.
"What? Why?!" Panicked DJ. Tony was less kind, however.
"What the fuck are you on about Roman?! We need to get a move on right now!"
Roman didn't listen however, and he pushed himself over the edge of the cart, landing squarely on his feet.
"No we don't," he argued.
"We're far enough away from the town as it is. We need medicine right now, however, otherwise more of us are going to drop dead."
Neo's face lit up in recognition, and she too vaulted over the edge of the cart to accompany Roman.
"What? Get back in the cart! Now!" roared Tony.
"Just trust me," called Roman, forcing himself through the snow and off the trail they were on.
Pushing up the snow embankment, he pointed to a nearby cliff on the left, barely visible through the trees.
"I have a stash up ahead!" He called back.
"Bring the cart up as close as you can!"
"Stash?" called Melanie.
"What stash? Why do you have a stash?"
Hei grimaced as he craned his neck around to look at Roman.
"A very good question. Roman?"
"I'll explain later. Just trust me."
Everybody had no choice but to as Roman and Neo disappeared from their sight in a desperate rush towards the cliff.
"Fuck," growled Tommen.
"We don't have time for this! We need to be moving right now. Jess is going to die otherwise!" Tony flinched as he saw the inner workings of the boy's mouth through his injury. How he was talking coherently was nothing short of a miracle.
"And go where?" snapped Melanie.
"There's not a town around here for miles, in case you forgot. So no surgeons or doctors available. And need I remind you that Jess is in the state she is because of your selfish bullshit!"
"I was trying to protect us!"
Melanie snorted derisively.
"Good fucking job then."
Tommen snarled, clenching his fists. A fresh run of blood began to leak down his face from the deep gash he had.
"Yeah well, none of this would have happened if Roman hadn't brought that stupid kid monster down here."
Hei cast a glare back to Tommen.
"Neither of us was willing to just turn away a kid that was hurt and in need of help."
"But you knew, Hei. Didn't you. Argh," accused Tommen, wincing painfully.
DJ quickly interjected.
"Look, shit's happened. Let's not fight amongst each other and point fingers. We're all on the same side here. Right?"
Some grumbling ensued, and Hei glanced down at Jess.
Tommen was clasping her right hand while she lay on her back on the cart.
Blood stained her entire abdomen, and could be seen slowly pooling out from underneath her still.
Hei and Roman had both offered their respective jackets as a makeshift tourniquet for her to stem the bleeding, but it had done little. The wound was likely too deep.
After several minutes for waiting for Roman and Neo to return, and Hei, alongside everyone else, felt himself starting to become anxious.
Just when he was starting to get unsettled, the crunching of snow revealed Neo and Roman trudging back.
Slung over Neo's shoulder was a moderately sized cloth sack, with Roman directly in front of her.
"What's that?" asked Miltia.
Roman breathed a sigh that seemed almost hopeful.
"Our salvation."
"How so?" asked Melanie, offering a hand for Neo to climb in the cart.
"Well," smirked Roman.
"Remember where Neo and I found Ruby after her tumble off a cliff?"
"How could I. You two were busy making out or whatever," frowned Melanie. Roman's eyes narrowed.
"Well," he continued.
"It was actually where we'd been storing and growing our stash. Red just happened to crash the party one night."
"Wait. So what's in this stash?" asked DJ, curious.
"Money for us when we get to civilisation. A couple bandages, and…" he fished through the sack now that Neo had set it down.
With his good hand, he finally pulled out an item that had everyone's eyes wide with surprise.
"Aura Shards," breathed Hei, hopeful.
"Yup. Though," Roman frowned.
"I only have two."
And there were five people injured.
Roman would recover, as would Tommen. Hei's arms were mostly bereft of skin, so he was risking infection that would surely be lethal. An Aura Shard would help expedite a speedy skin recovery, meaning he wouldn't die hopefully.
Jess had her stomach sliced open, however, and unless that got treated, there was a very real possibility she would not survive. Especially considering her blood loss.
And then there was Ruby.
Hei had gotten Tony to have a look and assess her burns, which were similarly extensive across her legs, face and arms.
If they didn't get treated, then she would die of secondary infection, much like him.
The choice was obvious to Hei.
"Give one to Jess, and the other to Ruby."
Melanie was the first to protest.
"No way. You'll die Hei. The kid isn't worth your life."
Tommen was furious.
"You'd prioritise that Grimm mutant over your own life?! Are you nuts old man!"
"I've made my decision, and that's final. Now do it. I'll be fine," snapped Hei forcefully.
"And if I'm not? Well, I've had a good run so far," he added, this time more softly.
Roman and Neo exchanged looks, but before anyone else could get angry, Roman spoke up.
"Alright. If that's what you want to do, then we'll do it. No issue with that," he placated, before nodding to Neo, who grabbed the two crystals.
"Uh, yeah! Big issue!" snapped Tommen.
However, he got no support from Melanie or Tony, both of which looked pensive.
"What? Guys?"
Melanie spoke up with a frown.
"I don't agree with it, but Hei's not going to budge. Might as well respect his decision. After all," her eyes met Heis, who looked uncomfortable suddenly.
"They haven't led us astray yet, have they," she bit out sarcastically before turning her head away from the man in question.
Tommen was flabbergasted.
"Seriously?! That's all you have to say?!"
"Tommen," bit Tony.
"Enough."
Tommen made to protest, but the words died on his lips.
With a final scowl, he bent back down and focused on offering words of comfort to a delirious Jess who kept fading in and out of consciousness.
Dj cracked the reins to get the horse moving, while Neo, with the help of Miltia, began to use the crystals on the two wounded girls.
It was coming to dusk by the time Tony called for DJ to stop the horse and make camp.
"It's getting dark, and we're all exhausted. There's a clearing hearing, so we can set up camp. How's Jess and the kid coming along?"
The burns on Ruby's skin had toned down considerably, and the skin showed signs of knitting itself back up and healing.
"She's fine," nodded Roman.
"Or, at least as fine as one can be."
"Good," nodded Tony.
"And Jess?" he turned to Tommen who was hunched over her still.
"Tommen?!" tried Melanie impatiently.
Meanwhile, Miltia began to hop off of the cart to investigate the clearing.
"I-I don't know," began Tommen uncertainly.
"What do you mean you don't know," started Hei.
"Has her wound healed itself up yet?"
"I… it has, but she's looking even worse though."
The group peered over the girl, and after Melanie pulled up the clothing over her abdomen they could see.
The gash had partially closed up, but the surrounding flesh was growing purple and stained with a crusty yellow fluid.
Whatever it was, it was beginning to stink.
"This doesn't look right," frowned Tony as he looked the girl over, her breathing ragged.
Sweat was pouring off her face, and her skin was a sickly pale colour.
Melanie placed the back of her hand over her forehead, frowning.
"She's burning up big time," she announced, and instantly Tony and Hei became worried.
"What?" cried Tommen.
"What does that mean?! She's going to be alright, right?"
Tony pursed his lips and Roman clenched his fist helplessly.
"It means," began Hei slowly.
"That an infection has already settled in. A really bad one too if it's progressed this far already."
Tommen shook his head slowly in denial, tears welling in his eyes.
"No," he pleaded.
"She has to be alright. Please! Isn't there something we can do?!"
Melanie cast a glance at Hei.
"Get a fire going, and keep her warm," offered Hei.
"From there, we'll take a closer look and see what we can do," he exhaled.
"Right. Right!" nodded Tommen rapidly, instantly jumping out of the cart to start a fire in the clearing Miltia was investigating.
Melanie exchanged a glance with Tony and Hei.
"You don't think it's an infection. Do you," she stated once Tommen was out of earshot.
Hei grimaced.
"No. It's too soon and too far spread. That looks like poison."
"Fuck," hissed Melanie.
"How?" asked Roman, baffled.
"That… thing. It cut her with its tail," replied Hei.
"What? The Grimm?" DJ was confused.
"No. It looked like a person. But it had a tail," explained Hei.
Roman nodded.
"Ah, yeah. I think I know who you're talking about. Whatever that thing was. What, you think it was poisonous?"
Hei frowned, wincing as his arms stung.
"I have no clue. But I don't think it bodes well for her. At all."
It in fact did not bode well for her.
By the time the sun had set and a campfire had been established, with Neo and Melanie leaving to go quickly hunt for some small game, Jess had gone into convulsions, and her face had become discoloured.
Tommen was screaming by her side, begging her to stay with him. Tony and Miltia worked furiously to loosen any constrictive clothing. All the while, blood began to seep from her swollen mouth. Yellow crust build-up had formed around her eyes and nose, and she lay there spasming and twitching, eyes darting wildly as she slowly choked on her own blood, and her airway closed off against her will.
Tears slowly formed in the corner of her eyes as she stared up at Tommen and Hei, an expression of utter terror and panic as death slowly and painfully came to harvest her life.
And there was nothing anyone could do. Nothing to save her, nor ease her suffering.
Everyone was helpless to watch as she died on a bed of jackets in the snow in front of a campfire, surrounded by the few remaining people she had grown to know and care for.
By the time Melanie and Neo returned with a single measly rabbit between them, Jess was dead, her body dragged away from the fire before her fluids could drain.
Tommen cried, desperately clinging to Jess's cold corpse.
When Roman came to pry him off, he snapped, throwing a fist haphazardly into the older teens face and sending him sprawling back.
He glowered at Tony, breathing heavily, before turning his hateful glare towards Roman and Hei.
"This is your fault," he seethed.
Roman looked down at the fire, refusing to meet Tommen's gaze. Hei, however, grit his teeth.
"You are the one that decided to go and confront them. You dragged her into this whole mess. That's on you," he snapped.
Miltia quickly jumped up to put herself in between the two.
"Okay, that's enough. We've all had a very shit day. Let's not start tossing the blame around, alright?"
"I don't know," frowned Melanie.
"As much as I'm not impressed with him, Tommen does have a point."
"Melanie!" barked Miltia.
"I'm just saying," stated Melanie.
Whatever retorts were about to be had were promptly interrupted by the sound of crunching snow and gravelly voice speaking up.
"You folks alright, there?"
Everyone wheeled around, reaching for whatever weapons they could find.
Coming to a stop at the edge of the campsite was a tall, lanky man with messy black hair and stubble on his chin.
The man was dressed in riding boots, black pants and an untucked formal white dress shirt.
He put his hands out placating.
"Easy, easy. Not a bandit," he reassured.
"Who are you?" asked Tony warily, eyes narrowed. Neo had pulled her stilettoes out, while Melanie and Miltia had gone for boxing stances.
"The name's Qrow. I was passing through the area when I saw, and well, heard your campsite."
"And why are you prowling around at night, exactly?" shot Melanie.
"I'm looking for someone. I had some leads that were pointing me in this general direction."
At everyone's sceptical looks, Qrow sighed.
"Look, I don't mean you people any trouble. I'm a Huntsman."
That had the opposite than intended reaction, judging by the way everyone tensed.
"You look pretty banged up," Qrow gestured his head to Hei.
"That's gonna get infected if you leave it. Here," he reached for a small pouch under his shirt.
"Don't!" warned Melanie, while Neo approached closer.
Qrow ignored them, however.
"Easy. If I wanted trouble, I'd have gone looking elsewhere. Here."
He pulled out a blue crystal. An Aura Shard.
"I always keep a few on hand. Never know when they might come in handy."
He extended a hand out to Hei, who regarded Qrow tentatively. He refused to accept the crystal, however.
"What do you want in exchange?"
"Normally, I'd say nothing. But I got some concerning news a week back, and came to investigate this general area. Considering the state you're all in, and what has happened," he gestured to Jess' still corpse.
"I'd say you all just came back from a major shitshow."
Hei sighed.
"You're not wrong."
Qrow crossed his arms.
"So. Mind spilling the details?"
Roman frowned, speaking up.
"We got attacked by Grimm."
Qrow whistled.
"Damn. I dunno whether to be impressed you're all still alive, or concerned. For a bunch of civvies."
Hei snapped.
"We're not fine! We damn near lost everyone."
"Yeah," chimed in DJ, angry at Qrows lack of tact.
"Whole town's gone now."
Qrow went still, eyes going wide.
"Did you say town?"
"Yeah," nodded Melanie.
"Saint. It's the only settlement out here for damn near a hundred miles."
"Shit," Qrow spat.
"How long ago?"
Hei looked solemn.
"About midday."
Qrow strode forward with incredible speed.
"Which direction? Is it back that way?" He gestured down the approximate direction they had come from, the snow covered trail a major guess.
"Tell me, and the Shard is yours!"
Qrow was in Hei's face by now, an estranged look of panic across it.
Neo and Melanie had moved in to flank Qrow, but he showed no signs of being aware, or if he did, even caring.
"Yeah, back that way? Why?"
Hei leaned back, unnerved by the man's sudden change.
Qrow shoved the crystal into Hei's skinless hands before pulling away and striding down the road.
"I'm a Huntsman. That's why. If Grimm attacked a settlement like Saint, then that does not bode well for Vale."
"Huh? How so," asked Miltia, but Qrow had already left.
"What was that," finally spoke Roman.
"Fucking nutter," frowned Melanie with a slow shake of her head.
"Hey, if he wants to go get himself killed, far be it from me to stop him," shrugged Roman before addressing Hei.
"You good, Hei?"
He clutched the crystal in his hands, shaking as he held it.
"Y-yeah. Just surprised is all."
Melanie went and leaned back against the cart nearby where Ruby was currently laying, pretending she was asleep. Until she spoke up.
"You should use it, Hei. It will help your burns."
Hei cast a surprised glance at her.
"Ruby?! You're awake!"
She nodded slowly, sitting upright in the cart.
"How long have you been awake? How are you feeling?"
Tommen scoffed, but otherwise didn't say anything.
"I woke up not too long ago. When that man arrived and started speaking."
Hei stared down at the crystal as Ruby spoke.
"And your wounds? Any pain?" he inquired.
Ruby winced.
"I still feel pretty sore. But I'm otherwise fine, thanks."
Tommen scowled, muttering under his breath.
"Bitch."
Ruby cast a curious glance his way.
"Hmm?"
"Tommen," warned Hei.
"No, fuck that Hei. Jess is dead because of her. Everyone is dead because of her. And she gets to walk away scot-free. That's bullshit Hei!"
"Tommen, cool off!" snapped Hei.
"I know you're distressed. We all are. But getting angry at Ruby isn't going to do or fix anything."
"No," agreed Tommen weakly, and for the first time, his tear-stained face was visible with watery eyes.
"You're right. They're not coming back Hei..."
With that, he stood up from the fire and stormed off to the edge of the clearing.
Miltia made to follow him, but Melanie grabbed her arm to stop her, shaking her head.
"Did I do something wrong?" Ruby's voice was meek and uncertain.
"I…" began Hei.
"Just… get some rest kid, and don't worry about it."
Ruby looked reluctant, before letting out a quiet 'okay' and retreating back to the cart.
Hei stared at the Aura Shard.
"Oh, just crack the thing open already, Hei. You need it most out of us all now," stated Roman with an exasperated frown.
So, Hei clenched his hand as tight as he could.
It hurt. Having most of his kin burnt off mean that all of his nerves were exposed, and the fact he could even grab something was alone a miracle. The fact he was still conscious, even. Then again, fear for one's life tended to be a decent motivator.
Blue light burst from the crystal as it shattered. Not blinding, just a dull glow. One which quickly flooded and encompassed Hei.
Almost instantly, he could feel the effects of it.
The pain within his arms began to subside, and slowly, skin began to grow. It would take all night for it to fully return, but it would.
At least that meant he wouldn't suffer any infections.
"This whole situation is an absolute mess," groused Tony.
Hei grunted.
"Nothing we can do about that. Just keep on moving forward," he offered.
"So," began Roman.
"Where's our next destination? Any plans, or what?"
"You get your wish, Roman," said Hei.
"We're going to go to Vale."
Roman wanted to be excited, but he honestly couldn't bring himself to be. He was too tired, and too emotionally drained after today.
"Sounds like a plan," he yawned.
Hei chuckled pathetically.
"It's not. I haven't had a plan since this shitshow began."
"Yeah. We can tell," sniped Melanie.
Hei couldn't even bring himself to refute it.
What good had his plans been anyway?
The next morning saw everyone jump awake as Ruby's scream penetrated the small encampment.
Eyes darting around furiously, Hei realised that she wasn't anywhere to be seen, only for Miltia to go running off to the edge of the small clearing where the scream originated.
Hei, and everyone else, followed.
As Hei stumbled through the thick brush and foliage, flintlock at the ready, he finally saw Ruby.
She was standing still at the base of a tree, looking up at something hanging from a piece of rope.
Hei lowered his flintlock as his eyes widened in shock, only for him to visibly grimace as he bit back a curse.
Roman was much more liberal with his tongue, as was Melanie.
"Miltia," called Hei abruptly.
"Take Ruby back to the campsite and start packing."
Miltia didn't need to be told twice, and she ushered a shocked Ruby away.
Sighing, Hei put away the flintlock.
"Should we… should we cut him down?" asked Roman meekly.
Hei cast one last glance at creaking and groaning rope that Tommen was hanging from. His skin was pale, and dried blood clung to his lips, his eyes glazed over.
"He clearly didn't want be," spat Melanie before turning to storm off back to the main site.
"Melanie," called Roman weakly, only for Neo to place a hand on his shoulder and slowly shake her head.
Hei clenched his fist, teeth grit.
So much fucking death. He was sick of it.
He finally relented in a stony voice.
"Just focus on packing up camp. We'll be at Vale City in a week. The less time we spend in these cursed fucking woods, the better."
Roman bit his lower lip as he saw Hei's sour face.
"Hei…?"
"Just," he began to snap, before letting his shoulders drop in defeat, voice almost a whisper.
"Just do it. Please."
Roman and Neo exchanged glances, before slowly walking back to the campsite.
All that was left was DJ and Tony, both of whom exchanged uncertain glances.
"We're here for you, boss," spoke DJ, before the two trudged away solemnly. Tony placed a reassuring hand on Hei's shoulder, shooting him an empathetic glance.
Once the two had left and he was all alone, Hei sank to his knees.
He had lost it all. All of the children from the orphanage. Gone. Nearly everyone he had helped raise, rescue and shelter had been rendered dead.
He couldn't help the tears that began to well in his eyes and steadily trail down his cheeks, just like he couldn't help the subdued sob that racked his throat.
He had failed everyone, and he had only himself to blame.
The following week passed by miserably for everyone.
Scarce supplies, freezing weather, and festering wounds, both physical and mental, took their toll.
By the time the small ragtag group of survivors reached Vale City, they had all lost noticeable weight, and were filthy from days of poor hygiene. The smell alone would have been a deterrent to any opportunists or bandits that they fortunately did not encounter.
"Well," called Melanie, casting a tired glance to Roman as the cart rocked.
"You wanted to see Vale? Here it is."
Here it was indeed.
Heavy-set faded white walls surrounded the entire city and travelled for miles. So high were they that most buildings in the lower levels could not be seen. They easily would have been fifty metres high.
Only the tallest of buildings, or those protruded from the steadily growing hills which said walls surrounded, could be seen.
Rustic red roofs, spires, towers and more could be seen. And of course, most impressive of all, in the far distance, was a large castle, with towers and peaks so high that they seemed to vanish into the sky itself.
Floating near said tower was a balloon-shaped vehicle, being propelled by mechanisms too far to make out with the naked eye.
"Does this mean we are finally safe now?" asked Roman tentatively.
Ruby's eyes were wide with wonder as she found something new to marvel at.
Hei was much more subdued, however. His lips thinned, frowning as he took in the sight before him.
As they got closer, the walls looming over them even higher, guards could be seen near a large steel gate, the entrance into the mighty fortress of a city.
"Not really."
"What, the guards?" suggested DJ.
"No," Hei shook his head before pointing a scarred finger at the large castle-like structure, panning to the city itself….
AN: And that's not only this chapter, but this arc done! Been an interesting write, and hopefully read.
So, a bit of a miserable finale. So many dead characters...
Makarov: Remember. No OC's…
I can't say let alone promise when the next arc will drop, other than it will be several months. I want to do some other things for now, and when I do write, I want to have the arc either done in its entirety, or nearly done, so I can maintain a consistent weekly upload schedule.
Like I mentioned earlier, it's because I want to focus on producing better quality chapters, and writing and publishing a chapter weekly, while doable, is not something I am satisfied with in terms of my available time and my ability to fully edit and draft.
I can promise that I will continue this story, however. I mean, I finished this arc, right?
Next arc onwards will be putting more of an emphasis on Ruby's perspective as this is more of her story.
Onto this arc, what have your thoughts been?
My inner self screamed when I wrote Roman asking if Tyrian's tail was poisonous. The correct word is venomous, but not every character can be as educated or knowledgeable as me the author.
Regardless, thank you for sticking around long enough to read this far, and I will see with a new chapter at some point in the future. I can't say when, all I'll say is just check in a couple months. If it's out, it's out. If not, well, come back later I guess?
Peace out!