🚧ᴘᴇᴛʀᴏʟɪᴜᴍ ғᴀᴛᴀʟᴇ🚧 @cumerzumsa - Tumblr Blog

Nescis Hos Titulos Esse Locos

Yandere!Limbus Company x Reader

Warnings: Obsession and other general yandere behaviors; violence; blood; gore; swearing; Kromer; VERY SUGGESTIVE (Kromer and Sinclair HEAVILY either debate or think about getting a hit of that dussy (demon bussy)); partial nudity (reproductive parts remain covered); dubcon touching (not particularly explicit just suggestive); Kromer again; implications of Sinclair x Demian but not confirmed just vaguely implied for like 5 seconds; Kromer AGAIN (she needs to be stopped); main character harm (pretty grevious harm too)

Note: I’m like 60% sure no one reads these notes so I’m gonna explain why I gave Rewind time travel powers, as seen in the last post.

It’s because of the fucking Erlking.

I wanted to make him yandere but couldn’t find any genuine excuses for it without it being “love at first sight” (which, no, he is NOT a character who would do that). So I said “FUCK IT, TIME TRAVEL” and now lil ol Rewind will travel back in time and accidentally pull past Heathcliff. We are SO ready.

Anyways now I await no one replying to this <3

Extra Note: Ts is gonna be the longest chapter yet. Also!! Is gonna be unique because I said “FUCK IT LETS TRY SOMETHING NEW!!!” Hope yall like what I did!!

Extra Extra Note: I made Kromer WAY more of a freak that I initially planned too, but I feel like it fits her more. It gets pretty bad so I just wanna say either MDNI or skip the second scene with Kromer. Don't really care which, but just know I don't condone any of the shit she does she's just a true freak. And not a freak like I am for Ahab oh she is so much worse

Probably won't mark this as mature content as when I was 16 I consumed WAYYY worse things because I was stupid but just like... yeahhhh. No regrets making Kromer literal pond scum though I hope she dies again

Tags: @piercing-gaze ; @cumerzumsa ; @silkk-orchid ; @bloodytea ; @benji654 ; @poorgay ; @vibrantvindicatortotem ; @ghost-of-the-firefly993 ; @imboredjackass ; @viillsxq ; @mx-d1zzy

–★★★★★–

Your name had quietly flown from my lips when I watched her carry you into that house.

I couldn’t move for a moment there, couldn’t stop her. Couldn’t do anything but helplessly watch you get carried away before…

You were gone.

I just… I couldn’t think straight, all I felt was a blinding, unyielding rage. First she took my family, and now you..?

The scream that tore from my throat hurt, but didn’t even compare too… I- all I could feel was anger, and hate, and Wings I just wanted her dead.

I don’t know if anyone tried to stop me as I charged after her- after you. But I didn’t care. I just needed to get to you, to save you. Anything. Anything for you.

You’re the only one here that’s kind, the only one who understands why I hate her. If I lost you… what would I even do?

When the Inquisitors got in my way, I didn’t care. When I got grabbed by one, I didn’t care. When I cracked their skull in half and watched blood and gray matter fall from their split head and hood, I didn’t care.

“…What the-? The hell have you been dawdling in the back for if you could do that?” Heathcliff asked me, but I didn’t respond as I continued to maim any Inquisitor who tried to stop me. I needed to get to you, I needed to save you-!

You saved me so much, just by sitting there and listening and encouraging me you did so much. I couldn’t let her hurt you.

“I remember with clarity that I had ended your lives. I undoubtedly witnessed torn brain tissue spill through the cracks in your skulls.” The bastard had said, standing before my burning home with weapon drawn, ready to stop me from trying to save you. “And yet, here you heretics are, before me on your feet.”

“You’re not the one to complain about miraculous recoveries…” Gregor dryly muttered. I don’t understand why you seem to like him and his comments, but… you look at me with a sparkle in your eyes he doesn’t get. So… Surely you like me more, right? Maybe even… love me more? Right?

Why do you cling to him and not me not someone like Dante? Is it because you’re both different from normal people? That- that doesn’t matter to me! You’re everything. Everything.

Do you know how pretty you are? Not pretty like how a human is, no, but the way your nose wrinkles when you're amused or annoyed. The way your head tilts as you think. The way your wings curl when you get unnerved and fluff out when you're startled. You're pretty.

Maybe adorable is the right word, though. You seem more adorable than pretty, but both can be true at once, right?

I should get back on topic instead of talking about my thoughts for you.

Guido stared holes into Dante, who seems too caught up with you being kidnapped. I mean- I get it. Your kidnapping devastated all of us, I’m sure. But… It especially hurt me. Because she did it.

When he nods, I wanted to scream because he was in my way from saving you.

I’m not sure why I felt like I needed to do this. Maybe because you felt like you saved me, like you took my hand and dragged me out of a pit of fear that would’ve made it impossible for me to face her again. You saved me and tried to save me again and again. Saving you was the least I could do.

“You there, the one possessing the head of a heretic.” Guido said to Dante, “You must be the false shepherd enticing this herd into blasphemy.”

When he nodded at the nailed corpses, I wanted to slaughter him.

I think I'm doing it again. Sorry. I'll try to focus.

“They committed the grave sin of entering the site of hallowed rites with their unclean bodies. Thus, they have been punished with the same penalty as heretics receive.” He said, “They have also been subjected to the humiliation of bodily mechanical intrusions being installed against their will. But you are different.”

He took a singular step towards everyone, but I could not charge at him. All I could do is try to fight off the hordes of Inquisitors that surrounded me.

“The sin of worshipping a heretic is less severe than indulging in heresy oneself.” He told the Sinners- all of them, including me. “Therefore, as long as you are willing to repent and cleanse your minds of sin… We, the Hammer, are willing to demonstrate forgiveness.”

He spread out his arms, as if offering a blessing. A really evil blessing. “So I implore you, ye pitiable foolish sinners, led astray by temptation. Shake off the allure of that false miracle, and kneel before me.”

I staggered back as the Inquisitors abruptly cease their onslaught, but I couldn’t get through them all. I couldn’t get to you…

Dante was silent, staring at where you once were with a blank sort of look. I may have been wrong, though. They don’t have a face for me to see expressions on. Then, they spook. <Are they alive?>

“If Kromer really wanted [Name] dead… she would’ve just outright killed them.” Ishmael pointed out, “But she took care to bind and take them. She doesn’t want them dead, but… what would she want with them?”

How did Ishmael know that? She didn’t know anything about that bitch. She didn’t know, and still doesn’t. You should be able to understand that- you had to suffer under her, while she didn’t.

“...” I had a few guesses to what she wanted with you. I should’ve known something was off with the way she looked at you that day… Why couldn’t I remember until today? Why couldn’t I warn you? Why couldn’t I stop her?

I failed you. And I kept doing it over and over again.

“So you think throwing some fancy words around will be enough to persuade us, eh…” Heathcliff muttered, glaring at Guido, “Listen up, Faceplate: You’re the one who needs a little shaking off. Seems to me your human brain’s just as defective.”

“……” Guido stood upright, “You were given ample opportunity. You are no different from those we hung and nailed after all.”

He drew his weapon. “I am a Hammer. I am a tool for the One Who Grips, tasked with the great mission of piercing the false flesh of heretics. I shall bind thee to a nail, and lay thee down furthest from soil. For he who shan’t repent…”

“Oi, when are you gonna finish your stupidly long taunt?” Heathcliff shouted, readying his bat. He was angry, but that’s usual for him. I’ve lost track of the times he cracked my skull open for upsetting him.

No one on this bus is like you. You’re the only genuinely kind one. Maybe Dante is too, but it’s not the same. You’re gentle and patient. I’d do anything for you.

Guido dips his head slightly, glaring at us with nothing but malice. “…is not granted rest beneath the earth.”

–★★★–

How is she this strong..?

You squirm helplessly in her arms, unable to move any one of your limbs. Your wings press against her, trying to push yourself away as you try to free your legs or arms. You aren’t successful.

“Aww… look at you~!” Kromer coos in that fake, overly saccharine tone. “Trying so hard to get away… didn’t you miss me?”

You still, to give her the most deadpan look you can muster. “No.”

She cackles, grip on you tightening as she carries you like a baby. Or a rug… depends on how you carry rugs… ah- fuck- why are you like this..?

“There’s no need to lie because you’re mad at me, my [Name]. After all, I’m not the one who killed him. Your friends were, weren’t they?”

It’s like she twisted the knife she stabbed you with.

Your chest heaves, heat from the flames diminishing as she carries you down, and through an empty yet bloodstained tunnel. She’s taking you into the Lobcorp facility linked to Sinclair’s house.

The only things you hear are your heavy breaths and Kromer’s whistle. It’s loud and piercing and frustrating, yet haunting and faint at the same time. You don’t like it. You don’t like this at all.

So what do you plan to do about it?

You… don’t know. You don’t. What can you do? Even if you hurt her, you’re chained and bound and are stuck on what’s as good as her turf.

You’re as good as dead if you try to hurt her. She’ll just laugh, mock you, and do… who knows what.

But looking at her face… her stupid, dumb smirk… God, you hate seeing it. Hate seeing it knowing everything she’s done.

You squint when the space suddenly grows to a massive size, and you realize you have been quite literally carried straight into the facility. It’s being used as a temporary base for the Nagel und Hammer, the space bustling with Inquisitors and torture equipment and poor people being brutalized and killed in the name of “purity”. It makes you want to vomit.

Kromer seems to relish in the awed attention she receives from each Inquisitor when they notice her, but you do all you can to ignore it all. You instead look for someone else, and…

“SAUDE!!”

Kromer flinches at your sudden lunge, one hand snaking into your hair to help hold you back as the woman, laying on the ground in a bloody heap, tries to lift her head to stare at you.

“Oh~ another one of your friends?” Kromer coos, and you wince as she tugs your head up by the hair. “And look at her, on the brink of death.”

“So… do you want to keep her alive?” She asks you, moving her head to rest it on your shoulder. “Because I have many people here who are willing to kill her. But… maybe I’ll let her live. But, only if you promise me something.”

Your breath hitches, and you glare at her from the corner of your eye.

“Well~?”

“...What?”

She doesn’t even try to hide her grin. “Let me do whatever I want to you.”

You give her a disgusted look.

“Nothing sexual, silly.” Kromer teases, “Well, not particularly so. Just one little thing. Nothing more. And that way, I promise she gets to live.”

You don’t want her to do anything to you. But…

You look at Saude breathing weakly on the ground.

…

You swallow a lump in your throat, and give a firm nod.

“Words, [Name], I want to hear you speak.”

You glower at her in response.

“With one order, I can kill her~”

“Yes.”

“Yes, what?”

“Yes… you can do… anything you want to me. Only if she gets to live.”

“Awh~ Good!” Kromer coos, and you give her a look of disdain. She turns to say something to the Inquisitors, but all you can do is seethe.

Are you doing this because of Effie?

He would want this. You can’t think of any world where Effie would want Saude to die.

Plus… you already failed him. The least you can do is guarantee she lives.

Then you realize Kromer is moving again. And you didn’t even get to…

“SAUDE!!!” You screech, trying to call out to her in desperation, “I’M SORRY- I- FUCK- I’M SORRY!!! PLEASE!! EFFIE IS- I- I COULDN’T- I’M SO, SO SORRY, PLEASE-!”

Kromer slaps a hand over your snout, squeezing it tightly. Your voice dies almost immediately, and all you can do is let out a choked whisper.

“Forgive me…”

–★★★–

The ground shook when Guido fell, but I couldn’t care. All I could do was stab an Inquisitor with the point of my halberd over and over again.

How dare she take you. How dare she.

Blood spurted from their corpse, organs tumbling out of their increasingly mangled body.

Are you even alive? These people… they stopped me from getting to you. How dare they.

Rodion said something to me, but I ignored it. I know it wasn’t the right thing to do, but…

Wings… if you aren’t okay when I find you, I’ll…

“I’ll… kill… them all…”

I choked out, stabbing them over, and over, and over again. My thoughts were an endless mantra of only you. [Name], I swear I’ll find you. I’ll kill anyone who gets in my way. I’m not strong enough to carry you, but I’ll lead you out and let you rest in my room. I’ll take care of Orbi as you recover and will do anything you need me to. All I want is just your safety and a single smile.

I’ll make sure you’ll be okay. I’ll-

I gasped when I was knocked to the ground, halberd falling from my hands and clattered to the ground. I lifted my head, caught a glimpse of blonde hair, before stars filled my vision as Don Quixote beat me senseless.

It really, really hurt, but I was too dazed to fight back and get her off of me. I thought I heard my nose crack as her onslaught continued. If anyone else said anything, I couldn’t hear it. The only sounds that filled my ears are the ones of me being beaten halfway to a bloody pulp.

When she abruptly stoped, the tears and swelling in my eyes made it hard to see her jovial face leer down at me. “Pray tell, how dost thou feel now?”

I just let out a noise of pain, hoping Dante is willing to fix this mess before I go to save you. They were, thankfully, but I didn’t know it at the time.

“Pardon my rash action. Oft I would find myself overcome by fervor, rampaging much the same as a riderless horse.” Don Quixote told me chipperly, helping me to my feet, “At such moments, mine old friends helped me to come to myself- by beating me senseless. ‘Twas, at times, the only remedy to the fever that had overtaken me.”

“Aha, so in that sense, Vergilius must be a good friend of yours too, right?” Ishmael sarcastically asked, earning a snicker from Rodion and a blush from Don Quixote.

“Well- I…!”

“Hic… Huhk…” I felt tears run down my bruised cheeks, and rubbed my injured face with a hand as all I think about is you and that night and how that bitch ruined it all. “I’ll get her for this…”

I feel myself shake again, feeling so pathetic and weak and- “I’ll go to my home… and skewer that bitch… I’ll skewer her with a stake…! And then-”

My voice collapsed into pained sobs, and I felt small and helpless. I won’t let her hurt you. I’ll find you, and- and…

Thinking about it, it's almost weird how quickly you consumed my thoughts. I met you years ago, sure, but only really knew you for roughly a week.

I think it might be because you care about me. And I’d like you to continue caring.

But I still hate her. First she took my family. Then she took my home. Then she took you. But at least I had a chance to save one of these things.

Sometimes I wonder, if I had a chance to save you or my family, which one I would pick. I don’t even really know. It’s not something I like to think about.

Do you have things you don’t like to think about? You seem nervous so often, but you continue on in silence and stand strong. I wish I could be like you. You don’t freeze up like I do. You take action.

Even if sometimes those actions fail.

“I… lost everything overnight…” I choked out between sniffles, “Back then… they didn’t parade their ‘Nagel und Hammer’ name around. You didn’t see large groups like that in the open. But, at some point…”

“People calling themselves ‘Hammers’ started showing up in town, one by one, and…” I broke into sobs once more, “Eagh, hic…”

“It’s okay, kiddo. No need to push yourself…” Rodion tells me, patting me on the back.

“No!” I cry out, “No- I need to- need-”

But I just devolved into sobs again. She gently pats me on the back, but it fixes nothing.

“I still think that sometimes…” I let out a hiccup, “This is all just a bad dream and I’m having trouble waking up…”

“It always comes… Every morning, before I open my eyes…” My voice cracks, “Maybe this time… I’ll wake up and see my familiar ceiling… Just maybe.”

And I just broke down again. Pathetic as always.

—

I don’t really know how I managed to gather or compose myself. After the tears stopped, I just… felt almost numb. The rage that flew through me dying down enough that I almost appeared composed.

But my hands still shook. Especially when I desperately gathered up the Ampules you dropped. What if you’re hurt when I find you? She has no qualms about killing and maiming… What if she does it to you?

I need- need- need…

I need you.

I have a confession I need to make.

I’ve snuck into Dante’s room to watch you sleep before. Well, into may be an overstatement. I just crack the door and can see you. I don’t know why you sleep in that chair. Is it really comfortable? Or is it because you don’t want the bed. Or Dante won’t let you have the bed-

No, no. I see Dante around you. They would let you have the bed.

So why don’t you take the offer? I don’t really understand it, but… you do look peaceful when you sleep. Your wings wrap around your body and you hold your tail close.

Sometimes I want to open the door and go all the way in. Go to your sleeping body and watch closely. See the way your chest rises and falls with each breath, each twitch as you dream, and maybe even crawl into your arms.

But that’s not the worst thing I want to do to you. I…

I don’t know how to put it into words but it isn’t good. But I shouldn’t talk about that right now. You’re probably disgusted enough by my confession, not that I’ll ever let you learn about it, but…

Anyways.

I wasn’t the only one who grabbed something of your’s. Your swords- Abnormality swords?- were left still stabbed into the earth. On closer inspection, they were dug so far into the ground they couldn’t pull themselves out. Probably was why they didn’t turn her into mincemeat the moment she touched you.

But Dante pulled them out, and they floated behind them and made little movement. I’d almost say they looked dismayed with your absence, but…

It was my intuition that led us down to the Lobotomy Corporation Branch. That, or the pull of the Golden Bough. Maybe it was your pull, though. No. No, I’m being delusional.

Faust as good as confirmed it anyways, with her silence and all that.

Do you like Faust? You seem rather uncomfortable around her… Is it because of the many things she won’t tell us? She also seems pretty skeptical of you, but I can’t understand why. You’re almost like an open book, even going as far to tell us about that woman you loved.

Well, you still love her, I guess.

Is it wrong I hope you stop? Because she may not even love you back. You’re plenty loveable, yes, but… what if she doesn’t?

I don’t understand love. I don’t think I've ever been in love before. Is it a warm, fuzzy feeling like some people described it to me as? Well, “people” being my parents. I get that feeling around you, but that can’t be love, right?

I gotten it for Demian once, but I don’t love him. He kind of intimidates me, to be honest. And when I first met Kromer, I got it for her, but that feeling has been gone for years.

I can’t love you… right?

—

I don’t want to think about the tortured people I saw in the Lobotomy Corporation branch. I understand what you told me and that I should reflect on it, but I don’t want to write out what I remember the people- people I once knew- said while they were being tortured by the hands of N Corp Inquisitors. I’m sorry.

Miss Rodion took charge, though. She was the first one to move and initiate the fight in this first part.

Then we saw Miss Saude. This is what I remember from the conversation, because this is one of the most blurry parts with how unfocused I was:

“Well I’ll be… You’ve all… gotten better at fighting, haven’t you…?” Miss Saude had weakly croaked out, and we saw her, injured but alive, resting against the wall. Covered in bites and wounds, she tried to push herself up in vain.

“Are you alright? Can you get up easily?” Ishmael had asked, and Saude weakly shook her head.

Then she asked about him.

“Effie… How is he…?” Her voice was desperate, and I didn’t know how to tell her it was our fault he died, with how you… well, you already know. “Alive, yeah? You… must’ve met outside…”

I still regret not speaking up on your behalf. But I must confess, my main worry was that you wouldn’t forgive me. I wasn’t as upset at Effie’s death as I thought I would be. I know it’s wrong, but I think a small part of me is relieved he’s dead.

But Hong Lu had spoken up. “Yes, he’s doing fine now.”

No one else, not me or anyone, said anything more regarding him.

“That’s enough chatter.” Outis said when she changed the topic, “It seems more of those oddities are crawling our way."

Then we were attacked by a horde of Peccatula. It was a relatively tough fight, but nothing much crazier than what we faced before. I mean, sure, some of us died, but that was normal in fights. No, the most important thing came after.

Because then we heard a nail being dragged across the ground. During that time, I almost heard you letting out an audible groan. That would be something you did, right?

But Outis said something about “checking if foes are dead,” as Guido approached us.

“Ye Heretics… must be exterminated.” Guido had told us, approaching with a slow yet steady gait.

“How long have you been…” Dante slowly started to ask, but Guido just kept talking during that time.

“And… the rest… shall be purified.”

I saw Dante start to panic. They were already fidgety since you were kidnapped, but now all the Sinners were dead or injured due to the fight. I was barely standing myself during that time, but just seethed in anger. I knew Dante was about to rewind, as usual, but then Saude spoke.

“Please stop…” She had said, lifting a gun to point at them. “I need you… to keep still… The moment you try to turn that clock, my gun… will blow off your head…”

I couldn’t say anything. I wanted to move to stop her, but I was too worried she would kill Dante. And without Dante to heal or revive me, I had no chance of rescuing you.

Looking back, it would seem like I didn’t care about Dante. But I do! It’s just, in that moment, you were in more danger. I’ve seen first-hand what Kromer can do. You were the priority, simple as that.

Dante croaked out Saude’s name, sounding almost betrayed. I wonder, in that moment, did they wear the same expression you did when Effie died?

“Don’t look at me… like that… I can’t hear you. But, I can tell you this.” She told us, “They promised… to let Effie go… if I helped to get rid of you…”

At that moment, I wished I told her a version of what happened. You would’ve. You would’ve told her the truth and avoided this mess. You would’ve ensured Guido was dead and gave Saude some of those ampules to heal.

“I let too much time pass.” Guido grabbed Dante by the neck, lifting them above the ground with a hand, the other moving to grasp their head and crush it slowly. Your weapons didn’t even move to defend them, just continuing to idly hover. Their loyalty clearly only was for you, and no one else.

But your weapons weren’t my main focus. In that moment, Dante was. I heard their noises of agony, and panicked.

So I moved. Forced myself to rush forward, grabbing Guido’s discarded nail, and impaled it into his back. I drove it though his spine and out his abdomen.

He let out a hiss of pain, and I stood there heaving. That movement really, really hurt. But I knew I would ultimately be okay. As long as Dante is alive, I will always be okay.

Guido staggered, dropping Dante, but didn’t collapse. He stayed standing, slowly turning to face me. “…I see. You, too, are a filthy heretic…”

“You’re… all insane… out of your minds…” I told him, almost falling over.

“The One Who Grips had once said…” Guido told me, and I seethed, “That you could have become the One as well.”

“Fuck her.” I remember spitting out, “And fuck everything… she stands for…”

I think if you were there, I wouldn’t say that. But I do a lot of things because of you. And I clearly think about you a lot. Do you think about me a lot?

“What a shame…” Guido told me, readying himself to kill me. “You grip with the wrong direction.”

<Sinclair… run away… I can’t… help you…> Dante told me, raising a hand to desperately urge me to go.

But I didn’t.

“No… I’m not running anymore.” I said, “I’m not running… from the person in my way..!”

“…I like that answer, Sinclair.” Saude told me, and fired the gun a dozen times at least.

Square at Guido’s head.

He was silent, the bullets digging through the bloody metal helmet he wore, and was silent for a moment, before weakly speaking. “You, who bring ruination upon yourselves… The Hammer shall continue to pursue you…”

Then he collapsed with a thud. And, shortly after, so did Saude’s gun.

<…Saude.> Dante said softly, turning to face her.

“Effie, he’s… he’s dead, isn’t he?” Our silence made her smile, almost mockingly and miserably. “[Name]... they spoke about him when they were dragged through here. And… You’re all terrible liars. At least try to make it somewhat believable.”

<[Name]’s alive?> Dante asked, perking up slightly. Saude gave them a weak look, and I translated their words.

“Haa… yep. Kicking and screaming too.” She said, “Never seen them so… terrified.”

Everyone still alive tensed at that.

“…C’mon Saude, let’s get out of here. You’ll be okay… Just gotta stop the bleeding, and… get you patched up.” Gregor said, approaching her with relative uncertainty.

“Right. I’ll get a tourniquet…” Ishmael murmured, but all Saude did was let out a bitter laugh.

“Don’t be stupid. I can hardly lift a finger.” She told those still alive, “Besides, those Inquisitors will keep on coming, won’t they? You guys need to keep moving down. I’ll hold them off here. You should go.”

“You can’t- You can’t do that…” I choked out. I already didn’t want Saude to die, but I know that if you both lost Effie and Saude in one day, well… you’d be even deeper into a pit of misery you just dragged yourself out of after Yuri’s death.

“You said yourself that you can hardly lift a finger. I can’t let you watch our backs when you’re in such a mess… Please?” Ishmael said, sounding weaker than usual. I wonder if she had the same thought process I did.

“You know… in moments like this… you’re supposed to just nod at me and be on your way.” Saude murmured, “Why do you care so much about the one who volunteered to stay behind?”

Gregor stilled, before speaking in a faint voice I could barely hear. “[Name] would.”

Saude falls silent at that, before letting out a chuckle. “I can almost hear their pleading now… They already begged for my life before. I think they’d hate me forever if I died now, yeah..?”

Then I approached her, hands shaking, and I pulled out the ampules you dropped and dumped them into her hands.

“Live.” I told her as my voice cracked. “...Please.”

She took them, giving me a slight smile. “Just… make sure they get out alright, will you?”

I nodded, but I felt tears welling in my eyes.

“Aw… You’re making this pretty awkward, you know that? Here I thought I could have a cool farewell.” Saude murmured, grinning faintly, “Faust, please take these absolute dorks out of here. I don’t think I’m going to be meeting up with you for a bit…”

“I’ll make sure to give Vergilius your regards.” Faust told her simply.

“No need.” Saude said, “Just… tell them I’m okay, will you?”

“……” Faust nodded only once. “Of course.”

Dante revived the dead and healed those who remained alive, and then we continued on, leaving Saude with her fate hanging in the air, but pointing in a path I hoped you would be glad for.

–★★★–

You were left collapsed on a hill of the dead. By Kromer’s command, all Inquisitors were sent out of the room where she resonated with the Bough. Blood from their bodies stained your clothes, and Kromer was at work forcing you to fulfill your end of the bargain for Saude’s life.

Hands tangled in the feathers of your wings, slowly stretching one out as she almost salivated at the sight of the cool gray feathers. Her nails dragged along them, and this was only one of the many ways she examined every bit of your body.

She’s sitting atop your stomach, straddling your partially exposed body with a look of pleasure adorned her face.

“Oh, how long I waited for this day~!” She cooed to herself, peeling your opened shirt back further. She didn’t touch much else beside the mouth that trailed along your collarbone, and you stared at her in silent hatred.

Carmen hasn’t said a word since you arrived in this room. Perhaps she’s left you here alone to suffer at the hands of this maniac.

“Don’t look at me like that.” She tells you, “Maybe, if you behave enough, I’ll let you out of these binds~”

You don’t believe a word she says as you indignantly turn your head away. Kromer lets out a chuckle, as she roughly grabs your snout with her hand, turning your head to face hers as she leans close.

“If you continue to act like this, you will regret it.” She tells you, voice both mirthful and dangerous, “After all, you agreed to this, didn’t you?”

Since she started to examine you, she shed much of her armor and outfit. Not enough to necessarily flash you, yet enough for you to see much of her body. That, at the very least, is something to be slightly relieved over. If you get free, she’ll be easier to fight off while vulnerable.

“Well?” She asks, grip tightening. You choke out a vague noise of agreement, which seems to satisfy her momentarily as she releases her hold on your face and moves it to the wings on the side of your head.

“Do you know how long I’ve been searching for you?” She asks, “Day and night… yet went so long without a sign I swore I almost forgot you!”

She laughs as you let out a squawk of pain as she tugs at the wings on your head. “But I didn’t, now did I? And here you are, exactly where I want you. Right in my grip. Where you belong.”

You don’t like how she’s talking.

“Oh, look at you~” She muses, a finger slowly rubbing circles against your temple. “The way your face scrunches up and you squirm under me… If you only asked, I could make you squirm so much more~ And make you feel wonderful things~ Wouldn’t you like that?”

Her rightmost hand dips, trailing along your cheek and to your collar, pausing on your shoulder. She smiles at you expectantly.

“I would rather die…” You mutter to her, and she laughs.

“Well then, take your time. I’m far more patient than you think, [Name].” Kromer almost sneers at you, “It’s inevitable some day I shall enjoy this perfect body of yours in every way I please.”

This… she… fuck her. And not in the way she wants. Never in the way she wants.

“Why take me..?” You croak out, “Why not… him?”

“Oh? Sinclair?” She asks, sitting up from where she sits atop your abdomen with a mocking grin. “My [Name]... how can you be so oblivious? Can’t you see how he stares at you? Desperate for an ounce of your affection for any moment you can spare him a drop? How angry he was the moment I got close to you… anywhere you’re taken, he’ll follow.”

“And, if your friends were here…” She says, voice oozing with an unnerving venom, “Then I couldn’t have this little moment with you~”

“Do you know how desperately I wanted a single day with only you? Sinclair too, perhaps, but you. Not with Demian, or that heretic you follow around, or any distractions in your way…” She asks, warm breath drifting across your scarlet skin. “But you and me.”

“You can’t understand how long I’ve waited to embrace you.” She says, moving to lay down atop your body and rest her chin atop your chest. Compared to the corpses beneath you and hazy air, she’s warm. “And I don’t mind how desperately you try to resist me. I am now the hand that feeds you…”

A hand snakes up to grab one of your horns and drag your head towards hers. “So don’t bite at it~”

“And if I do?” You ask through gritted teeth.

She hums. Her hand lets go of your horn, drifting down to the mouth on your shoulder slowly. A finger ghosts the lips, coaxing the mouth open and tongue out. She guides it to her cheek, forcing the green muscle to her skin. Then her grin widens, and her eyes vaguely reflect the light of the Bough.

“Then I’ll bite you. Just as I did before.”

–★★★–

Something that haunted me is what I saw what Kromer was willing to do to the Inquisitors.

I knew she was depraved, and heartless and evil and-

I should just get to the point.

“You hear beasts crawling around somewhere?” Heathcliff had asked all of a sudden when we were almost to the Bough. I knew it, I felt it, and I had hoped that is where you would be.

But he spoke up for a valid reason. There was the sound of something animalistic making choked sounds as something both metallic and wet dragged across the floor.

Then we saw it.

I’m not adept enough to truly describe what it looked like. It was an Inquisitor, but… wrong. Warped and rendered a beast-like shell of what once was a person. An evil person, yes, one who willingly did horrible things. But…

As they made choked noises of pain, I almost pitied them.

“Are those Abnormalities?” Gregor wondered aloud, but Ishmael shook her head.

“Take a closer look- They aren’t Abnormalities. See that emblem…”

And everyone else came to the same realization I had.

“E.G.O Corrosion has wrested them.” Faust explained, looking unphased as ever.

“You mean that nauseating state…?” Gregor started to wonder aloud, looking unsettled.

“I think it happened to me in battle once when I was on the verge of a breakdown… It was like I was being devoured.” Ishmael confessed.

I’m lucky I never had to deal with that yet.

“Although it’s not quite like consumption in the conventional sense… I do suppose that it is a serviceable analogy, seeing as it eats away at your essence.” Faust had acknowledged with a nod, “…And in observation, unlike the last floor, this place does not seem to be exclusively for torturing prosthesis users. It would be fair to say that its purpose is to induce Corrosion unto oneself.”

Looking ahead, we saw more corroded Inquisitors, and I wanted to vomit. Dante merely sighed, and all I did was worry about you.

<...Sinclair.> They said, looking square at me.

“Yes..?” I quietly asked, looking back at them.

<I have something that could help us…> They trailed off, <It’s an ID. I’ve been a little hesitant to put it on you since I saw what happened when I uptied it, but…>

“Is it… strong?” I questioned.

<Yes. It seems to be.> They said with a slight nod, <But I think you might have some issues with it… because it’s you as an Inquisitor.>

That gave me pause. You hated N Corp as much as I did, Kromer as much as I did-! How would you look at me if I came to save you wearing an ID of the faction you despised?

But I needed strength. And I knew any ID of mine would fight for Dante, even against her.

So I said yes.

–★★★–

Kromer had left you alone. Even was “kind” enough to redo your binds so your hands were tied in front of your body instead of behind. Your clothes were also redone to be neat, but she did speak about plans to put you in an outfit similar to hers soon enough.

Did she really think you’d just agree to join N Corp after everything she did? Psychotic…

You were sitting up, golden light reflecting off the blood red corpses beneath you as you waited for when the Sinners would inevitably come.

Even if they didn’t care enough to save you, the Golden Bough is here. They’ll be here soon enough.

You lifted your arms slightly, staring at the bite wound still on your hand. It made you grit your teeth and want to scream and thrash, but you were honestly exhausted. All you did for a long time was scream and thrash, and you earnestly just wanted to go back to the bus and sleep.

But you can’t.

The sound of metal moving made your head snapped up, horrified Kromer was approaching you as she was preparing for Sinclair’s arrival. She wouldn’t make a show of you to him, would she? Well, of course she would, but-!

But it wasn’t Kromer who stood before you.

It was Guido.

“No… no..!” You choked out, trying to move back- away- anything. “No no NO-! You are the second to last person I want to see-! FUCK OFF!”

Your ranting turned belligerent, spewing rage-filled words at the ghost of the man who stood before you. He said nothing until your words died down, and turned to muffled begging for him to leave.

“Go away- just- leave. Leave me alone.” You pleaded, curling in on yourself, “Just- get away from me… please.”

“...” Guido is silent, and you can’t bring yourself to stare at his impaled body that stands, almost alive, before your bound body. “You deny the honor of being wielded by the One Who Grips, even as she fawns for you. Why is that so?”

“...” You just slowly raised your head to stare at him. “Why do you die for the sake of a heartless monster? Why do you kill people just because you deem them as 'heretics'? Why do you stand before me now, as if you have any right to speak to me?”

“I hate you and everything you and her stand for. If there was a list of everyone I wished to never see, your name would be second on that list.” You spit at him, “I hope your death hurt. Now… LEAVE. ME. ALONE!”

Your voice broke into crumbling sobs as you collapsed down onto the gory mountain you were trapped upon, tears burning your cheeks as you wanted to melt into nothingness so all this suffering may end.

You wish she just killed you.

“Am I on the list?” A familiar voice asked, causing your sobs to abruptly cease as you scrambled to sit up. “Or do you want to see me?”

“Ef…fie..?” Your voice was wobbly, green tears blurring the edges of your vision as the ghost of the man stood over you with a faint grin. Seeing the hole through his torso where a nail once impaled him made you queasy, but it was undeniably him. “Effie…”

“Yep. That’s me.” He says, smiling slowly softening at your- admittedly pitiful- appearance.

“Effie…” Your voice cracked as you sobbed out his name, blazing tears streaming down your cheeks as you weakly tried to reach out. “I’m so- so- sorry-! I’m so sorry..!”

You sound like a broken record as you choke out apologies to the dead man, who crouches down to your level while holding his hands up.

“Hey, hey-! You didn’t- you didn’t kill me, you dork.” He tells you, gently placing his hands on your shoulders, “You… gah- Why did it have to be me? I can’t comfort people…”

He shakes his head, arms wrapping around your shaking body as he hugs you gently. “It’s alright. Really, it is. You did all you could, it isn’t your fault.”

Yes it is. You could’ve done more. But you didn’t. You failed him. You failed him. You-

“He’s right. You didn’t fail anyone.” Yuri tells you, causing Effie to pull back and stare in confusion at the pink haired woman, as she crouches down and sits by your left with a tender smile. “If anything, you did more than anyone else did.”

“Who..?” Effie starts to ask, before nodding slightly when you almost collapse into Yuri, spewing out choked, muffled wails. “Oh. You and her..? Okay, I get it…”

He moves to your right, and you’re sandwiched between the two. Two people you failed who are claiming you didn’t. Why do they comfort someone like you?

“I’m Yuri.” She says as a polite introduction, giving Effie a simple smile.

“Effie.” He says in response with a nod, and the two look at your quaking, hunched form. “...[Name], it’s not your fault I’m dead. If anything, it’s because of you I’m still here.”

But he never should’ve died. What you did… you should’ve been able to save him. So why couldn’t you?

Their words almost seem like meaningless chatter, ungenuine attempts of comfort. But their faces, their warm smiles… those are genuine, so why don’t their words feel the same?

What are you even doing? Why do you even try..?

Another meaningless drabble fills your ears, but sounds almost like the buzzing of a radio. To you, it’s incomprehensible. And yet…

…

It feels almost like someone trying to offer advice. But you don’t welcome it. Why would you?

“Who are you talking to?”

Kromer’s voice, sickeningly saccharine and threatening all at one, cuts through any chatter like a razor. Your head snaps up so swiftly you nearly hear a crack, and both ghosts beside you look tense. Especially Effie.

“You were yelling at someone to leave.” Kromer elaborates upon your silence, creeping closer over the bloody ground with each step making a faint squish. “Who dared?”

“...Wouldn’t you like to know.” You almost hissed at her, earning a slight smirk.

“Oh, [Name]... my dear, beautiful, stupid [Name]...” You wince as her hands grab your face with a grip like iron, leaning in close. Her nose brushes against your snout, and she looks like she is going to kill you. You’re going to die. “I did not give permission for anyone to approach you. So who dared defy my…”

She trails off, voice dying on her tongue as she pulls back, staring blankly at Effie. Her hands release you, and she tenses. Her hands slowly creep towards and touch your face again, and a sick, twisted smile starts to bloom.

“...You can see the dead.” There is no uncertainty in her voice. Just a corrupt amusement. “You see the dead..!”

She lets out a roaring laugh, almost collapsing into your chest as she squeezes your face so tightly you fear your eyes will pop out of your skull.

Then she falls silent, resting her head against your chest.

“...Who did you see?” Her tone is sharp. And, startled, you stutter out an answer.

“G- Guido.” You sputter out, “He’s… dead.”

She stills, before starting to giggle again. Her laughter spirals into a bellowing thing, and she reels back. “Really now? HA! Oh… Sinclair… my Sinclair…”

“He’s going to kill you.” You snap at her, “And I can’t wait to see him do it. I can’t wait to help him do it.”

“You? Him? Kill me?” She wheezes, eyes sparkling as if you said the silliest thing to her. “Look at you… acting as if you have any power here…”

She sits up, shoving you down to the ground as both ghosts flinch back, Effie looking defensive and Yuri looking horrified. Both start talking at the same time, both trying to order her away from you, but Kromer merely smiles.

“You’re in my hand, [Name]. And so is he. You always will be.”

–★★★–

The mountain of corpses reached the sky. Blood red with bodies I almost felt like I recognized, yet were so misshapen I couldn’t.

And before it, dozens of Inquisitors stood with arms raised to her. Standing on the peak, arms raised to the Bough, was Kromer.

I must confess, I was even more terrified to see you absent from her side. I expected to see her making a show of you, some sort of mockery, and yet… nothing. Not even a glimpse of you.

But you would’ve blended into the red of the corpses. I was afraid that you…

Well, that you were dead and a part of that mountain.

Of course, Kromer wouldn’t. If she had killed you, she would’ve undoubtedly made a show of this. Something to haunt me specifically. So you were alive. And that honestly relieved me.

“The fathoms of the ego are already open. I see someone has resonated with the Bough before us.” Faust had said, stating the obvious.

“The hell are they up to? What’re they raising their hands for?” Gregor asked, startled.

Faust had taken a deep breath, looking solemn. “…Prayer.”

“…What is this sound?” Ishmael asked at a painfully familiar sound ringing in the background. I knew what it was, but I couldn’t talk.

“This feels awfully familiar… Somehow annoyingly tingly… and unpleasant…” Heathcliff had remarked.

“…It’s a school bell.” Gregor said, before giving me a grin. “Our boy hated school that much, eh.”

The other Sinners had looked more cheerful after that, but I…

I was doing even worse. I wasn’t ready to confront my past. Not entirely.

I couldn’t even utter a word as Kromer started speaking again.

“Alright, everyone! Listen up!”

“The One Who Grips so declares.” Rippled through the brainwashed idiots who followed her every order. I wanted to scream.

“Not only are those heretics disturbing our sacred rite, they are now after the offering that is rightfully ours to consecrate!”

“Disgraceful and defiled are they.”

“Go forth and die! Do not fear your end!” Her voice was raising in octaves, and I wanted nothing more than to strike her down. “As long as the offering of gold is with us, you shall be brought back to life again and again!”

“We shall fear not, for the One Who Grips is with us.”

“And even if not…” She said, before tugging on something and dragging you into view. “In their eyes you shall remain!”

Her followers cheered and I watched helplessly as you collapsed before her, looking weak. You were bound in chains, yet you still raised your head to stare down at us. I couldn’t see your expression, but…

“And… Sinclair. Hurry over. You belong in my hands.” I saw your mouth snap open when she grabbed you by the horns and tugged you upwards. “Just as they do!”

“No greater joy exists than to be wielded by the One Who Grips.”

I couldn’t say anything. I couldn’t hear the outraged mutters from some of the Sinners, I couldn’t hear your noises of pain, I couldn’t…

All I heard was her voice, staring at her grinning face and your squirming form, horns still in her grip as you struggled to either stand or escape.

“Sinclair.” She called down to me, “Did you bring the coin?”

Then I watched you lunge at her face, mouth wide open and razor sharp teeth in view.

—

…The breaks between classes are always lively since everyone gathers around to talk.

The adults would often watch us from afar and take this as a heartwarming sight.

But there’s something they don’t realize.

And… that is?

[Name]? [Name], how do I-?

Don’t… ask. I don’t know myself. Just… continue.

Continue?

Reflecting.

Please. I find reflecting on things helps me learn how to comprehend what happened to me. Maybe it’ll do the same for you.

…

Okay.

When you take a closer look, these merry interactions are brimming with envy, vainglory, pride, and guile.

Children are crafty creatures.

“I heard Rahul from the next class over’s getting surgery on both arms by his father. Gonna be with some new tech that’s never been shown before. How cool is that?” One of my classmates had said with an eager grin.

“You know this actor on all the magazine covers? Did I ever mention they’re getting an eye transplant at my mom’s clinic? The waitlist was so long, they personally begged to be moved up.” Another classmate had mused and I grew more anxious with each boastful story my classmates told.

What can I share? Their expecting eyes pointed at me felt like they could turn into scoffing leers at any moment.

“T- This is a secret, but…” I swallowed nervously. Maybe they weren’t asking me for a story after all. But I had to keep their curious eyes on me. I knew for sure that I’d become an outcast the moment they looked away. “My dad… signed a contract with P Corp. They saw the technology he was working on and agreed to give their full support.”

My goodness, just what was I thinking when I spilled that?

Out of the fear that I’d be isolated from my peers, I carelessly spelled my own ruin.

Maybe I was compelled by some childish urge, or an inherent desire to be recognized by the other students.

“Now Emil, this is a confidential agreement for our business. You mustn’t tell another soul.” His insistent reminder echoed in my head—I could see his face.

Emil?

My first name…

You go by your last name? Why?

It’s… a long story.

Ah, okay.

But, you can call me Emil. If you want.

I… I’ll think about it.

You don’t have too, of course-! I just thought that you’d like to call me…

…

…[Name]?

I’m still here. Just thinking.

Please, continue.

“Whoa… Is that for real, Sinclair?”

“P Corp? Like that Wing?! Wow… I’m jealous.”

I became the center of conversation in a split second. I can feel the stimulated eyes of the other kids in class drawn to me. Superiority was pretty damn sweet.

I guess I was driven by a depraved craving for attention.

Do you still have that?

I don’t think I do, but…

…

“Oh right, Sinclair! Your procedure’s soon, isn’t it? Y’know, the prosthetics.”

“Y- Yeah, of course. They told me I’ll get the… newest model.”

If they paid just a bit of attention to my face… They’d have noticed the reluctance in my expression.

Fortunately, no one ever pointed it out.

…

A massive wave of guilt eventually washed over me after our break was over and I was finally left alone. I was supposed to keep that a secret… What if Father finds out?

Ah…

Blood was leaking from my fingertip.

The bad habit of biting my nails whenever I felt anxious ended up hurting me.

I tried clipping them as short as I could to work on breaking it… But I never considered that I might bite into my skin instead.

…

Watching blood droplets fall on the desk, I thought of something.

Once I graduate, I’ll get a prosthetic replacement…

And then I’ll never get hurt or see my blood ever again.

But… Is that really…

But that didn’t happen.

Yeah. It didn’t.

…

“You’re… bleeding.”

Someone casts a shadow over my desk with a whimsical whistle. She was a classmate I rarely talked to, so I could barely remember her name. But you know who she is.

Flustered, I stuttered out my response awkwardly. “Wuh… What… was that?”

“Listen, what you said earlier… Is it legit?”

“Um, y- yeah… It’s legit.”

“I see. Your father must be a real big deal, isn’t he?”

“Yeah, uhm… I guess.”

Her unexpected flattery has me embarrassed. As if my father’s greatness were somehow my own.

“Though… Why did you make that face?”

“H- Huh?”

“You know… You were thinking it to yourself.” Then she lowers her head and whispers for only me to hear. “That it’s filthy.”

..!

My eyes widened. Not just because I was surprised by how she knew what I was thinking…

But the fact that a total stranger like her had been able to figure out exactly what I’d been hiding.

“H- How did you know?”

I could’ve gotten away with it if I’d just denied her accusations, but tactlessly, I asked her that with a dumbfounded look on my face.

“Pffh… Because… I agree with you on that.”

“You… You agree?”

“You can see a lot from those who are on the same wavelength as you.” She had told me as she extended a hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m Kromer.”

Ever since then… Kromer and I became friends who’d talk often.

…

You’re being quiet.

I don’t have much to say.

Why not..?

…

Sinclair, what do you think about me?

About you?

Yes. About me.

I think…

You’re kind. Honest. Patient- you’re so unbelievably patient. And…

You care.

…

I’m sorry about Effie.

It wasn’t your fault.

I could’ve-

You couldn’t have done anything. That’s just a fact.

I…

Continue. Just… please.

…Okay.

As a household rule, my family used to have breakfast at the same table every morning.

It was a pleasant time when our whole family would share stories and encouraging words.

I liked those mornings, that rule was ever so kind and gentle to my heart.

A natural and unchanging world that belonged to me. My world.

That world began to feel alienating one day…

…

The day when my sister sat at that table after her prosthetic transformation was complete.

My world had begun to change when my father’s head was replaced with an unfamiliar contraption of steel, circuits, and wires.

Our family breakfast no longer provided warmth and connection. It became an occasion of detachment where I talked less and less.

Ah… I had started to feel an inherent abhorrence for prostheses.

‘That’s filthy…’

My heart couldn’t accept the idea of replacing one’s flesh and bones with something else, let alone the need for it.

Why do we use prosthetic bodies?

I carefully asked for an explanation, and the reply was simple: The human body, in its unmodified state, is too ‘old-fashioned’. It needs to be sustained with food, revitalized with sleep lest it should fail from fatigue, and injuries take a long time to heal. All this makes the human body incredibly inefficient.

…

He concluded that prostheses will grow more commonplace as time goes on, and ultimately become a regular part of our daily lives.

I thought to myself: ‘Why don’t I just fall behind the times then if that’s what the mainstream will be?’

…Though that wasn’t an argument rooted in logic.

Was that the only reason you hated prosthetics?

…

Continue.

“Yo, Sinclair… You don’t actually wanna take the replacement procedure, do you?” Kromer had asked me one day in class.

I nodded without a word.

“But your parents sure wouldn’t like it if you confessed that.” She said, “Isn’t it frustrating that there’s nothing you can do about it?”

I nodded again.

"What if I helped you out? You could live a free life with no worries about any of that junk.”

"B- But, how?"

"That, you’ll find out next time. In exchange…" She had leaned over my desk with a sly grin. "In return for helping you with your problem, you’ll help me deal with a grudge of my own too."

…

Is this helping you at all?

What do you mean?

Is thinking about your past helping you at all? In any way, shape, or form?

A little…

…

Sinclair, I want to offer you some advice.

After we return to the bus, grab a piece of paper, maybe two, and write. Write about your feelings and thoughts when what happened to you took place. Just write out everything you remember, as detailed as you can. Go on random rants that seem unconnected, but just write.

I've been told it helps people process things.

Have you ever..?

No. I never tried it myself. In all honesty, I forgot about when she told me that.

…

But just try. It might help you move on.

…

Do you love her?

Hm?

Do you love that woman you mentioned? Back on the bus.

Of course I do.

…

I'll continue.

Sinclair?

I'll be done talking soon.

…Okay.

…

One day, a new transfer student named Demian was placed in the class next to mine.

He was surrounded by a crowd every time I saw him. But I got the sensation that he didn’t feel attached to anyone around him.

To me, he seemed as if he were almost floating in the air; he was aloof like that. Likewise, he didn’t seem too interested in me, either. That’s how it was at first, at least.

It happened during a boring engineering class. My eyes kept drifting away from the board, and before I knew it, they were looking out the window instead.

Through that window, I saw him taking a walk. Like usual, he was surrounded by his fellow students, wearing a faint smile.

Even his expression felt different from the kind someone his age should make; that smile carried a mature yet solitary aura. Basking in the sunlight, he stroked his hair.

"Huh?"

I thought I caught a glimpse of some weird red thing on his forehead. Was I mistaken? Maybe it was the blinding sunlight reflecting off his skin. And then…

I had the feeling I made eye contact with him.

"……"

Some students were still chatting outside.

As soon as I felt his gaze, I quickly averted my eyes and looked down at my desk. Ever since that strange incident, Demian started to talk to me in a friendly manner.

Oddly enough, on the days when Demian approached me, Kromer didn’t come to greet me. Except for… well, you already know that day. Nevertheless, whenever she had a chance to, she’d come and make sure that I remembered our promise.

"I often have this dream, Sinclair." Demian had told me once, "In it, I climb an endlessly long ladder. Then everything down below comes into view. The Nest, the Backstreets, the Outskirts, all of it. And when I look beneath my feet, all the lights are out in the City, as if the end of all things had come."

"Fallen into silent death, empty of any motion. Indeed, it’s the state of death itself."

"Demian, have you been to the Outskirts?" I whispered to him, frightened. He was talking about a forbidden place where no one could or should go.

"Sinclair, the world as people want to define it can’t be divided into places of where you should and shouldn’t go." He had told me, "Do you think love and freedom can be found within the confines of this Nest? Compared to here, life is much richer in the Outskirts. There’s something I’ve been pondering for a long time, and I thought that maybe that’s where I could find the answer."

The day later was when he took me to meet you. You already know that day.

Indeed, I do.

Whenever I spoke with Demian, I could feel my soul mature a little. But I never mentioned my fears about the upcoming prosthetic procedure or my peculiar relationship with Kromer. Even though he wanted to know more about me, I was hesitant to share my secrets.

I was too ashamed to bear my deeply hidden fears before him.

…I can understand why.

But now you see my fears.

Clear as day.

Do you think lesser of me for it?

Why would I?

It's just…

Everyone is afraid, Sinclair. Me, you, and probably Demian too. Everyone has at least one thing that haunts them. It's okay to be scared to talk. You will when you're ready.

…

You sound like him sometimes.

Do I now?

Yeah… You do.

…hm.

I'll continue now…

Thank you, Sinny.

…

And finally… The promised day had come.

"Yo, Sinclair, can you show me your basement?" Her words struck me out of nowhere, yet they were as light as a feather.

She asked me that as though it were something as simple as picking up an eraser, and I almost caught myself agreeing to it.

"W- Why our basement, exactly?"

"If the rumor I just so happened to hear is right, your house is connected to a scandalous place. There’s something I’ve got to check."

"But my parents…"

'…won’t like it.'

I couldn’t even bring myself to finish this humiliating sentence.

"If you let me check it out, Sinclair… I swear I’ll keep that promise with you, cross my heart." She leaned in closer, smile almost sickeningly sweet, "Just sneak me the basement key and I can navigate just fine…"

Unable to detect the faint, familiar feeling hidden in her words, I slowly nodded… Thus, the world of evil began there, right in the middle of our house.

…

I wish I listened to your words.

You can't alter the past, Sinclair.

No one can…

…

After stealing the key without my parents noticing, I took Kromer to the basement of my estate as I had promised. From there, she led me to a dirty air vent. Crawling in the unlit vent for a while, a dank, grimy odor and the sounds of small critters scuttling about assaulted my senses.

My clothes were stained with filth, my throat was parched, and I was overcome with the desire to go back. That’s when I noticed that the smell my nose picked up had just changed from the stench so far.

"Can you feel it?" Kromer whispered to me. "There’s something up ahead…!"

This might have been the last chance I had to turn back. It might have been better to dissuade her with all kinds of sweet placations to leave and come back later.Even if I knew that empty flattery wouldn’t work on her.

But before I could try, a vile curiosity came over me. I was entering a world where villains belonged for the first time. And for some reason…

I gave up turning back. All while knowing in my heart that I was squandering my last chance.

Oh, the loathsome sight I had to witness; it was something I couldn’t think to behold twice. Could “monstrosity” be an apt description for what I saw?

It seemed too sentient for that, yet it also seemed decidedly wrong to say that it was even remotely human.

Like me?

No. Not like you. Nothing like you.

Nothing is like you.

…

"Huk… Guhgh…" Shuddering in fear, I started to regret stepping into this world.

Sinclair, you idiot, look at yourself. Hoping by some miracle to get another chance right after you’ve wasted it.

Along with my regret, I had the feeling that I’d never forget what I saw that day until the moment I die.

"K—Kro…mer… I… I’ve gotta go back…"

On the other hand, Kromer was enraptured. She was mesmerized by the scene, watching intently as though she had made a discovery of a lifetime.

"……"

Leaving Kromer all enamored to herself, I crawled backward for the exit. Why is my basement connected to such a horrid place? How did Kromer know this? Why isn’t she scared, either? Why did she stare at it with just as much awe on her face when she saw you?

Maybe she views you as something like that.

You don't know half of it…

I could almost hear Kromer’s spine-chilling whistles with the wind blowing from behind. The very next day, Kromer came to school as if nothing had happened.

"Sinclair, thank you so much more for showing me precious things. Take these as my thanks." She handed two mysterious coins to me. "Always keep them at your side. Got it?"

All I could do was nod.

Since then, the things I saw in that vent constantly haunted my mind. And I began to consciously avoid Kromer.

…

I could picture myself involuntarily trembling in terror just by looking at her. But there was something I needed to take back from her.

The basement key.

My parents could find out at any moment. One minute of sorting the keys is all it would take. For the first time, I betrayed my parents living in a world of warmth…

I was afraid that my deviation from their world would end up becoming an irrefutable fact.

"Kromer… Won’t you give it back now?"

"Give back what?"

"The… basement key…"

"…Pft."

I mustered the courage to ask one day. Kromer burst into laughter, as though she didn’t expect this from me. Intimidated, I slowly stepped back.

"Pwahahaha!!! Oh, and here I was wondering what you were struggling so hard to say… Fine, you can have it, Sinclair. We don’t need the key anymore." My hands fumbled when I caught it. "And besides…"

"Your grudge will most certainly bear fruit, Sinclair. You didn’t want to get your procedure, right? You remember our promise? You fulfilled my grudge, so it’s only fair that I pay you back."

I was too absorbed in the relief of getting my key back to realize what Kromer was really talking about, and I curse my ignorance for it.

About what Kromer’s "we” really meant. About why she said it’s not needed any more, and how she was going to fulfill my grudge…

I didn’t think to question a single thing, and for that… I regret my inaction; I curse my foolishness.

You couldn't have known…

But what does that mean when I made such a mistake?

I…

"So you ended up giving Kromer the key." Demian had told me one day. It was one of the first times he had spoken to me since you had disappeared from that alleyway without a trace.

"How do you know that?"

Demian had this ability to get a grip on things I’d never mentioned to him. When I asked him about it, he just said it's “something you learn by carefully observing others”, and didn’t elaborate further.

"Sinclair, a series of much more painful events may await you in the future. But you mustn’t give up. That pain will foster your growth into a beautiful being."

No matter how complicated and perplexing those statements seemed, Demian’s mystic charm made them all sound convincing. Listening to his speech gave me the hope that I could really grow. I was hopeful that I could become a worthy being.

"Yeah… But I don’t really get it though, Demian."

"It’s up to you to find out. Make sure to tell me your answer when you do." His voice was soft, and his eyes imparted pleasantness, but I still felt compelled to do as he said.

His eyes must have held some kind of power. Disarming those who make eye contact with him, sapping them of mental strength.

But… If that’s the case, why didn’t he warn me? It’s something I still ask myself to this day.

Would you had believed him if he did?

…

How do you look upon me so kindly if all I've done is make mistakes time and time again?

There's just a part of me that cares for you, Sinny. It's as simple as that.

And because I do the same thing. Over and over again. Constant mistakes. Again and again and again.

…

It was Christmas Eve, and the whole town was filled with jingles and joy. Under the blessing of the holy night, I was planning to confess my sin to my family.

I wanted to tell them that I made the foolish mistake of stealing the basement key and that I’d go back to being a good son. That the short time I spent away from the right path was agonizing. That I learned how peaceful and fulfilling the world I’d been living in truly was.

My family might be surprised at first, but I was sure they’d welcome me back into their paradise. That was how it should’ve been. However…

"Huh…?"

I was supposed to hear a robot dog greet me when I stood at the gate, but my home was covered in silence and darkness. When I walked inside, I was confronted with a fallen paradise.

"Sinclair… Run…" The mangled body of my sister had begged me.

"Si… Sincl… S-S-Sisisi―" Someone smashes my father’s head.

It’s a disturbing individual wearing rusty silver armor.

"How unsightly of these non-humans to still admire humanity and display false emotion."

"Let those impure things be, Guido. It’s their survival instincts kicking in." Kromer had said calmly, covered in the remains of what once was my family. "Or should I say… they’re scared of shutting down? Haha!"

Pieces of metal, flesh, and blood fly into the air before hitting the floor.

"Sinclair! You’re here!!!"

The thrill in her voice made me want to vomit.

"Ah… Ahh…"

Kromer approaches, carrying a hammer stained with blood and flesh. When she caught me eyeing it, she simply cocked her head. "Oh, this thing?"

"Ever since I was little, I couldn’t stand being involved with filthy affronts to humanity like these. Because I’m a humanitarian who loves all things human!"

"Now imagine how it feels to face the son of a pack of those affronts to humanity… Just what should I do with you, Sinclair? Hmm?"

My legs have long given up. My mouth couldn’t move. It was as if my whole body refused to cooperate.

I saw Kromer standing right before me. I couldn’t dare look up. Terror kicked in with the realization that she was so close to me, and my eyes shut themselves tight. The thought that the same hammer that crushed my father, mother, and sister would now come for me was unbearable.

"……"

But nothing happened.

Confused, I carefully opened my eyes and lifted my head. Kromer was watching me.

Making a perfect smile just like the one she’d made when she first came to my desk and told me her name.

"Well, you are my hero, Sinclair." She then reaches into the pocket on my school shirt and takes out a coin. It’s one of the two she handed me the other day.

"From now on… You’ll doubt everything, be anxious of everything… and live in ever-constant terror as your memories of me haunt you."

"Nhh… Ungh…"

"And, when the time comes… I will call for you." She had stood up, looking over her shoulder. "Hey! Someone take this kid to safety! Lay a finger on him and I’ll make you regret it."

Amidst the piercing noise, storms of heavy footsteps, and disorientation… I lost consciousness.

…

I'm sorry for what happened.

I wished I listened to you.

…

When I came to my senses, I found myself in an alleyway at midday, heated by the sun. I stayed there on the ground, dazed and confused. I could see a haze rise from the surface.

"Sinclair. A crack has been made in your world."

I felt like I was starting to understand what the strange feeling I often got from Demian was. I always found it weird how I never heard his footsteps.

Why does everything arrive in desolate silence as if it belongs to no world at all? The loss of my family, the world of evil, all this despair… And you, too.

What does that mean?

I… don't really know.

…

"Are you scared, Sinclair?" He spoke to me.

He had the eyes of a person who saw through everything, and the attitude of someone who predicted this series of events. He didn’t even wait for me to reply, like he knew what I was going to say.

"One day, you’ll break it altogether and soar. And I… wish to see you completely bare."

He responded as if he already knew the answer I was hesitating on. Although his words seemed to radiate warmth…

I felt a certain chill, like biting into the cold insides of a half-cooked turkey…

I couldn’t help but fall unconscious again.

–—

What happened next felt more like a blur than anything. I caught a glimpse of you and her fighting atop that mountain, and started to tear through the Inquisitors. They weren't even people in that moment, just things in my way.

Dante didn't even have time to equip an ID on me by the time I was halfway done dragging myself up the mountain, other Sinners seeming so far behind. I heard faint sounds of the struggle between you and Kromer, until I heard a shriek and watched you come tumbling down over the side.

You collided straight into me, grunting in pain, and I barely kept myself upright as I caught you. Your face was contorted in pain, you barely lifted your head to stare at me in the eyes before I saw it.

A nail pierced straight through one of the wings on your back and stabbing into your tail. The appendage was limp, twitching slightly as green blood oozed from your wound. Each twitch had made you grimace, but you forced your lips apart to smile at me.

"Right on time." I remember you croaking out, but what you said next was an inaudible whisper. All I could do was look up from you to Kromer standing on the peak. She was illuminated by the Golden Bough, and small yet deep gashes gushed blood from her face.

But the worst part about it was her silence. She stared down at us with an unreadable expression, before she started to laugh. Not the usual giggle I heard from her in my youth or her maniacal laughter I heard as she watched us suffer…

No. Her laugh was a slow, intense thing. She just stared down at us, before turning and disappearing beyond the corpses in our view. You and I simply glanced at each other after, and I wanted to speak to you, but then your swords came to ruin the moment.

They flew up, slamming together and spinning around you. I don't know how you tolerated them, with how chaotic and bothersome they could be, but… You're just kind enough to tolerate them. You had greeted them with a smile, and they almost seemed angry when they saw your injury. I wanted to say something, but the others had caught up too.

My moment with you was ruined.

–★★★–

You were sore, in pain, covered in blood both yours and not, and exhausted. It was not a pleasant mix of emotions and sensations. Especially when you had to drag your weakened body to the top of a mountain of corpses that were still wet with eternally fresh blood.

At least by the time the Sinners had rolled around, they were able to help you reach the peak. This time, free from the arms of any deranged women. And speaking of her…

The way Kromer stands is opposite of how it was in game. Hell, of how she was earlier. She's slouched, body slightly limp with the largest grin plastered on her face. One of her eyes was lidded with the wound along it and the blood dripping along its crease. Her eyes though, with pupils mere pinpricks, fixated on the sight of you and Sinclair standing next to one another. Then her gaze fell to the nail still in your wing, and she let out a deep chuckle.

"I warned you~" She coos, rising up slightly as she now wields yet another nail. "And yet you still chose to bite me. You should've just-"

"Shut up." Sinclair snapped at her, moving between the two of you. "I won't allow you to say another word to them."

"Ah! Look who finally grew a spine!" She laughs, tilting back her head. "And for the [Name] they love oh so much! Well? Sinclair? Were you able to find an answer in your heart’s path?"

"…Kromer." He hissed through gritted teeth.

"Ahaha, don’t give me that look. It’s not even time yet…" She abruptly stilled, "You’re making me want to kill you."

You draw back slightly as her smile softens. "Ahu… No, no. I should abstain… I can’t let immediate entertainment distract me from the more important things."

Faust leaned towards the 11th Sinner, expression almost inching towards grim. "Sinclair, the only way to retrieve a Golden Bough that’s begun to resonate is…"

"I know." His voice is grave as he tightens his hold on his halberd. "Even if it weren’t for our mission… I’d still tear that bitch to pieces… and drink up her remains."

"Pfh… Ahahaha!!" Kromer roared in a twisted delight, a hand smearing the blood running down her face as she wiped a tear off her cheek. "Kuhuu… Oh, Sinclair…! When did you learn to act so tough? That’s not like you at all… What a riot… Pfft."

"Still… Well, I guess you’ve made some friends since then." She tilted her head, raising her nail slightly, "You won’t run away this time, will you?"

She stills, as do you, when you realize the ID equipped on him is The One Who Shall Grip. How the hell did Dante get him to agree to this..? She says something about it, but you're rather focused on other matters.

Especially when you're tossed to the back, held onto tightly by Dante and kept squarely out of conflict. You have very few qualms, having stayed awake since almost six in the morning and having been effectively tortured by an actual maniac. How late is it even..?

You're unable to peer into your own eye, though, and Dante's head doesn't serve to tell accurate times. So you'll have to go a little longer without knowing the time. Oh well.

And the fight was… going partially in the Sinners' favor? Some were most certainly dead within a few turns, yes, and they were rather beaten to a pulp, but they remained standing. Any IDs equipped were stripped off with how weakened they were, but they remained upright.

Yet so did Kromer. And she was standing over a collapsed Sinclair. She chuckles, then reaches into his coat.

"Now then, it’s time, Sinclair." She mused, "I’ll be taking the second coin… your last chance."

"Why are you… doing this to me…" He grunted, trying to push her away and resist, "Why… me…"

"Sinclair, do you wanna know why I gave you back the basement key when you asked?" She asked, leaning close to his face until their foreheads touched. "Listen close. It’s not because I’d made my discovery or baked a copy of it. It’s because you were my key. You see, I happen to know of a way to take a peek at the futures that might come true."

"I saw one among them where you and I travel from Nest to Nest, slaughtering heretics together all around the City. Even though you were raised by heretics bearing revolting metal bodies… Part of you still felt disgusted by them. Funny, isn’t it?"

"You would stab them in the head with your halberd!"

You don't want to just stand here weakly. There has to be something you can do.

"D- Don’t you lie to me…" He tried to hiss out.

Your gaze falls to the nail in your wing.

"While I smash their heads with a hammer!"

You have an idea. A stupid idea, yes, but you've always had rather stupid ideas.

"Stop it…!"

"[Name], don't." Dante pleaded when you tried to move towards the scene, "I'll get someone else to step in-! You don't have to hurt yourself further…"

"Ahaha… In that world, you looked like the freest person in the universe, transcending everything."

"I'm not letting you hold me back again." You told them, watching them flinch and let you go. You turn your head away, and move to Kromer as fast as you can with your quaking legs.

"No…" Sinclair's voice rose, "You’re lying!!!"

The wound burned as you dragged the nail out of it.

"Whether I’m lying or not…" She cracked a wry laugh as you raised the weapon and drove it straight into her leg with as much force as you could muster. She gasped, collapsing to the ground as Sinclair pushed himself away.

Her head snapped up towards yours, expression clouded by the hair fallen into her face. She doesn't even laugh, merely smiles as her hands reach up, balling the cloth of your stained jacket into small lumps. Her eyes glimmer with adoration, and the light from the Bough grows more intense.

Her string shakes and writhes like a snake. Her pupils blow as her string bundles into a knot.

"You… you..! You… are truly the most beautiful human I've ever seen-!"

Everyone is blown away as a mass of flesh engulfs her lower half. You're collapsed into the bloody ground beneath you, hacking and gasping for air as you slowly look at the abomination she has become.

"Come…" She beckoned to you and Sinclair, hair billowing up like flames. "Rip me up and chew me down. If you can, that is… Keheh."

–—

The ground was burning. It snapped at your flesh and tore through your uniform, weakening your legs until you tumbled straight onto the ground.

You are not alone in this. Everyone other than Kromer is melting. She instead looms above, maniacally laughing as she relishes in this sight.

All other Sinners appear to have given up. But Sinclair crawls towards Kromer even as he melts, teeth bared as he's overtaken with the sheer determination to strike her down.

"Yes! That’s it! It hurts, doesn’t it? You’re filled with rage, aren’t you? Accept it all! Welcome it with open arms!" She spread out her arms, "And watch me! Watch my glorious body, closer to the purest form of humanity than ever before! This flesh here! The sheer, unmatched strength of purity!"

"Ahh, Sinclair… Look at how human you are! You can become like me too!" She coos, before her gaze falls to you. Dante feebly tries to interfere and your Blades are trying to help lift you off the acidic ground, and you feel a fleshy hand ensnare your waist as she lifts you into the air. "And like them!"

"I’ll… You’re…" Sinclair attempts to shout, yet his voice is weak.

"You're evil…" You hiss at her, "And I hope your death hurts..!"

"Shhh…" She tells you, before she looks down at the 11th Sinner once more. "Sinclair, you were scared all along, weren’t you? You lost your family, and you had to ride a bus with these strangers, forced to do things you didn’t want, forced to watch [Name] suffer! You knew in your heart that you didn’t belong there, right? Didn’t you want to run? Didn’t you want to quit it all? Am I wrong?"

"I swear, I…" He tries to choke out, starting to tremble.

"Join me, Sinclair! Don’t avoid this, embrace it! Complete my grudge!" Sinclair was growing weaker by the second-! "You must accept the pain! Only when we have transcended suffering itself can we be reborn!"

"Bloat the flesh, spill the blood! Adding on the most human things each second! To the purest world where the impurities plaguing the city of all folks have been filtered out!"

"Mama… Papa… Sis…" Sinclair choked out, and Dante took a breath.

"Sinclair! Listen to me!"

You do what you can to give them an approving smile.

"I know you think a lot! I know there’s a lot going on in your head that you can’t share with others!"

"My family died because of me…" Sinclair murmured, "I said stuff I really shouldn’t have…"

"Exactly! It’s all your fault- so embrace it! That’s the way to become wholly reborn!" Kromer shouts, "Follow me… and rest in my grip! Just as they do!"

As if you're willing in any of this-!

"Don’t listen to her! You have to see! Look at her! Observe her carefully!"

"Ah…" But Sinclair didn't seem to hear Dante anymore. Not as his halberd clattered to the ground. He collapsed, accepting his fate just as the others did.

"Sinclair…" Dante murmurs, and you take a breath.

"HEY! Sinny!" You shout down at him causing him to twitch, "What happened to the plan?"

He lifts his head slightly at that.

"You know- where I shank her! Slice her ankle and watch her fall… Cheer you on as you beat her to a pulp! She may got more ankles now, but I can achieve something-!"

"You got goals, don't you? So please just-" The tears in your eyes burn and her grip on you is so tight you can barely breathe- "Keep going! Even when it hurts!"

Kromer opens her mouth to speak again, glaring at you from the corner of her eye. "Why won't you relent to me?" She silently asks, "Why won't you give in?"

"They're right!" Dante agrees, "Look, look closely! Sinclair! Not with your eyes, but with your heart! Only then… will you see what matters most."

"Only then… will you see what matters most." A certain voice echoes, and you gasp as you're stripped from Kromer's grip and lowered towards the ground gently.

"And when you can see the things that matter most…" Demian murmurs as he floats down from the heavens, blue scarf billowing behind him, "You won’t have to stifle yourself with shallow threats or cheap tricks. Isn’t that right, Sinclair?"

He smiled at the sight of the boy, even if weakened. He landed next to where you were, set delicately upon the acidic ground with your Blades hovering close to hold you out of it. You cling to the weapons, and they strain to keep you free of being melted to an incomprehensible pile of flesh.

He glanced at Kromer, and waved his right arm, and you watched as Kromer's upper half was severed. And, before she could react, she was gone.

There was no string that remained.

"D… Demian…" Sinclair choked out, trying to rise with melting limbs.

Demian spared you a glance, before approaching the 11th Sinner.

You’ve changed your own fate, Sinclair. Right now, you’re neither a coward nor a hero. But you’ve still yet to let go of your fears completely." He blinked, sign on his forehead almost glimmering, "I’ve said it before, haven’t I? 'When you fear someone…'"

"'That’s because… you gave them the power to have control over you…'" Sinclair murmurs.

"That’s right. And I… don’t want anyone else to domineer over you. Which is why I got rid of that Kromer." He walked with light, airy steps, never quite making contact with the ground. "The world is about to head for a new birth. And, only a few individuals can get there."

"Sinclair, you’re one of them." Demian watched as Sinclair finally fell unconscious, and simply nodded as he moved to Dante with a slow, methodical pace.

"Kromer… attempted to become a god, like those which people of the past were said to believe in. Sinclair almost became her stepping stone. In the end, though, one has to break an egg on their own." He glanced toward her ruined lower half, "Kromer put in quite a bit of effort, doing this and that to create a throwback to the time when Sinclair lost his first coin."

"Irregardless of the fact that Christmas is still a while away… It’s ironic that they resorted to creating false imagery, something they loathed so deeply. Don’t you think so?"

"What are you talking about? Who are you?"

"A pleasure to meet you, Dante." Demian murmured, "So, you’re the adult who will condition Sinclair at the moment. As for who I am… And for what I was talking about; you’ll see in due time."

Dante drew back slightly, startled.

"When Sinclair takes flight with unshakable faith in the power of the heart… Right. When he becomes one with beautiful stars…" He looks back out at the scene, "…That is when I’ll return. Take good care of Sinclair until then, Dante. I'd ask the same for [Name], yet that is not something they need help with achieving."

"You… You can hear me?" Dante asks slowly, amazed.

"I can hear all sorts of chirps and trills, Dante. It’s only natural that I hear your voice." Demian said with an almost-smile ghosting his face. "As always… What matters most is something you can’t see or hear. Or, perhaps, something you can't bring yourself to see or hear."

He approached you as Dante crawled towards Sinclair, saying some words to the now dead man as Demian's eyes almost seemed to sparkle when he approached.

"Haa… about time I ran into you again…" You choked out, "Shame it couldn't be under a better time…"

"Time is something you value greatly, is it not?" Demian muses, walking around you. "Even as it changes you."

"Yeah, yeah… poetic language." You mutter, turning your head away. "I know. You can spare me it now, though. I'm honestly… exhausted."

"I can tell." He says quietly, reaching out to rest a hand on your head with an almost sympathetic look. You allow it.

"…I still you an ice cream date." You comment, eyes closing. "Let's say we make it up sooner than later, m'kay?"

Demian lets out a whisper of a laugh. "Very well. I shall come see you when the time comes."

And then he vanished without a trace. You opened your eyes, and the Blades trembled as they seemed to give into the melting space, and you fell to the ground. Your head rung, and darkness crept into your vision. Dante was now moving towards you, half reduced to goop, and you shut your eyes and allowed sleep to consume you. You weren't awake for when the LCCA arrived.

–★★★–

I'm honestly glad I listened to your advice. Writing out the events of what happened felt like a complete and utter relief. I feel almost lighter, in a sense.

But when I read over what I wrote… I realize I am an evil man. I am an evil, horrible man who's grown consumed by the thoughts of you. That isn't right. I'm not…

But a part of me doesn't care. I want your love, and as long as you never find out about the horrible things I want to do to you… You never need to find out I watch you sleep. You never need to find out how I want to approach your sleeping body and do horrible things to it. You never need to know how jealous I am that Dante gets to share a room with you and that you seem closer with Rodion and Gregor than you are with me.

I can get you to love me. I can get you to love me as long as you never realize my desires for you are as bad as hers. I'm a monster of a person, but as long as I get you I don't care.

I'm going to try and convince you to alter the contract. To form one with me and spend the rest of your life in me. I can't keep you safe, but I'll charge headfirst into any situation where your at risk and fight till I die. I will do anything for you. All I want is you to look at me like how I look at you.

Elena doesn't matter. Your past life doesn't matter. Just please tell me you love me. Please. Please. Please Please Please please please please please please please please pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseple

–★★★–

You awoke with a splitting headache. You tried to sit up, only to grunt in pain and fall back to a laying position.

Slowly now, you don't want to overexert yourself.

Oh, so now she's back?

I wasn't the one who could dictate when I could speak with you. I believe the resonating Bough prevented me, perhaps.

…

You sit up slowly, taking care not to press too hard into the mattress you were left on. Looking around, you realize you're in Dante's room, on Dante's bed, and all your injuries are carefully wrapped up. The door is open and the lights are dim, and you can faintly hear noise coming from the front of the bus.

Orbi is napping on the windowsill, and no one else is in the room with you.

The Blades drag against the ground as they rise to met you, circling you twice before their handles lightly nudge you.

"I'm okay…" You tell them, "I'll rest in a few minutes. I just want to check on the others…"

They nudge you again, and follow behind you by a few meters as you slowly, you drag yourself out of bed, carefully rising to stand.

Relieved, you find walking seems easier than sitting up, and you head to the main cabin of Mephistopheles. All the Sinners seem rather chipper, Charon's humming a Christmas song, and everyone is eating…

"Chicken kebabs?"

Your voice makes everyone pause for a moment, staring at you, before Dante rushes over.

"What are you doing out of bed? You're still injured-!" They frantically ask, trying to turn you around and make you rest again. "You need to lay down and rest-!"

"I'll be fine being up for a few minutes…" You protest, pushing away their hands with a gentle shove. "Anyways, did you get preferential treatment or something..? 'Cus you look fine and I look…" Like you just crawled out of a hospital.

Not one trace of being melted remains on their body. Meanwhile, your legs are still killing you from when they were partially reduced to goop. Good thing you were kept out of most of it.

"Oh- uh-" Dante stutters, flames on their head dimming slightly. "I'm not sure I can…"

"Faust has acquired information, from the LCCA, that you are unaffected by K Corp ampules. There is no evident explanation for this phenomenon, it is simply the case." The 2nd Sinner calmly explained, more focused on something related to her work than eating kebabs like the others. "It is simply the case that you are incapable of instantaneous regeneration."

"Ah, well…" Shit. "…okay then."

You look around slowly, rubbing the back of your neck. "Glad to see everyone's doing alright after… Gah… How long has it been since we all got back?"

"Like four hours, bud." Gregor answers with a puff of his cigarette, "You should head back to bed soon."

"May take you up on that offer…" You mumble, stifling a yawn that dared to creep up.

"Hm. First." Vergilius held up a kebab in the air, glancing at you from the corner of his eye.

"Got me one?" You ask, slowly creeping forward to take it.

"Well, you are a member of the LCB." Ishmael points out, as if it's the most matter of fact thing. There's a few murmurs of agreement from the other Sinners.

Do they really think of you as one of them..? Are you even one of them..?

It's your choice if you want to risk growing comfortable here.

She's right… you need to keep your guard up and find a way home. And out of this body.

"…Yeah, I guess your right."

You take the kebab, still warm, as Vergilius gives you a slight nod. You take a deep breath, turning on your heel. "Well! You all get some rest soon too. I'm going to go be unconscious for the next dozen or so hours, so if you need a dopey idiot for anything, I am not your guy. Night—or, morning, I guess…"

You push past the Sinners, moving to head back to the room. No one stops you, even if Sinclair seems to fidget as you go. You pay it no mind, just stepping back to the more silent space as you return to your resting spot. You usher the Blades in first, ready to step in and flop onto the bed.

"Assistant Manager."

You look over to see Outis standing back where you entered from, expression serious.

"I must speak with you."

"Can it wait..?" You ask, "I'm kind of injured and sleep deprived, Outis…"

She isn't someone you want to talk to…

Is it because she killed Effie?

Well, you're at fault for it. You should've spoken up about the ampules, been competent enough to pull them out in time, and he wouldn't be…

But she was the one to do the killing.

…

Kromer tortured him to near death. Dante gave the orders to hold you back and kill him. Outis was the one who proposed and took the action. All three had a role to play, in my eyes. And, judging from how you perceive them, your eyes too.

Do you hate them because of this?

…Carmen. Now isn't the time.

I'm merely asking what you think.

Is this what you asked when Enoch died? Who's fault it was?

…

Do not talk to me about this.

I understand your anger, but you need to settle on who you believe is Effie's murderer. Because you must understand this wasn't your fault to any degree, [Name].

I'll leave you for now. You need space, and time to process. I just ask for an answer when I return.

"-Assistant Manager!" You realize Outis is closer now, looking frustrated. "Hmph. How could someone as incompetent as you land a spot such as this? You let yourself be kidnapped!"

"Outis, now isn't the time…"

"I am making a valid point! You constantly make foolish and rush actions without discussing with the Executive Manager! How did you even acquire those ampules in the first place? You didn't move from Vergilius' side."

"Outis, just let me rest-"

"Answer my questions! What are you playing at, you vile demon?"

"Outis-"

"Do not attempt to-"

"Outis-!"

"I want answers-"

"Now isn't-"

"Now is the perfect-!"

"Please just let me-"

"I will not 'just let you'! I want you to-"

"Oh my- Do you ever shut up, Odysseus?!"

The name makes Outis shut her mouth quickly, eyes widening in shock as she reels back. Regret for spewing out what you believe to be her true name leaves you with instant regret, but it's too late to backtrack now. You cannot answer her questions without being utterly fucked over.

"I…" You sigh, "I'm sorry, I just want to go to bed. I'm not interested in an interrogation right now. I'm starting to regret even bothering to come check on you lot…"

"How do you know that name?" Outis' voice is tense, and her eyes glimmer with anger.

"…" You draw your head up, staring at the string above her head. It's entirely still. "There's a lot of things I know that I shouldn't, Outis. But if I answer what you want to know, I'm going to die. And I'd prefer being beaten than dead."

You look back down at her blank face. At the confusion and rage behind her eyes. "Rest soon, Outis. Sleep well."

And you go into the room and shut the door behind you, going to sleep with regrets rather than being slaughtered at her hands.

You've made so many mistakes already… what's one more?

–★★★★★–

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