#Mark lcb

[zelphin124]

LCB-3: Chapter 7

I am so sorry this took so long, college hit me like a truck- Anyway. Here is the chapter! And a new one will be formed tonight, so more content WOOOOOOO! Enjoy! Masterpost Chapter 6 <--> Chapter 8

~o0o~

There are the gripping hands again… 

Jekyll felt the tight hands wrap around her cold body. They were merciless in their grip, and they began to tear her apart like before. The environment was cold, but the hands were hot as if she entered hell. It was dark. There was no light for her to grasp the color of the hands ripping her apart. Their texture was rough, and the crevices on the hands alone tore into her skin. They smelled horrendous, but those were the only two senses she could pull together which terrified her even more. No one heard her cries; not even Hyde responded to her pleas. 

Until someone did answer. It took a bit, but a large crack of light appeared in front of her. Just like last time, two wide doors revealed an outside world Jekyll couldn’t make sense of, shining light on the grimy red hands. 

They responded immediately; they dropped Jekyll and swarmed to the person opening the doors, waiting to devour the next person they could latch onto. The burns on Jekyll’s arms subsided as the hands dropped her, and she fell to the cold floor, collecting herself and tying her hair back so she could see properly. 

The hands reached out to the person in the light, but none could lay a hand on the figure. He approached the door as the hands struggled to get past some unknown force. 

Jekyll instinctively rose to her feet and met the figure at the door, her eyes adjusting to the light before recognizing who it was.

It was Dante. 

The doctor sighed in relief, trying to speak to him. However, no words came out of her mouth. Her mouth did not move despite her soul wishing to talk to him. Dante simply took Jekyll’s hand and pulled her towards him. 

Some sort of barrier broke the moment Jekyll crossed the door threshold. The light overwhelmed her eyes, and she fell into Dante’s arms before all her senses became overstimulated, refusing her any access to the outside world until they recollected themselves. 

The light slowly dimmed, allowing Jekyll’s eyes to adapt to the environment. She watched herself be reassembled piece by piece painlessly. It only took a few minutes for all her blood to return to her vessels and function in her body to be restored. 

Dante was holding onto her hand just like in the vision. He looked more concerned than worried. “Hopefully, you are alright,” he ticked, nodding. He clenched his stomach violently as if he felt Jekyll’s pain after she died. 

Jekyll didn’t let go of his hand. She leaned on Dante’s shoulder as her head spun. She wondered what happened, but figured she would ask later. All she knew was that she was safe by Dante’s side, and he wouldn’t let anything happen to her as long as he was around. The flames on the top of his head provided enough light and heat to keep her warm, and she wasn’t ready to give up that comfort just yet, especially after breaking free from the cold floor of hell. 

With the Sinner in his grasp, the clock stared down at the therapist, ensuring that the world couldn't harm her now. The pain – which never faded each time the hands of his face turned – was secondary to the hands of the sinner before him. He glanced around, ensuring there wouldn't be anything to disturb their moment of peace, keeping track of time. "It's alright. It's going to be ok. The first time is always the worst, dying. But.. you don't have to do it alone. You are never alone."

Jekyll laughed lightly. Second… time… 

First time on the battlefield, bastard. 

Jekyll sighed, not happy to hear Hyde in the back of her head. She glanced up, bowing to the clock in thanks. “You’re the best, Dante.” She smiled softly. “The best manager I could’ve ever worked for.” 

The maestro was better.

Shut up. 

If the manager could’ve smiled and hugged her tightly for the compliment he desperately needed, Jekyll was convinced he would have. He raised his arms to hug her, but his attention was pulled away as Pen asked where Mallo and Jatayu were. Realizing they died in the fight, Dante began to turn back the clock to bring them back just as he did with Jekyll. 

Jekyll stood back, unable to bear the sight of Dante in pain as the other sinners slowly formed back together. 

So… about the IDs, Hyde. 

The voice in her head stopped, heaving a sigh of frustration before it replied to her in a harsh tone. What about them? 

I hate them. I don’t like being locked up and not being able to do anything, Jekyll tried to sound as firm as possible, putting her foot down. 

I agree.

So I– wait. What? Jekyll paused, confused. Was Hyde really siding with her? 

I hated being locked up when you were in the LCCB ID. You probably hated it when I was in The One Who Shall Grip ID. 

Can… can we keep their usage to a minimum? Jekyll pleaded, knowing it would often be in vain, but she took that chance. 

Ask the clockhead. He’s the one who controls that. 

It was Jekyll’s turn to sigh in frustration. Dante has a name. You should respect him as such. 

Whatever. My point still stands. 

Dante walked over to Pen, about to rewind the clock for him next. 

The hunter put up his hand in refusal. “I’ll keep myself on my toes, Dante,” he shook his head. 

The manager looked relieved strangely. “Alright, I trust you.” He glanced at the rest of the group, doing a head count and still refusing to revive Mark. “Right then… it seems that the hallway is cleared. We could either go down the hall and explore the rest of that area… or we can go that way.” His hand lifted to point at the unlocked door mirroring the abnormality containment room. The flames on his head gently cleared away the darkness, but it added an ominous feeling to his appearance. 

Pen’s walk was more graceful and quiet than usual. He walked down the hall and gently approached a door that likely took them back to the entrance. His spear provided him with enough light to observe the door. “Is this another abnormality containment unit?” He asked Dante, his white hair glistening in the darkness. 

“N-No,” Dante stammered, still standing by the door in the middle of the hallway. “It shouldn’t be; I believe is a normal doorway.” 

Pen sighed, relaxing his posture and letting out a shaky breath. “What a relief…” 

It was odd how Pen was so nervous about abnormalities after facing one. What… happened after I died? 

Hyde was quick to answer, as always. They probably suffered without my help. 

Didn’t you fight next to the abnormality? 

That’s why they now fear me. Hyde smirked with delight. It was perfect. 

“Mallo, you have Mark’s body, right?” The manager asked in the darkness. 

There was a grunt before a shadow was hoisted over a shoulder. Mallo stepped into Dante’s circle of light and nodded silently, smoking a cigarette. Mark’s body started to smell, but it didn’t seem to bother the tall woman. 

Everyone nodded simultaneously when Dante confirmed everyone was ready and proceeded to move forward. Lenore and Pen were eager to explore the door at the end of the hall. No one batted an eye toward the door in the middle of the hall, despite Jekyll having an uncanny feeling that was where they were supposed to go. Doesn’t this door just loop around to the room Mallo dragged me out of? 

That’s not important right now, Hyde eagerly tried to peer through Jekyll’s eye. We will likely face combat again. Talk to the clockhead about the IDs before he changes us into one of yours. 

Or yours, Jekyll retorted. You’re not the only one that matters. 

Dante followed behind the rest of the party. It was one of the few chances Jekyll could talk to the manager before others wished to eavesdrop. Jatayu followed close behind him, his gaze more focused on the darkness behind the group rather than what lay ahead. 

Jekyll once more entered Dante’s circle of light, immediately feeling relieved the moment the manager turned to face her. “Dante?” Jekyll began, clenching her arm as if she struggled to find her words. 

“Is everything okay, Jekyll?” Dante reached out his hand toward her, before gently placing it back by his side. He shoved his other hand into his pocket, the clock silently ticking in the background. 

Jekyll stared at Dante’s face, trying to look him in the eyes… or what she thought were his eyes. “Can I ask a favor on behalf of me and Hyde?” 

“Certainly!” Dante nodded slowly. “How may I help you two?” 

Choose your next words carefully, Jekyll. 

Jekyll inhaled a nervous breath, clenching her hands together. She hated how much her hands shook the moment she even got a little bit nervous. “Can you…” Exhaling, her next words became a mutter. “Not turn us into IDs unless it’s absolutely necessary?” 

To the doctor’s surprise, the manager agreed. “Of course,” his voice was more understanding than Jekyll expected. “Will you be fine fighting on your own, then?” 

N-No I… 

I will, Hyde rolled her eyes. Fighting is easy. Leave that to me. 

“Hyde will be fine…” Jekyll stammered nervously, not liking the idea of fighting herself. “We just… both don’t like being silenced by the IDs… unable to say anything…” 

“I don’t understand what it is like to share a mind,” Dante inquired. “So I will keep in mind that is how both of you feel whilst using them.” 

Jekyll bowed in thanks once more, stepping aside and gesturing toward the rest of the group. “After you, manager.” 

“Thank you!” The hint of glee in his voice was reassuring. He paced down the hall with his head held high. 

The doctor followed suit, pacing behind the manager and falling in sync with the veteran. Anxiety crept up her back like a spider ready to devour her. She grazed her hand along her paintbrush before clenching it, watching the veteran’s movements as he too, nervously followed behind Dante. Hyde, what did you do to the group? 

Nothing of your concern. 

Jekyll didn’t believe her. She stuttered over her words as she tried to grab his attention discretely. “J-J-Jatayu?” 

He turned his attention toward her, his eyes half-opened and his body posture on alert. “Hmm?” He greeted Jekyll with a smile. “Yes, Ms. Jekyll?” 

“Did…” Jekyll sighed, clenching her arms as her footsteps echoed along the metal hallway. “Did Hyde hurt any of you guys?” 

The door at the end of the hallway swung open thanks to Pen’s force. He stepped aside as Lenore peered into the new room whilst Mallo watched from afar, smoking silently. Pen soon joined Lenore’s side, trying to make sense of the darkness that hid the room’s entities. 

“It wasn’t of Hyde’s violation I like to think, the entity had… abilities,” Jatayu responded, his voice low and wavering as memories flooded his mind. He stared at the ground as he slowly followed the manager, the only thing glimmering about his presence being the silver ring on his finger. 

Jekyll shivered. Hyde!

What are you freaking out for now? Hyde rolled her eyes, tuning back into the conversation. I kicked everyone’s butts before they staggered and killed me. 

Why would you do that?! Jekyll felt her breath quickening, unable to process that she attacked her coworkers. 

I was protecting the bird, simple as that. 

A what?!

Don’t worry about it, Hyde sighed. I attacked the bird anyway, I used one of those… uh… EGO things we got back from the bus. Anyway, where is Mallo? 

Jekyll didn’t like how fast Hyde was changing the conversation. Wait, why do you want Mallo? We didn’t finish–

She killed us. 

But–

I just want to talk to her, Hyde snapped, clearly done with the conversation. It is not your business.

It is my business! You’re literally using my body!

So? 

“Oi! You’re on private property!” A new, harsh voice echoed from the new room. “Get out of here, now!” 

Pen jumped back, his face draining color by the second as he hid behind Lenore. Jekyll could tell he was horrified by the voice; it somehow struck a nerve. His hands rested on Lenore’s shoulders. Pen peeked over her shoulder, muttering something to her. 

Lenore didn’t seem to mind and proceeded with her standard questioning. “Are you an employee of L Corp?” She asked calmly with a hint of spite, clasping her hands together as her eyes adjusted to the light. 

“Nah mate,” the voice replied. “We are just the people who own this place now.” 

Pen grabbed his spear as subtly as he could. He was ready to fight the voice that spooked him. His eyes slanted as they peered into the room.

Mallo still didn’t seem to bother with what was happening. She carried a weird, awkward posture as Mark’s body hung over her shoulder. She was purposely away from the group and refused to engage. 

“Worry not, Jekyll.” The veteran took a step in front of her, readying his tanfas in a protective position. He glanced back, his look was solemn. “It was not your fault, okay?” 

Jekyll’s hand went up to feel her face. Did I look worried? How did he know? 

Idiot. Focus on what’s going on. 

“You said this wasn’t a containment unit, Dante!” Pen shouted. He stared at the manager. Fear claimed his soul. 

“What?” This caught Dante by surprise. He quickened his pace to meet them. “It shouldn’t be!” 

“Oi, bum! Get ye and yer pussy outta here! Don’t make me say it again!” The new voice rang with a low, disgruntled threat. The tone of his voice conveyed his stance on the manner; he was not joking. 

The threat certainly caught Mallo’s attention; she finally got off the wall and wandered over to the rest of the group. 

It became difficult for Jekyll to see what was happening the moment Dante fled her side, having been her light source. When the manager joined the hunter’s side, he sighed in relief. “Ah… it’s just two humans…” Pen relaxed, letting go of Lenore and stepping to her side. “We have business here.” He informed the intruders quickly and concisely. 

They were not buying it. “Yeah? So do we!” 

That’s a second voice, Jekyll dared to go past Jatayu’s tanfa to observe the two intruders. She wanted to see a face she could match with the grumpy male voice. 

“Then why don’t we both just get along with our own businesses?” Pen continued. 

“You’re trespassing on ours!” The first voice shouted with anger. It was deeper and more hostile than the second voice, but both of them had the same intention. 

It seemed that Mallo had enough. She stepped forward out of the shadows. Her glare told everything she was feeling; giving an ‘are you stupid’ look to Lenore and Pen before she decided to speak. “Why are you conversing with them?” The voice and tone in which she spoke came off as harsh and intimidating.

Lenore, however, did not show any sign of fear. 

The second figure in the shadows snapped his fingers, trying to make his voice lower. “Come on, we don’t have all day now, we get on with our work and you piss off, or we will gut you like a fish!” 

Mallo’s face filled with an emotion Jekyll knew well; fear. She stepped back. Jekyll found it odd that she was almost intimidated by a simple voice that barked and had no bite. 

Now you’re talking, the thought seemed to please Hyde. Everyone is bark and no bite. This is why we bite first, and bark after. 

We are not dogs… 

It’s a metaphor, Jekyll.

You don’t need to tell me what a metaphor is. I majored in English. 

Amongst the rest of your useless degrees? Hyde scoffed. 

Jekyll rolled her eyes. You wouldn’t understand. You didn’t even get one degree.

Hyde snapped. I am the best artist in M Corp’s Ring. I majored in art with a specialization in blood preservation and murder. It is you who is the pushover fool.

You’re just a killer. You are an evil entity. 

And you are the creator of me; the color in your life. 

“I believe you gentlemen have a very poor understanding of the situation,” Lenore’s raised voice caught the attention of the doctor and the painter. 

“Oh really now, huh?” The first voice scowled, roaring like a lion. “What makes you say that?” 

A facade of calm anger seizes hold of Lenore’s expressions. “You are interfering with a business that is a far, far higher power than yourselves. Leave, or so help me not, may you be purged like the scum that you are on this circle of hell.” Her aura was the one of the intimidating One Who Grips, but it borrowed from the many memories of many other versions of herself. 

The two men responded, backing up being intimidated by her words. 

She would have a field day with split shards. Jekyll couldn’t tell if it was she or Hyde who thought that. Jekyll discarded the thought as she took a step towards the door, straining her eyes into the darkness to catch a glimpse of the threatening figures. 

Both men wear teal-colored green attire, with their right arms replaced with a strange, augmented… thing. It looked unholy, possessing a decaying color that enveloped all of their limbs up to their shoulders. Through their captive arm, a hole goes through their hands up to their shoulders as well. It glowed softly. The same strange genetic mutation also occupies their left hands and wrists. 

The taller one was the owner of the deeper, rustier voice. His hair was black and slicked back across his skull. His face was in a permanent scowl that was difficult to see amid the present darkness.

The second man was shorter, his hair a messy brown that covered his silver eyes. His gaze was harsh, but his facial expression was what caught Jekyll’s eye.

Hyde caught her own throat. L-Lucas? 

No. Jekyll sighed. It’s… it’s not Lucas. 

Hyde was silent, and… emotional. Jekyll searched her memories for why Hyde would be so caught up on the name. She knew the second demon syndicate’s face complexion looked strikingly similar to Lucas's, but there was no way it could actually be him. 

If I see him again, I’ll kill him.

You’ve always said that, Hyde. Jekyll sighed. But… it is likely he’s not alive anymore. We wouldn’t know. 

I didn’t get to paint with his blood. 

He would’ve let you. 

The two went silent again, the memories flooding through their head. Jekyll stared the second man down, her hand gripping the paintbrush. Despite the history, she felt oddly indifferent about it. Killing Lucas’ father was not a kill she regretted. It was the only one she thanked Hyde for. 

Thanks, again, Hyde. 

For murdering Sir Danves Crew? Yeah, whatever. 

It… Jekyll gripped her paintbrush tighter, anger boiling inside her. It was for the better. 

Do you think… Hyde paused, her voice in Jekyll’s head wavering. Do you think Lucas ever found out? 

I… Jekyll stopped a tear, wiping her face as she recalled the man. I don’t know. 

“Dante, step back,” Pen instructed, readying his harpoon.

“Okay,” Dante glanced back at the doctor and the veteran. “Jekyll, Jatayu, we need you up here.” 

Hyde, Jekyll begged, obeying Dante. Pull yourself together, we need to fight.

Hyde obliged, staring down the enemies. They’re not mechanical… I can still beat them to shreds. 

That… Jekyll opened her mouth to object. Yeah, okay. 

“Maybe you’ll find out how to use this another day,” The first man turned his head toward Pen, gesturing to his green arm. “But that day is not today.” 

“Stay out of this room, we are dealing with business.” The second one tried to raise his voice but stammered over his words the moment Lenore pierced his soul with her gaze. 

The door shut in front of the party’s face, but not by the syndicate members. Mallo gently closed the door and glanced at the rest of the party. “Not our problem anymore,” she stated.

Lenore stood there in disbelief. “What?” 

Now hold on, Hyde frowned, disappointed. That Maut guy ordered us to exterminate them. It is our problem. Let’s sweep the floor with them!

“Hyde, not now,” Jekyll said out loud. She covered her mouth immediately. Thankfully, no one in the group seemed to notice or care. Oh, I keep forgetting they already know about you.

Tough, Jekyll. 

Mallo thought to herself, staring at the floor before forcing her gaze toward Jatayu, adjusting Mark’s body over her shoulder. 

How has she not gotten tired of carrying his dead weight? Jekyll followed her gaze to stare at the veteran.

Jatayu was on high alert, staring down the hall they just walked into. His head rotated at every small sound, and his tanfas were in a battle-ready position. He took the position of being the rear guard of the group as if it were his duty to do so. He guarded everyone like if he didn’t, they would all die. 

Jekyll shuddered to herself. Is he guarding us because he didn’t guard his family on that wedding night? Is it only out of guilt? 

Guilt is a terrible driving force of action, Hyde rolled her eyes. But a driving action nonetheless. 

Don’t criticize the man. 

Why not? Hyde challenged. Going through the memory of your conversation with him, it’s honestly pathetic. He’s trying to find his niece who was kidnapped by a syndicate. There is no way she’s alive after all this time. Who was the idiot who taught him hope? 

Hyde–

Jekyll was interrupted as she stepped out of the way when Mallo walked past her. Mallo deliberately ignored her presence as she confronted Jatayu, almost stepping over her. She refused to look at her and acknowledge her, having an awkward vibe around Jekyll. 

Jekyll wasn’t surprised by such action, and how it ticked Hyde off. This motherf–

“We are supposed to eradicate threats, correct?” Mallo asked Jatayu and Dante at the same time.

Dante was the first to reply, seeing Jatayu was busy. “Uhm, yes, that is what Maut said per our contract with their company.” 

“Do the demon syndicate members count as a threat?” Her eyebrow raised, giving a pathetic look at the closed door. 

“As long as they are not in the way, I suppose not…” Dante suggested. “It depends if we want to terminate them and how we wish to.” 

Jatayu kept his head facing the hall, but his eyes turned to Dante. “I wouldn’t mind murdering them.” 

Mallo pointed at the door behind her. “Break a leg, I guess.” 

“Dante, permission to expel these putrid demons from existence?” Jatayu’s voice dripped with untold rage. A fire burned inside his eyes. 

The compassion Dante conveyed solely with his flames shocked Jekyll, but he shook his head. “It is not worth it right now. We have worse things to deal with. For example, we haven’t seen that red thing that beheaded the corpses yet.” 

The sadness on Jatayu’s face triggered something inside the party. Lenore was the first to act upon her empathy. “The demon syndicate members seem to be hiding something in there, are we sure we don’t want to figure out what they are protecting?” 

“I do not sense the golden bough, which is what we are after here,” Dante reminded everyone of the goal at hand. “Did anyone see anything important?” 

“It was pitch black; we ordered them to leave but they refused to. It seems the conclusion is obvious,” Lenore gestured to the door, a small chaotic gleam flashing in her eyes. 

“They are not our prey, but what if they attack us later on?” Pen added. 

“I agree with Pen,” Jatayu turned around, butting into the conversation. He seemed eager to convince the manager. “It’s totally not because I hate these people…” 

“Hate is a driving force,” Mallo confirmed, cracking a smile. “Let me suggest something, Dante. Jatayu and another volunteer stay behind to clear them out, and the rest of us continue forward.” 

“I volunteer!” Jekyll shouted, raising her hand. She surprised herself with her immediate response, but it seemed she and Hyde agreed on the action despite their different reasons. Jekyll faced Jatayu and nodded. “A promise is a promise, and I plan to keep mine. I will go with you.” 

A promise is a promise, Hyde said in a mocking tone. Do you know how stupid that sounds? I’m just ready to kill some people! Let’s do this! LET ME BONK THEM–

There was a moment of silence after Jekyll’s outbursts before Lenore and Pen also volunteered. 

Dante ticked a few times before speaking. “I suppose it would be best for everyone to go in since we have the numbers.” 

“We can kill them faster than deciding to kill them,” Lenore joked, pulling back strands of her hair and putting it into her ponytail. 

The matter was settled. Everyone stepped forward in front of the door, conversing amongst themselves a strategy for entering into the battlefront. Pen decided to go in first, with Lenore and Mallo following after him. Jekyll decided to go in after Jatayu, residing in the last place. 

Lenore leaned back, snapping to get Jekyll’s attention. “Hey, Jekyll,” she said with a sly grin on her face. “Would you bring out my right hand? We would be godly in this fight if I had her.” 

Hell yeah. Let me have the ID out. The One Who Shall Grip. 

But– “W-Will I be normal outside of combat…?” Jekyll stammered, squeezing her arms. I don’t want to be trapped again. 

Don’t be a baby. Let me fight and then we can return to normal.

But last time–

“That’s a question for the masked one,” Lenore gestured to Dante.

The doctor wasn’t able to process everything in such a short notice. The manager seemed to understand. “You don’t have to equip it if you don’t want to.” 

“They were scary,” Pen added. “But you returned to normal after the fight ended…” 

Mallo shifted uncomfortably at the mention of Hyde’s Nagul Und Hammer ID. 

Come on, Jekyll. Hyde’s voice suddenly became soothing and alluring. Hyde always talked this way when it came to manipulation, and Jekyll knew she fell for it every time. This way, you will be spared from the entire fight and don’t have to witness it, no? Surely, you don’t want to see that Lucas-like guy die under your feet.

“Oh, since you’re going to be alone, Dante…” Pen tapped his spear on the ground. It lit up the area around Dante, giving him a shield. “This won’t last long, but it’s just in case…” 

“Oh, thank you Pen,” Dante acknowledged the hunter before turning back to the doctor. 

“Okay,” Jekyll sighed, being persuaded. “You can… you can change to the ID, Dante.” 

Wonderful. That’s what I’m talking about!

“Are you sure you want to?” Dante pressed, his head tilting to the side. 

Yes. Yes, you want to, Jekyll. Hyde continued. Don’t give room for him to plant doubt in your decision. 

“I’d… rather not see the battle anyway…” Jekyll clenched her arm and glanced to the floor. Her breathing hitched, and she closed her eyes to prepare for the change. 

“As long as you are okay with it,” Dante slowly pulled out the cards from his jacket, shuffling through them. “I’ll make sure to turn you back into your original once the combat is done.” 

Dante raised the card in front of Jekyll and flung it from head to toe. Jekyll felt the clothes on her back changing into the familiar ID, her black coat curling into the white cape drenched with blood on The One Who Shall Grip. Her brown eye faded into nothing, and her red eye became the most prominent as the transformation concluded. 

You were always a fool to trust me. Hyde’s thoughts became the primary force as she took control.

Jekyll opened her mouth to say something but was caught by the force of unknown chains in Hyde’s mind, stuffing every thought and voice that could’ve come from her. 

By the time Hyde adjusted to fronting, she spotted Mallo also in a new ID, specifically one that associated with the whalers in U Corp. Her coat was long and green, and her harpoon was shorter and bulkier than one similar to Pens. She wore a cap on her head and held a fancy cigar. However, despite the authoritative outfit, Mallo’s posture became slouched and timid. She dropped Mark’s body and left it on the floor. 

Hyde didn’t pay any more attention to her before she faced Lenore. “My gratitude, Lenore,” her smirk was wild with psychopaths. “Are you ready to annihilate these scum from the earth?” 

Lenore returned her evil smile. “It will be a pleasure to fight by your side instead of against you this time.” 

Hyde clamped her mouth shut, clearing her throat. Yeah… we don’t talk about that… 

Lenore noticed her reaction and her smile faded. “Hey, no hard feelings? There are many heretics we can turn our wrath against together.” 

Hyde forced a smile. “Very well.” She raised her foot and slammed it on the door, causing it to fly across the dark room as its hinges clattered onto the ground. A circular band of light surrounded Hyde as fire seeped from her fists around her ax. She charged in, analyzing the enemies immediately. 

The two men shot up from the floor, fear filling their faces as they looked behind their backs. “We told you to leave? How could you?!” The darker man shouted in rage. Each of them ready attacks against Pen, who had walked the closest to them after Hyde obliterated the door. 

Pen saw their positions of attack, and it only forced a smile on his face. “Don’t you wanna get your heads cut off?” 

“Remember when I told you you’ll find out what these things do?!” The first syndicate raised his arm as it slowly glowed a black color. “You’re about to find out!” 

The hunter wasn’t amused. “They capture souls?” 

The first syndicate member stammered. “W-Well… yes… You’re not supposed to guess!” He seemed frustrated by the comment alone.

Pen’s voice did not sweeten from his dry tone. “Wow.” He adjusted his white hair. 

Mallo chuckled to herself. “We ruined your only cool thing.” 

The second syndicate member blazed with fury. “Hell, you’re next!” 

Lenore didn’t give them any more time to rant about destroying the party. She cut off the first man’s attack with her own, sliding her weapon across the arm and hinging it on the man’s shoulder, giving him a good cut. Lenore didn’t hesitate to implant nails into his new wound. 

The first demon syndicate member didn’t have time to cry in pain as Mallo jumped him, forcing her harpoon down his new wound and drawing out his blood.

Hyde readied her stance, unable to stay in place for much longer. The nails and blood made her crazy. Something inside her got more excited to purge the heretic. This ID REALLY likes blood… huh. She wasn’t used to the ecstatic feeling that surged through her veins, but she would use the newfound energy to her advantage. 

“Hah! Did you really think you could stop me before I did something amazing?!” The first syndicate walked off his wound like it was nothing. He smirked with pride as his arm got darker. 

Jatayu’s eyes boiled under his helmet; Hyde could tell by how he carried his hammer. He lunged for the first man. However, his rage quickly subsided the moment they clashed. Jatayu swung his hammer again, but the enemy caught the hammer and flung the base of it away from him. 

Before anyone could react, the green arm was placed in Jatayu’s face and blasted a black mist at him. Jatayu staggered back, rubbing his face in agony. 

“You fool!” The man laughed, the wound on his arm healing. 

Pen’s eyes widened. “I need to set up barriers, stat.” He started fiddling with his harpoon.

Hyde narrowed her eyes, insulted they would attack Jatayu so cruelly. You’re gonna pay for that. Her feet left the ground as she slammed the first syndicate into the wall. She raised her ax and slashed it across his torso, power surging through her fanatic state. 

The shorter, brown-haired syndicate member raised his arm toward Mallo, forcing Hyde to dodge and get back in line. “I’m going to make good on my promise. I’m attacking you because you made me less cool!” 

How pathetic. Hyde rolled her eyes. You never were cool. 

Pen shot forward to the first syndicate, driving his spear into his shoulder. The first man staggered, crumbling to the floor. 

Mallo’s smirk only widened as she lunged for the second man, clashing with her harpoon before throwing it towards him. It grazed his arm and made him real back. However, the syndicate member took this attack and stabbed her in the shoulder in return. He laughed maniacally as he did so, his eyes crazed with insanity. 

Pen tapped the ground with his spear, and light particles floated around everyone, giving them a temporary shield. He backed up as Jatayu turned to him.

“Thank you, workshop worker,” Jatayu put the flap of his helmet over his eyes. “I shall smite in your steed.” 

Hyde glanced at the staggered man on the floor. “Don’t take my kill,” she hissed at Jatayu. 

Jatayu nodded in obedience. “I shall prepare him for you.” He quoted gently before raising his hammer. He let the weight of gravity carry his hammer down onto the helpless man. Bones breaking in his body echoed through the room as the hammer crushed his body and soul. 

There’s like nothing left of him, Hyde frowned. He’s so dead already. 

Jatayu uses the shock of the syndicate’s coworker to do a surprise attack on him, swinging his hammer across the man’s chest. 

Hyde didn’t pay any attention to that aftermath; Jatayu had prepared the man well for her. She stepped slowly, the chaos around her dimming as her approach forced the man to make eye contact with her. 

He coughed in pain. “Please… I’ll give you my soul… spare… me…” 

Hyde smiled, laughing to herself. She swung her ax in her hand as she looked down at the man. “What fantastic art you will make.” 

The man was helpless as Hyde split the man in two with her ax, her swings scattering his guts across the walls and floors. None of his limbs stayed attached as Hyde swung effortlessly, demolishing any prior form he once had. She didn’t finish until he was a pile of blood and rubble on the floor. 

When she was finished, she stood over his remains, glancing down at her outfit. It was difficult to tell it was originally white; one could’ve sworn it was red with white highlights with how much blood rested on her chest and hands. What was that… 400 damage, or something? She sighed. Where’s Jekyll with her calculations when you need her? 

The wild crazed look in her eyes did not subside as she turned to the second man. I am going to enjoy this. She sneered as she pointed her ax at the syndicate member who looked like Lucas. “You’re next.” 

The second syndicate member, having watched his coworker be obliterated into shreds, trembled in fear, gripping his arm to his chest. He tried to speak, but all that came out were anxious mumbles as he quaked in his own boots. 

“Huh, that could’ve been me earlier…” Pen shuddered, staring at the remains on the floor before staring at Hyde. He gulped pretty hard, thinking back to the abnormality fight. 

Lenore wore a proud smirk. “Very well done, Hyde, I have taught you well.” 

Remember your place, Lenore. We are not the same in this universe. 

Mallo mumbled something about being too messy as she shook her head. She glanced toward Jatayu, who started to shout with pride. “Congratulations O One Who Shall Grip! You have done us proud, showing the might of Nagul Und Hammer! It is an honor to serve you!” He set his hammer aside and clapped profusely. 

Hyde raised her head high, returning to the line with pride before facing the final foe. He didn’t take his eyes off her, and he trembled in fear. 

That will be you one day, Lucas. She raised her ax, unable to force her usual, chaotic smile. 

“We should capture this man,” Pen proposed before everyone could prep themselves. He took a step towards the second syndicate member, gesturing to the pile of blood next to him. “You see what happened to your pal? Lay down your weapon, and this won’t happen to you.” 

The man shook his head, squeaking. “Y-You think I’m gonna b-believe that after watching what that maniac did?! I don’t even stand a chance!” 

“Is it not better than getting beheaded by the monster?” Pen argued.

Hyde didn’t necessarily connect the dots that he wasn’t referring to her. She started to laugh, that crazed desire for death in her eyes. 

Pen tapped his harpoon on the floor again, providing another temporary shield around the party. “You’re not gonna hurt anyone here with me around,” he said calmly. 

The man looked at each of the party members. He cowered in feat at the bloodthirsty Jatayu, the stoic Mallo, the Lenore who threatened him earlier, and the Hyde who couldn’t stop laughing whilst imagining his demise. He slowly lowered his weapon, turning off his arm. His face was pale, and his pupils ceased to exist. He slowly stood up before he turned his foot to run. 

“Wait, do not run,” Pen urged. “You’ll… die.” 

It was too late. The man had turned his heel and started sprinting down the hall. 

Mallo was faster. She dashed after him, throwing her harpoon with skill. It pierced the man’s chest and pinned him to the floor. She rested from her position and walked over to him, the bloodthirst amongst the party having filled her own eyes. 

The man screamed in pain, withering as his body sunk into the sharp end of the harpoon. He gasped for breath. He tried to stop breathing as Mallo loomed over him. 

“Spoils don’t escape during the hunt,” Mallo hissed, stepping on his chest and pressing it further into the harpoon. 

The man screamed in pain. “What the hell are you hunting?!” He cried, his whole body shaking in fright. 

As the rest of the party circled him, Pen questioned him. “You won’t die if you help us,” he informed. “What is cutting off all the corpse's heads?” 

The man only replied with confused noises. 

Pen sighed. “No recourse.” 

“It’s the big thing in the chair!” The man blabbered, tears streaming down his eyes. “The red dress woman, with a big red eye in the big red chair!” 

“A woman?” Pen thought out loud. “Are we not hunting abnormalities? Does this sound familiar to anyone?” He looked around to the rest of the party, before addressing the most obvious person. “Jatayu?” 

“A red woman? No, I do not remember a red woman,” Jatayu shook his head.

Hyde stepped closer to the man, holding up her ax to his throat. She stared daggers into his soul as her feet swayed side to side, getting impatient. Where is the order to kill him? Her smile was dark, her chaotic eyes darting across the man’s complexion. He really does look like Lucas… 

The man started to yap again out of fright. “I-I know it sounds silly, but we were supposed to protect the treasure! We have to obey her! She killed the two that didn’t!” His hand shook as he lifted it, pointing at the other corpses on the floor. 

Mallo raised her eyebrows. “Treasure?” 

The guy swallowed. “Oh no…” 

“Tell me more about this treasure,” she smirked, leaning down to meet his eyes much like Hyde was. 

He mumbled over the blood pouring from his lips. “I can’t…” 

“Why not?” Mallo’s face was captured by annoyance. She flipped her black hair behind her shoulder. “No one is here.” 

“If I say it, I’ll die before it even becomes a thought!” 

“There’s cards on the bodies,” Pen had walked away from the man, observing one of the corpses on the floor. 

“The hell do you mean cards?!” The syndicate member whimpered in pain as he strained to look, curiosity getting the better of him. 

“There are heart cards on all of the beheaded corpses,” Pen mentioned. 

“There’s a few more corpses to check over there,” Mallo points to the other side of the room.

The man objected. “That i-is disrespectful–” 

Mallo shoves her foot into the guy’s chest, pushing him further into the spear. He yelped in pain, his scream being cut off as his eyes bulged from his skull. “I don’t care,” Mallo hissed into his ear. “Shut up.” 

The man painfully grasped for air as Mallo walked over to the corpse Lenore was investigating. 

Pen tilted his head with a grim expression on his face, staring at the captive. “Sorry about them, they have a short fuse…” 

Hyde leaned on her ax, staring the man down. How is this man still alive? He should have been dead by now, especially with his organs being impaled… 

She glanced away from the captive only when a soft rustling noise interrupted the silence. She spotted Lenore picking up another card of hearts before all the cards from Mark’s dead body traveled across the floor to meet with the other card in Lenore’s hand. 

Mallo raised her eyebrow. “What?” 

Pen came back to the syndicate member and lifted his head so he could see. “Does that not look familiar to you?” 

“A-All I say were white… things flying through the air…” He muttered, his intake of air becoming more sparse. 

Pen grunted, taking a step towards Lenore and snatching the cards before showing them in front of the demon syndicate member’s eyes. 

“Red… hearts…” he coughed. “Like the woman… she has… red hearts too.”

“All the corpses have cards on them,” Pen informed. “So you must have a card too, I think.” 

“Does that mean we get to turn him into a corpse?” Hyde’s eyes lit up with glee, standing up straight from leaning over on her ax.

“What? No! I… I don’t… have a card…” The captive coughed up even more blood, which sent a surge of emotions through Hyde’s veins. 

“Is she dead?” Pen questioned further, his eyes narrowing. “The woman you work for.” 

“What? There are two women… one of them is my boss… and the other… is the heart lady…” The man used the last of his strength to raise his head to meet Pen’s eyes. “Why am I telling you this?” 

“No, go on,” Mallo glanced up from the corpse she was looting. “Tell us more.” 

“Am… I going to die if I do…?” 

You’re already going to die by the looks of it… Hyde flattened her face. 

“No,” Mallo lied through her teeth. “Not if you tell us the information we need.” 

He wasn’t convinced. “I don’t… trust that one…” 

“Well, you better hope you trust me!” The woman stood up and walked over to him, grabbed him by his wavy brown hair, and pulled his head up, the blood on her hands coating his curly locks. 

Hyde smirked, eager to join in. “It won’t take too much time to gut you like your partner over there,” she gestured to the pile of rubble she created with the man’s body earlier. “And my bloodthirst isn’t satisfied… so who is it going to be? You, or your boss?” 

Under immense pressure, the man simply started to wail as his blood trickled down his cheeks. He looked disgusting and was barely clinging to life. 

“We can test the theory right now,” Pen added.

That didn’t stop the syndicate member’s wailing. “Huh?” 

“We can see if a card appears on him when he dies,” Pen pointed to the beheaded corpses and then to the corpse Hyde killed. “I would do it… but it’s a little too bloody for me.” 

When the man tried to protest, Hyde found no interest in hearing his pleas. She stepped away from the man, the aura of light around her shifting as she explored the dark room before stumbling upon the corpse she made. Free supplies, at least. She kneeled and opened a few jars in her pockets, collecting the interesting colors she could salvage from his guts and blood. I need to paint that one thing for the seasonal auction… 

She overheard the conversation with the captive as she did so. “One last thing,” Pen’s voice raised in volume. “Who do you work for?” 

“Who do you think?!” The man gasped, lifting his diseased green arm.

“What do I think?” A new rage filled Pen’s soul. “I think you’re going to die if you don’t tell me.” 

The man grunted as Mallo stepped on him again. “His… name… is…” 

Before he could say anything else, the green arm and wrist on his body lit up his whole body. They glowed brightly before they exploded inside of the man’s limbs. The man uttered a silent scream of agony before his body melted into a corrosive green goop onto the floor. He had melted from the inside out. 

“Wait, tell us!” Pen urgently asked. 

“It’s too late, he’s dead.” Mallo sighed, lifting her ID harpoon away from his goop. 

“Perfect,” Hyde chuckled to herself. “I won’t have to threaten him to not follow us anymore.” 

The tension in the room subsided; Jatayu opened the door to make sure Dante was okay before letting him inside. Everyone’s posture relaxed now that the threat was eliminated. 

Pen held his hand up to his chin, staring at the floor. “The demon leader is a woman, then…” he theorized. 

“It’s not the same person as the one causing the decapitations though,” Mallo corrected, joining Pen.

“So… it’s two different women we have to defeat.” Pen countered, trying to pull the pieces together. 

Jekyll had a conversation with Jatayu about this since they seem to have a lovely history… Hyde searched her memories. Hmm… I can’t recall it. Oh well, time to make a scene~ “Isn’t it obvious?” Hyde sealed the last bottle of blood as she raised her arms, adjusting her ax before she stood. “The man himself would know!” She pointed to Jatayu, who was looting a corpse. He didn’t find anything. 

Pen continued to mutter under his breath, disregarding Hyde’s comment. “It’s a woman of hearts…” 

These motherf– “Jatayu!” 

Jatayu shot up, his head turning around on high alert before his gaze met Hyde’s. “Yes, my worship?” 

Hyde smirked proudly. It’s been a long time since someone has called me that. I quite prefer it. She opened another jar before scooping up some of the green goo from the second syndicate member’s remains. “Do you recall the name of the demon syndicate leader… guy… thing?” She waved her hand around carelessly, trying to figure out what words to use. 

 Dante shuffled through the ID cards, and waved Jatayu’s base ID, over him, returning him to normal. It revealed the agony his face was in, and how hard he was gripping his tanfas. “Do you mean the guy that has caused so much pain and suffering in my life? The people who took my entire family away from me? The duo that took my joy and happiness? The one that I blame the most for everything that happened to me, and the one I hate most? No, I do not know him, except I do.” 

Shut up with your sob story and get on with it. “Yeah, yeah, that son of a bastard, what’s his name again?” 

The veteran shuddered as he uttered their names. “Ravana, the demon king… His right-hand woman, Nishakara.” 

Pff, sounds lame. Hyde rolled her eyes at their names. Sounds like they put letters into a can, shook it up, and randomly chose them. 

“Oh, so that’s who the syndicate member was working for,” Pen nodded, finally understanding. 

“In a way…” Jatayu confirmed, sighing. “I would love to tell you as much as you would love to hear right now, but I did find something on this corpse that might be more important.” 

Most of the party paused what they were doing to look at the card Jatayu was holding up. It was the ten of hearts. The silence helped Dante go around and change everyone back to their base IDs, one by one. 

“Why didn’t that card magnetize like the others?” Mallo asked, approaching Jatayu before taking the card to look at it. 

“Maybe it will for you,” Pen suggested, also curious. 

Mallo handed the card back to Jatayu. The veteran shook the card; nothing happened. He grunted, shaking it again and throwing it on the floor. The moment the card touches the metal ground, the rest of the cards come flying towards it, shuffling themselves nicely and in order as they all rested. 

“It worked,” Mallo thought out loud. 

“I don’t know why they do that, though…” Pen sighed. 

“The cards likely have nothing to do with their gimmick,” Jatayu explained. “It is probably caused by magic or an ability of an abnormality.” 

“Is that abnormality the red woman the enemy was talking about?” Pen inquired. “He said she had one big red eye, with a red dress and a red chair… It doesn’t necessarily sound like a human unless they lost an eye.” 

Hyde shot a glare at Pen. Watch your next words carefully. I have one eye. 

Pen didn’t seem to notice. He stared after Mallo who started to drag Mark’s body in. 

“Hyde!” Dante interrupted her, approaching the One Who Shall Grip quickly. “Are you ready to change back into your base ID?” 

Hyde transferred her glare from the hunter to the manager. “Why? I’m free. I don’t have to worry about that sad excuse for air.” 

Dante paused, standing still before shuffling through the cards. “I’m… going to bring back Jekyll now.” 

Before Hyde could react, Dante discarded the card quickly, transforming Hyde back into her base ID. However, the only thing that changed were her clothes and Jekyll returning in her head. She had lost so much sanity mid-battle, she was already fronting in the base ID. She turned her paintbrush in her hands before crossing her arms. “Real mature, clockface.” 

What… is it over? Jekyll asked as if she woke up from being passed out for a long time. 

“O-Oh,” Dante stammered, backing away. “I forgot, about the… multiple personalities…” 

There’s only two of us, idiot. 

Don’t call Dante an idiot, Jekyll begged, immediately getting on the scene. He’s doing his best. 

Shut up. Hyde disregarded Jekyll’s commentary, placing the jars she collected into her jacket pockets. 

“He mentioned a treasure,” Pen’s words snapped Hyde back into the previous conversation. 

Dante also joined in, having turned everyone back into their base IDs. “They did, yes. Perhaps they are talking about the golden bough?” 

“Did you feel it resonating here?” Pen asked. “I thought it wasn’t here, but they could be guarding it elsewhere…” 

Dante spotted Mallo finally succeeding in dragging Mark’s body through the doorframe. Her foot went up to kick the door down until she realized the door wasn’t there per Hyde breaking it down earlier. She grumbled to herself before joining the rest of the party. 

“Well, there’s one treasure,” Dante greeted Mallo.

“It’s just part of the hunt,” Mallo glanced at Mark’s body, which had begun to smell over the last few hours. 

“I meant you, but…” Dante sighed, cutting himself off. 

Hyde raised her eyebrow. Dante flirting? That was not on my Q Corp bingo…

We don’t have a Q Corp bingo card. Jekyll sighed.

That’s not the point. 

Pen and Lenore amongst further discussion stepped out of the room and back into the long hallway. Pen shouted Lenore’s name and gestured to explore the remaining sections of the hallway. 

When Hyde’s gaze traveled to Jatayu, she realized his look of agony had not eased since he last spoke. Hm, let’s have some fun, shall we? 

Hyde, no!

“So,” Hyde strolled with pride over to Jatayu, standing in front of the tall man as she rubbed her chin with her blood-soaked hand. “Ravana, eh? That’s the bastard you’re after?” She grinned maliciously, looking him up and down, calculating what she could do to get a reaction out of him. “Enlighten me on what he did to you again, won’t you?” 

Hyde no, don’t pester him like that! Jekyll pleaded, desperately trying to take control. I can tell you the details! I know your intentions, stop!

Hyde simply ignored Jekyll, eyeing Dante and Mallo who were approaching them. Her grin only widened as Jatayu struggled to answer. 

He stammered on his words before sighing and letting it out. “He killed my sister in law… and he stole my niece from our family, on her wedding night…” 

PFFF, Hyde snuffed a laugh, grinning with delight. “Tch, aww…” She forced a frown, tilting her head. “That’s it? Just that, and you’re all worked up about taking revenge on him? That’s so–”

Hyde, don’t you dare. 

Hyde winced, cutting herself off as Jekyll desperately tried to break through. “Shut it, let me talk to h–” 

NO!

As if luck was on Jekyll’s side, Dante rotated the clock, restoring Hyde’s sanity. Hyde couldn’t hold onto control any longer as she was thrust back into the mind, Jekyll promptly taking over. 

Oh, thank the arbiters… Jekyll immediately switched the monocle to cover her red eye, gasping for breath as her features returned to normal. She glanced up at Jatayu timidly, trying to figure out how to salvage the damage Hyde had done. “Jatayu, I am so sorry about h–” 

“I want you to understand,” Jatayu held up his tanfa to Jekyll’s throat. His eyes were boiling with rage. His arms and shoulders shook as if he were using all his strength to not attack Jekyll on the spot. His voice was low and threatening, and his eyes burned like fire into Jekyll’s soul. “I… care about you as a friend… and I do enjoy Hyde’s presence, I think we can be friends…” He gritted the words through his teeth as if he were trying to convince himself that it was true. “Do. Not. Insult my family, or how I feel about my family ever again.” 

Geez bro, Hyde rolled her eyes inside Jekyll’s head. You should have listened to Mark when you had the chance. Family doesn’t matter. 

What do you mean, Hyde?! That’s not true! Jekyll cowered under Jatayu’s threat, backing away from the tanfa. She clamped her hand over her mouth, trying her best to not let Hyde speak through her. Tears streamed down her face. I’m sorry… I’m so sorry Jatayu I didn’t mean to– She stopped herself, simply nodding to affirm she would never do such a thing again, before running out of the room. 

She almost ran into the doorframe, barely dodging before she ran to the end of the hall, slamming her head against the wall. It echoed throughout the chambers. Jekyll’s heart raced as waterfalls escaped her eyes. She sobbed uncontrollably, sinking to the floor and curling up into a ball. 

Now? You choose to be emotional now? You’re a moron, Jekyll! Hyde insulted, getting angrier by the second. 

Don’t you dare insult his family! What if he did the same to us?! Jekyll sobbed. Family matters! It always had! 

Does it look like I care?! Hyde snapped. He needs to learn the truth! You need to learn it, too!

You don’t actually believe that! Jekyll gasped for air, her sobs getting more intense by the second. Her body shook violently and she got cold fast. The tight pain in Jekyll’s chest felt as if it was eating her alive as she gasped for breath, trying to comprehend everything. How dare you insult his family! Why would you do that?! We miss mom, too!

Why the hell would I miss her?! Hyde shouted, getting more aggressive. I killed her! 

The two went silent as the memory forced its way up. A familiar yet foreign pain seized their mind, shutting both of them up. The night, the lamp, the way she looked so confused in their hands… the memory flashed in front of Jekyll and Hyde as if it was happening in real life. 

Although Jekyll knew she wasn’t standing, it felt like she was. She saw her mother in the grasp of her hand, her knees buckling under the weight in which Hyde held her. Tears streamed down the mother’s face as her gentle hands rested on theirs. “Please… please, my child…” 

“No!” 

Jekyll shuddered as she heard her voice cry out, but she couldn’t stop the brush from slicing their birthgiver into two. Her blood stained the cobblestone walkways, and her scream pierced Jekyll’s ears; it was a sound she would never forget; a feeling she would never be able to wash away… her mother dying in her hands, by her hands. Rain poured heavily in the vision. Jekyll couldn’t remove the sight of her mother’s body lying on the floor, split in two. Her blood covered Jekyll’s hands and feet, staining her outfit. The mother’s eyes stared up at her in horror and grief, and those eyes still haunted her to this very day. 

The vision faded much to Jekyll’s relief, and she was back in the Lobotomy Corporation Facility. She leaned her head against the wall, her eyes wide as they poured more tears down her cheeks. They burned profusely, yet she couldn’t stop crying. Jekyll closed her eyes and hid her face in her arms, curling up further into a ball. Her sobs were silent, and her body shook violently despite her efforts to keep herself pulled together. “Can you not… shut up for once in your life…?” Jekyll muttered through sobs, her chest getting tighter by the moment. The sight of her mom still lingered in her mind, which made her sob even more.

I’ve only said the truth… Hyde’s voice wavered, seeing the vision first-hand. You know what happens… you know the consequences of holding onto hope like Jatayu does… This memory is just a reminder of it.

“Stop talking about it!” Jekyll whispered in pain. “Do not remind me…” 

A soft clacking echoed across the metal floor; the vibrations got stronger and the sound got louder as time went on. Jekyll sensed a presence standing in front of her, looming over her. 

The person sat next to her, taking their time to join them on the floor. A whiff of smoke told Jekyll who it was immediately. “You… okay?” Mallo asked, holding the cigarette between her fingers as she gave her a sympathetic yet melancholic look. 

Jekyll glanced up from her sobbing, her eyes burning from all the tears she wept. She started to speak, but clamped her hand over her mouth, muffling her words. 

Oh hell, it’s her.

Don’t you dare talk right now, remember your place. 

Jekyll looked away from Mallo, staring at the floor... gently shaking her head no in response to the question. She couldn’t raise her head to talk to her, not now. What if Hyde said something awful again? She didn’t want to hurt Mallo like she hurt Jatayu. 

Mallo sits there for a moment, in silence. It took her a few seconds before she spoke again, staring at her cigarette. "Do... you wish to talk about it?" She said, looking back over at Jekyll: her face was calm, and her posture was relaxed. "I'm all ears if you'd like."

Jekyll struggled to find the proper words whilst fighting for control. Her head shook as her lips wavered. "N-No I... I will hurt you too... Hyde will... will..." 

Will what? Say the truth? Hurt their precious little feelings? Grow up. 

She grunted, her eyes shaking wildly as she raised her hands to clench her head. "I don't want to hurt you too..." Jekyll let out another sob, her uniform slowly being drenched in her crystal-like tears. The stupid… split shards…

Can you hurry up with your breakdown already? We got work to do. Hyde sighed, refusing to acknowledge the broken emotions she too felt. 

Mallo sighed slightly; it wasn’t out of annoyance, but sympathy. "Well. It's okay if you don't want to talk about it; I'm not going to force you." She looked away for a moment to think, before looking back at Jekyll. "Just..." She sighed before extinguishing her cigarette and placing it on the floor. Her foot stomped on it to ensure the fire going out.  "Look– Here."

Mallo moved closer to Jekyll, before pulling her into a hug. Her arms wrapped around Jekyll’s shaking body slowly, pulling her into a warm embrace. "Listen, it’ll be alright. You haven’t hurt anyone.”

Hyde scoffed. What is she on–

“And I’m sure whatever happened, they will forgive you. People make mistakes, even if the mistake is made by… someone else in your body. Any respectful person would forgive you. So it’ll be ok, Jekyll… and Hyde. It’ll be ok for both of you.”

…

It was the first time in a long time Hyde finally shut up. Mallo softly rubbed Jekyll's back to try and calm her down. 

Jekyll was surprised by the gesture but didn't object. She slowly wrapped her arms back around Mallo, burying her face into her shoulder as she sobbed, though her body started shaking less. She clung to Mallo tightly. "Please... please don't go... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry Mom..." She muttered the last part, her voice broken. Images of her mother’s warm hugs flashed before her eyes, and the deadly feeling of the brisk cold after her mother could no longer give her warm hugs after her death lingered. Jekyll hated that cold, she hated not being able to touch anyone anymore and feel that warmth. 

However, Mallo's embrace was so warm, that she never wanted it to end. Mallo’s hug was like a second version of her mother’s. The moment Jekyll embraced Mallo was the moment that shut Hyde up as the feeling of the mother’s hug flashed in their mind. 

Hyde recalled how the White Lake also felt this way. This is a trap… Hyde started. It… It has to be…

Mallo froze at the words Jekyll uttered, glancing down at Jekyll with a shocked expression. She didn’t push her away; instead, she sighed and continued to rub Jekyll's back "It's okay. I'm not going anywhere. Not anytime soon, or anytime in the future. I can promise you that." She tensed for a bit but managed to relax and patted Jekyll's back. "And... if it's any consultation... I forgive you."

Jekyll stopped sobbing momentarily, pulling away just enough to look Mallo in the eyes, using her hands to wipe her face. "I..." She paused, sniffing before collecting her thoughts together. 

It… It wasn’t a trap… Hyde wrestled in Jekyll’s brain, trying to figure things out. What? How? Why wasn’t it a…

"Sorry... I might've squeezed too tight I..." Jekyll’s voice shook, ignoring Hyde’s ramble. She wasn’t going to miss this moment of comfort that she needed for so long. "Your... words and hug were... something I'd never thought I'd hear or feel again..." She sighed, looking to the ground. "Thank you..."

"It's... not a problem," Mallo said, sighing yet again, more so relieved than anything else. "Hate to see innocent people upset."

Oh. Hyde sighed disappointingly. She just… doesn’t know… 

But…

Jekyll, you and I are not innocent. Hyde recalled. She wouldn’t be acting this way if she knew… 

Mallo gave Jekyll a pat on the back and let her go, ending the hug. “You feeling better? Or do you want another one?”

Jekyll’s eyes darted from side to side before meeting Mallo’s gaze and nodding. She embraced Mallo with less strain; she didn’t cling to Mallo as much as the first hug, having calmed down. She couldn’t close her eyes as Mallo’s arms wrapped around her. 

Mallo obliged and hugged Jekyll again, her posture becoming increasingly relaxed. She stayed quiet to just let the duo enjoy the silence of their interaction. It took a few moments of a silent embrace before Mallo softly hummed a gentle tune. The melody was slow and calming, being quite melancholic in it's feel.

Jekyll rested in Mallo’s arms, slowly relaxing herself. She felt her heartbeat and breathing slowly sync with hers, and it almost put her to sleep. The pain in her eyes felt less bothersome, and her mind slowly came to ease. 

Please don’t ruin this, Hyde… Jekyll silently begged, closing her eyes. 

…I won’t. The painter sighed. Just… enjoy it while it lasts… 

You can… enjoy it too… you know…

Hyde watched as Jekyll fell asleep from the soft tune, embrace, and from pure exhaustion. Why enjoy it when it won’t last? A tear fell from Hyde’s eye. If they found out who we really were, what we have done, we would be met with the same cold wind with no one to shield us from it… 

[sentienttoastah]

something I thought of today instead of focusing on wrk

[cursedxwt]

Based on this tweet

[kaslanistest]

*ryoshu voice* I.D.N.A. if this looks like yuri to the viewers

[citroncynique]

RODIDON DAY RODIDON DAY!!! Happy 3/9 fellow Rodidon enjoyers!!

[teotoffee]

that one twitter art trend going on ft. current fave and og fave source under the cut:

[sunshades]

Wait repost before I go to sleep cuz I just noticed it djdnt end up in the tags. Putting the sillies in lil outfits... bonus from a ship meme a while ago :3c

[kinghermitcrab]

I would explain how these characters are so similar but we'd be here all day

[bardofhype]

when there isn't a new test subject. is this anything

[applepies-and-starlight]

I feel like a fucking idiot.

I'm part chinese, I know the vaguest amount of chinese, I've even taken mandarin classes throughout my life...

Yet somehow, somehow, I failed to realize that PM (may have) made a double-meaning joke with the 'hong' in Hong Lu's name meaning 'red'

[zelphin124]

LCB-3: Chapter 4

Shorter one than the last ones, but important all the same.

Major spoilers for Jekyll's story.

Masterpost

Chapter 3 <---> Chapter 5

~o0o~

Despite Dante’s protests, Maut insisted that someone ought to walk him back to the Limbus Company bus. Othello offered to do so, as he did not wish to take out his sour actions towards Mark just at that moment. Despite the former soldier leaving, the tensions did not ease. 

The group was silent, discounting their heavy footsteps echoing across the abandoned halls. No one said anything for the first couple of hours; it felt like the stairs to the first floor were never-ending. Water droplets fell onto the metal floor, adding to the hollow void of darkness the party was slowly entering into. 

Jekyll’s head started to spin. She slowed, gagging to herself and out of sight. Her head pounded like a drum, and her eyes began to burn. Great… the after-effects of split shards. 

She didn’t hear anything from Hyde, telling her that her opposite was still busy looking into the mirror worlds. She wondered if they would ever find another version of themselves and not useless shadows of dead bodies. 

Her head started to pound further, and she clenched her head, swaying from side to side. Her footsteps became more like stumbles, and she had to lean onto a close wall when the group stopped to stay upright. She clenched her neck, trying to catch her breath. Why did I ever invent such a sensation? 

“Right, this is the first time we are all down here in a Lobotomy Corporation Facility,” Dante ticked as he turned around, the fire on his head being the main light source within the room. “At least, for you new recruits. We should watch out for something that wishes to behead us.” 

“As long as we are visual, we should be fine,” Pen rested the end of his spear on the ground, tapping it and listening to the echoes it caused. 

Dante’s head only lit the rusted technological door behind him. His hand rested on the edge of it, waiting to push it open. The fire above his head lit up a text difficult to read, overrun by rust and moss. Nevertheless, Jekyll could see it said something along the lines of ‘Department.’ But… which one?

“Shall we head inside?” Dante asked the group, his voice weary and wavering. 

It was hard to see, but everyone gave subtle nods. 

The entryway was narrow, causing everyone to form a line. Upon seeing Mark eagerly placing himself in front, Jekyll forced herself to stick to the back of the line. The last thing she wanted was to be around him, especially after the effects had kicked in. Please just be over already… She cried in despair. Stupid… stupid drug… She figured it hurt more than usual because she was in a rush to use it, in fear of Mark’s words. Jekyll also couldn’t recall she was the one to deal with the after-effects, as Hyde was always fronting when it was over. She glanced down at the moonstones on her fingers glowing slightly. She sighed, a tinge of resentment attached to her toward Mark. He just had to force her to switch back and forth as if it wasn’t a big deal. It’s not like he cared about the consequences of it, and Jekyll was the one paying for it. 

More light entered the atmosphere the moment Dante pushed the door open. It took a bit for Jekyll’s eyes to adjust, lest with her head spinning. 

The environment was nothing short of abandoned. Many TVs were scattered across the walls, hanging by a single chord and shattered into pieces. Holographs glitched in and out on the floor, summoning random sparks each time they received a surge of power. Chairs and tables were broken apart and scattered across the room into the corners as if a giant had pushed them away in one swipe. Lights flickered in and out overhead as if someone had tried to use them for the first time in years and they exploded from impact. Human feet could not survive this room without being slashed by the various materials on the floor. 

That was not what Jekyll had her hazy attention upon, however. Jekyll couldn’t take her eyes off the various corpses that littered the room. Some had brown uniforms, their heads cut completely clean from their body and missing. Some reminisced about the demon syndicates they fought earlier, and others were unrecognizable from the green mold covering their bodies, revealing a horrendous stench. Their bodies looked frozen in time as if they were in an undead state. 

Jekyll glanced towards the headless bodies, admiring how clean a cut was made across their necks. Perhaps I should collect some blood for Hyde… Maybe she will thank me and stop bothering me for a bit if I do so. 

To her surprise and to further her dismay, there was an unusual lack of blood on the floor. There wasn’t even any salvageable blood pouring out from the victim’s neck. Jekyll never fancied touching dead bodies like Hyde and decided against any further collection of painting supplies. 

The stench only made her head spin more, anyway. 

Mallo walked across the room with grace, almost gliding over the floors with familiarity. She barely gave any attention to the dead bodies on the floor, giving them a look of disappointment and a dagger stare of patheticness. 

Pen, on the other hand, took great interest in the corpses, studying them carefully. He glanced at the green mold ones before studying the clean cut across the beheaded ones. “Why would a beast do this?” 

Upon hearing the question, Mallo finally gave the corpses some time of her day. “It’s much worse than a beast.” 

Pen mutters something under his breath, turning toward the next corpse. 

“It’s a completely clean cut,” Mallo bent down next to one of the beheaded corpses. She observed it with curiosity, not as to what did the damage… rather who. 

“Hopefully we will be fighting humans, due to the damage,” Lenore commented, investigating the wall for any type of trail or tracks left behind. 

Jekyll laughed to herself. Do you think humans can do this clean of a job? Never in my life have I seen something so perfectly done. Her head spun as fragments of the split-shard drug entered her vision. She paused for a moment, sighing. I sound like Hyde… 

“Wouldn’t count on it,” Mallo confirmed Jekyll’s thoughts. 

Pen glanced up from his observations. “Are distortions humans?” He asked out of the blue. 

“I think… they used to be,” Lenore replied. 

Mallo nodded in agreement. 

“I see,” Pen did not seem shocked by this information. “Good to know.” 

“What one hell of a hole,” Mark scoffed, drawing attention to himself as he rummaged through the pockets of the dead. 

What little remorse you have for life, Mark. Jekyll sighed. 

“The hell? Why is he carrying this?” Mark took his hand out of the beheaded corpse’s pocket, holding out a playing card: two of hearts.

“A card?” Pen asked. 

“I went through his pockets, I mean might as well take what they have, if it’s not useless,” he cursed under his breath. “They are surprisingly clean for being dead, and I found this.” 

Jekyll could only hear the sinners scrummaging through the pockets of the dead as shards covered her vision once more. Ngh… two more, and then it should be over. 

“I found a three of hearts,” Lenore walked over and handed it to Mark, who found another card. 

Mallo didn’t search hard enough to find a card, nor did she care to put effort into it. Her attention seemed to be divided. 

“Four of hearts on this one…” Mark continued, taking an odd form of leadership with this case. “Something tells me that each body might be marked by a card… It’s like the spade syndicate…” 

“I’m sure the spades use spade cards,” Lenore confirmed with a smile.

Mark ignored her. “I don’t expect the life insurance that hired us to have these cards… maybe the lone shark syndicate.” He started to loot the body Mallo didn’t give much effort into. 

There’s a sudden look of horror that captures Mallo’s expression. “Did they keep it here?” Her breath hitched as she muttered. She looked around the room in a type of panic Jekyll had never seen before. 

By the time Jekyll’s vision cleared to see things properly, she couldn’t believe what she saw first. Pen had knelt and grabbed one of the green-mold corpses’ hands. He jumps back in surprise as if something had reached to grab him, startled. “It’s not dead–” he cut himself off, tilting his head to the side. There was an odd pause before he spoke again. “Interesting.”

Mallo made her way up to one of the computers, pressing a few buttons and grunting in frustration when they didn’t work. She turned toward the party in a panic. “Is anyone good at engineering?” 

Jatayu raises his hand among the shaking heads. 

“I need help activating this,” Mallo points toward the computer that seemed to be the least broken. 

Pen stepped forward and assisted Mallo. Jekyll wondered why Jatayu hadn’t after he raised his hand, but she failed to catch his expression as another mirror shard covered her vision. The sensation was one of pure bliss followed by a sharp pain in her head. She clenched her head, taking her monocle off and rubbing her red eye, tears streaming from it. Jekyll’s environment changed around her, and she was face to face with someone she recognized… and someone she knew too well. 

She saw a person akin to her face in a dark navy suit with red markings. She held a large gun and wore her hair down to her shoulders. The red markings spelled the word ‘Limbus Company’ across her vest, and she was staring right back at Jekyll. 

Is that… me? 

“Jekyll? Are you alright?” She could hear Dante calling to her. 

Jekyll couldn’t see Dante, but the moment he started talking, the vision began to fade as reality returned. “Mm… give me a moment–” she tried to keep the vision going, reaching out to the different version of her.

Her efforts were in vain. The different version of herself faded from view, and the final slashing pain from the drug slit Jekyll’s head. She clenched it, shedding silver tears as the drug’s effect finally came to an end. 

Ugh… Jekyll heard Hyde come back into focus. That round was horrible. 

Despite being conflicted upon Hyde’s return, she couldn’t help herself as she checked up on her. You okay? 

The drug isn’t always that bad… Hyde stumbled upon her words as if she was still groggy. I didn’t see anything new, though. 

I saw… me. Jekyll sighed. 

Oh? 

“Finally, something hella useful,” Mark’s scoff cut Jekyll off. She glanced toward him, finding him in the other room looting more bodies. Ahn fell from his hand into his pouch. He continued to loot every single one, pulling out more cards and more ahn. Jekyll watched as he tried to break off one of the demon syndicate corpses’ arms for its weapon, using his pipe to break its shoulder. However, the arm didn’t come off despite his efforts. Frustrated, he kicked it in the face and walked out of sight. 

“What happened to you?” Pen’s trembling voice forced Jekyll’s attention back to him. He grabbed the hand of the corpse again and started talking to it. His face was covered in an uncomfortable emotion, and he closed his eyes. “And what do you want, my friend? Hmm… how can I do that…?” He followed his mutterings by taking his spear and stabbing the corpse in the face. The body limped and crumbled under the wound, dying on the spot as if it wasn’t dead already. Pen opened his eyes as he looked at the corpse. 

Pff, some hallucination he’s going through. Hyde rolled her eyes. 

Jekyll was tired of her commentary. You’re a hallucination. 

Hyde laughed sarcastically. How low of you. 

“I don’t know how I can help you friend,” Pen continued talking to the dead body, letting go of its hand. “Rest well, I will bring you vengence.” 

This child is insane. 

Jekyll couldn’t help but agree with Hyde. 

Patterns of computer noises filled the silence following; Jekyll turned her gaze towards Lenore and Mallo searching through the computer files. Well… more Mallo frantically going from screen to screen and Lenore reading what she could. In fact, she was going through various screens of the computer so quickly and so efficiently that it made Jekyll inclined to believe she had experience within the Lobotomy Corporation facilities. Only an expert can go through information like that… 

Mallo stopped on one screen, reading through it quickly. She stared intensely as her eyes widened in fear. She backed up from the screen, her hands raised in front of her chest as if they were frozen in their typing position. Jekyll could’ve sworn she saw her break a panicked sweat before she stormed over to Dante in a hurry. “Dante, I found something.” 

Dante turned to face her after staring at Jekyll for a long time. “What’s up?” 

“Follow me,” Mallo demanded more than asked Dante before immediately walking over to the computer, expecting Dante to follow. 

And follow he did. His head tilted from curiosity more than concern, and Dante didn’t seem to take into account the stressed state Mallo was thrown into. Nevertheless, he looked at the computer and started to read. 

“I found the culprit,” Mallo continued. “Something tells me you can’t come back from being decapitated, Dante?” 

“I’d… rather not think that would happen to me…” Dante grasped his hands with one another, his ticking slowed as he read. 

“Can you bring us back from it?” Lenore swayed her glaive back and forth, almost in a sense of boredom. 

“I think so,” Dante finished the reading. “This is definitely we should keep our eye out for.” 

“You need to stick behind us,” Mallo suggested. 

“Right… assuming nothing bad happens, it would be best to stick together.” 

Mallo took Dante’s words to heart and started counting the people in the room. She paused, counting everyone again. “Jekyll, Lenore, Jatayu, me, Dante, Pen…” she paused. “Where’s Mark?” 

“Oh whew,” Lenore smiled. “We are not missing anyone important.” 

Mallo was unconvinced. Her hands were trembling with shock. She bolted to the right in a panic, her breath hitched and caught within her lungs. 

Idiot, Hyde sighed. Mark literally went the other way. We watched him go left and rob everyone. 

Oh crap- Jekyll started running after Mallo into the next room before she thought about it. “Mallo!” 

By the time Jekyll called out to Mallo again near the end of the other room, she was out of breath and so was Mallo. The room was the same as the last; it consisted of broken computers, glitched holographics, various corpses, and a horrendous smell from the destruction. The room was yellow and purple, which were odd colors that Jekyll had never seen in a building before. 

To Jekyll’s surprise, Mallo did not have any cigarette in her hand, or any lit nearby. She looked around in a panic, searching for any sign of someone coming through this way. 

Jekyll collected her breaths before she rested a hand on Mallo’s shoulder. “Mallo…” she wheezed, tired from running after her. 

“Idiot’s gonna get himself killed…” Mallo muttered to herself as she turned toward Jekyll.

Jekyll could feel Hyde getting stronger. Huh, so despite the hatred you still care about the moron’s safety… Isn’t that interesting? 

“He’s over here!” Jekyll heard Lenore faintly shout in the other room, where she saw them go. 

“I don’t have time for this, Jekyll!” Mallo snapped, fury blazing in her pupils. “Spit it out!” 

“Uh-uhm, they are over there,” Jekyll stammered, surprised by Mallo’s reaction. “I heard Lenore… Mark went left…” 

She didn’t seem convinced. Mallo glanced towards the door continuing down the hall and back at the way she came. 

Remind her two brain cells that we need to stick with the party, Hyde snapped. 

Oh. “W-W-We should stick with the party, because o-of the decapitating thing… on the loose…” Jekyll sighed, staring into Mallo’s soul. 

There wasn’t another moment in between Jekyll ending the sentence and Mallo grabbing Jekyll by her wrist before sprinting back the way she came. Mallo’s hair brushed in the way of Jekyll’s sight, causing her to stumble and have difficulty finding her footing. However, she was able to keep up with the woman as her grip only tightened on Jekyll’s wrists the moment she even fell an inch behind the speed Mallo ran. 

Hyde was not happy. Jekyll, get out of her grip! She doesn’t need to drag you around like this!

Everything Jekyll was seeing was a blur. It-It’s fine! She knows what’s best right now… I should follow her lead. 

Her ‘lead’ is her walking all over you! You know what happens when you allow this, Hyde hissed. This is the third time you’ve been dragged around today. I’m tired of you just letting it happen. 

A wave of guilt washed over Jekyll as she finally found her footing and kept up with Mallo in an equal sprint. Well, you’re not the one in control. I will decide if I wish to be dragged or not. 

Jekyll was immediately filled with a sense of dread as Hyde spoke. Then I shall kill her like I killed the others that walked over you. 

Mallo and Jekyll ran past Dante with heavy footsteps echoing across the metal floors. They ran across looted bodies and corpses before they burst the door open into another room, where combat had ensued. 

Lenore, Jatayu, Pen, and Mark had taken care of the battle in the majority. Mark was dancing with maracas over a staggered demon syndicate, not having a care in the world in his current ID. 

Jekyll didn’t have time to laugh at how silly Mark looked before Lenore, also in another ID, stabbed the staggered enemy through the face, killing it on the spot. Her glaive had turned into a rapier, and the quick flick of her wrist sliced the man in two from the head down. The pathetic man with blonde hair crumbled to the floor. 

Mallo finally let go of Jekyll’s wrist, to Hyde’s approval. Jekyll brushed her now unkept hair out of her face, almost disappointed that this room was the same as the last. She took her brush and brushed it with her fingers, trying to untangle it from the winds that messed its sharp edges up. 

“Everything okay?” Dante’s ticks started to get louder alongside his footsteps. 

Mallo immediately grabbed the door handle. “Enemies, stay out.” She shut the door in his face. 

Jekyll couldn’t understand what Dante said once the door was closed. 

Pen slammed the edge of his spear on the ground, lighting up the room. The light seemed to linger around Mark and Jatayu, who immediately took action as the light lasted. 

Mark twirled in the air with his maracas and handed countless blows to the living demon syndicate, double-staggering it. His hat only moved an inch despite his quick movements. 

Jatayu didn’t hesitate to run his tanfas through the demon syndicate’s skull, beating it over and over again. Despite the clear signs it was dead, Jatayu continued to beat the corpse until it was nothing more than a pile of rubble. 

As soon as Jekyll had entered combat, it had ended. Mallo stepped out of the doorway and lit a cig, calming her down immediately. However, the smoke and dopamine from the cigarette didn’t ease the daggers that dove into Mark’s soul as she stared at him. 

Mark’s ID faded back to his usual self as he scoffed. “Hell do you need, loser?” 

“You’re an idiot,” Mallo hissed, her fingers pinching the cigarette in fury. “You could’ve gotten yourself killed.” 

“We can’t really die with Dante around, pansy,” Mark mocked. “It doesn’t really matter.” When Mallo’s glare did not let up, somehow Mark took that as a sign to continue blabbering. “I can handle myself,” he rested his pipe on the floor. “I’m not as incompetent as you all.” 

“He has a point,” Pen added. 

Jekyll turned toward Pen, shocked. Is he agreeing with Mark? 

Hyde seemed pleased. The kid has a spine after all. 

Mallo also glanced at Pen in confusion. “Huh? You… you can’t be serious about supporting him,” she glared back at Mark. 

“If we die, Dante brings us back,” Pen explained. 

“It causes our manager pain to bring us back,” Lenore stepped in, also turning back into her base ID. “It’s best and quite strategic if we don’t die.” 

“Unlike you two,” Mallo gestured to Mark and Pen. “I know what’s in here, I know what kind of beasts are kept here. There are some things Dante can not bring you back from, and the situation that we are about to face could be one of them!” 

“That’s a might,” Mark shrugged. “It doesn’t matter, just drop the dang subject and get out of here. These nitwits that we are actually facing are incompetent, and the threat you propose will be too.” 

“You haven’t seen what I seen,” an odd sincerity filled Mallo’s voice as she walked up to Mark. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” 

“Look, if you got monsters under your bed to talk about, Dante’s over there,” Mark hissed before turning his heel and walking into the next room. 

As Jatayu opened the door to let Dante in, Pen followed Mark into the next room, closing the door behind them. 

“Two enemies have been dispatched, Dante,” Lenore started to report the events. “The others are heading further into the facility…” She paused, heaving a sigh. “I’m not sure why they are going on ahead. It would be best to stay together.” 

“Don’t worry I’m sure you guys can catch up to them,” Dante reassured, adjusting his gloves. “I can’t, but that’s probably for the better.” 

“I don’t understand,” Lenore continued, leaning on her glaive with a forced neutral expression. “We are supposed to protect you, Dante. Yet, they keep wandering away from you, minimizing our chances at that.” 

“I mean…” Dante shrugged. “If they are out there killing the threats, it means the threats can’t get to me.” 

“Our ability to defend you is negated when they dwindle out numbers, lowering our chances,” Lenore didn’t seem to take the situation as lightly as Dante did. However, Dante’s opinions seemed to have formed from experience… 

Experience of being left behind? How cruel. Jekyll frowned, looking at the ground.

Yeah no wonder the other teams got fired, Hyde sighed. They can’t do their job. 

Yeah… but–

Jekyll. Hyde rubbed her head in annoyance. If you really think this company can offer you our greatest desire, do not get fired like the former employees. Protect Dante, I guess…

Jekyll flattened her face. Yeah, protect him from you. 

I threatened his life once, take a chill pill. 

You imagined his head on a stick!

Okay, but I’m not actually gonna do that, alright? Hyde laughed at the thought. Our lives are tied to him, anyway. 

But you made it clear…

Look, Hyde shrugged. You gotta assert dominance to make sure people can’t mess with you, and stick to your word. But there’s a beauty in well-painted lies as well. 

You’re sick. 

And you’re the one trying to get rid of me with this contract. 

Jekyll sighed, gripping her paintbrush and leaning on it, glancing toward the ground. It’ll be better for both of us…

Hell yeah, it will, Hyde snapped. You’re incompetent, and a fool. If it weren’t for me, you’d be dead. 

If it weren’t for you, our mother would still be alive. 

Jekyll’s brain was silent before Hyde cursed and shut her mouth. Jekyll immediately regretted her words, but there was nothing she could do about it. 

The truth was always what hurt the most.

“You okay?” Dante walked up to Mallo, the flames on his head sparking endlessly. 

Mallo was lost in thought staring right at Dante, her hand at the edge of her mouth. She shook her head and looked away as he approached. “I’m fine.” 

“You don’t look fine,” Dante pressed. “Something bothering you?” 

“I said I was fine,” Mallo raised her voice, snapping. 

“If you say so,” Dante returned with a gentle tone. “If you do need anything, I got you.” 

Mallo rolled her eyes. “I’ll keep that in mind.” 

Dante did not pick up on the sarcastic tone as he turned toward Jekyll. “How are you, Jekyll?” 

Jekyll glanced up from the floor. Oh crap, think of something to say uh– “Is there… really some stuff you can’t bring us back from?” 

Hyde snapped her attention back to what was going on. What kind of dumb question is that? We’ve already covered this–

“There’s been a few things that are risky, and it’s not impossible…” Dante explained, “It’s not something I would like to test. I-If it helps at all, I haven’t lost a sinner yet to death. I’ve only lost them through contract termination…” 

Sounds like a bunch of boring history I don’t want to hear, Hyde groaned. 

Jekyll fought for control as Hyde steered their body through the next door, closing it behind them. She sighed as her eyes adjusted to the darker room.

Up ahead were some enemies talking with a peculiar purple and black droid, who talked in a robotic high-pitched voice. It was too far away to hear what was said between them, but it was clear the syndicate members were ranked under the robotic presence. 

Mark and Pen were sitting down behind a wall, talking quietly amongst themselves as they observed an object. 

Jekyll sighed, realizing she had walked in where enemies could spot her. She tiptoed over to her comrades, sitting on the other side of Mark. 

“...a second-grade workshop,” Pen finished the sentence. 

“You’re spending so much on this lavish device,” Mark huffed. “Aren’t you afraid of it getting mugged?”

“I’m not worried,” Pen makes himself smaller than he already is. “The unregistered biometric thing handles it… I don’t know, but it does make people think twice.” 

What the hell are they on about? Hyde pressed, wishing to look closer. 

“Are we considered unregistered biometrics to this… thing?” Mark rotates the object in his hands, a soft, observing expression on his face. 

“You can probably hold it for about ten minutes before it starts acting out.” 

Mark shrugged, adjusting his facial composure. “I’m not keen on testing it, seeing how well we are going through this hellhole,” he gestured to the enemies up ahead. 

It’s nice to know that Mark can actually get along with people, Jekyll shrugged to herself. 

Pff, dude could get along with everyone back then, he could sweet talk you to death and everyone would love him, Hyde explained. His trip to prison probably changed that. 

Although Jekyll wished to recall what Hyde was talking about, she was more curious about the object Mark was holding. “What is it?” She asked, making her presence known. 

Mark didn’t seem startled by her suddenly showing up, and he didn’t say anything about it either. He just looked in her direction with a neutral expression, which was more preferable than the usual scowl to Jekyll. 

As Jekyll looked at the object, she saw it was a spherical object. A bunch of pieces orbited it like a solar system, the pieces tied by an invisible force. It glowed light blue and the pieces retracted and reconfigured from the object endlessly.

“It’s a modified A.M.F. matrix, U Corps singularity I believe,” Pen explained, taking the object. “It has an X Corp alloy, too.”

“It's expensive and unordinary in production,” Mark added. “Pen, you should patent this.” 

“It is already patented, I just modified it,” Pen answered, grabbing his spear and standing up. 

Jekyll followed his gaze to see the rest of the party finally walk into the darker room, alerting the enemies within the facility. 

“That drone is something to be cautious of,” Lenore said out loud. “It would be best to try and communicate to it, exchanging information.” 

Jekyll followed Mark as he stood and walked over to rob another corpse he found before changing her path toward the rest of the party. 

“That thing leads to things that can kill us,” Mark objected, glaring at Lenore. “It would be best to destroy it.” 

Mallo glared, which somehow shut him up. 

Lenore didn’t take his opinion into account. She simply walked up to the purple and black drone, ignoring the syndicates beside it. 

The drone stopped its mumbling and turned toward Lenore, its voice squealing in robotic delight. “Ooooh! What brings you all here?” The drone swayed back and forth, scanning everyone in the room. 

“I am here on behalf of the executive manager via Limbus Company,” Lenore started formally. “We were hired to investigate the facility under the law; I am obligated to ask why you are here.” 

“We are here to hunt,” Pen added, tapping his spear on the ground. 

The robot zoomed toward Lenore, getting in her face and leaving no room between them as the purple eye dotted back and forth. It did the same thing with Pen. “You two are not part of the syndicate~,” it said with glee. “Nor is the rest of your party… Enlighten me on your manager.” 

Dante had barely made it through the door, but he took no steps to approach the robot as they continued to chat. 

“I think that goes beyond our expectation and free information exchange,” Lenore snapped the robot’s attention back to her. “You–” 

“Hey,” Mallo resting a hand on Jekyll’s shoulder tore her focus off of what was happening. 

Jekyll sighed in relief and smiled slightly at her. “Hey, are you okay?” 

“Yeah…” Mallo sighed, an odd expression on her face. “You good? I’m sorry I dragged you around so much.” 

…Huh. 

Not now, Jekyll silenced Hyde and observed Mallo’s gloomy expression, which was very uncharacteristic of her. She tried to reassure her. “O-Oh! It’s okay haha,” she laughed nervously. “It’s the third time it’s happened today, I don’t mind… I guess I should get used to it,” she gently nudged Mallo on the shoulder, forcing a smile. 

Mallo nodded in response, pulling out a cig and lighting it for Jekyll. She stood awkwardly before she frowned and walked towards the enemies. 

Jekyll took the cigarette and watched it burn in her hands before inhaling some of it, coughing at the taste. However, it seemed to ease her nerves and not be so anxious about her interaction with Mallo. However, the thought wouldn’t leave her mind. Hyde? 

What do you want? 

Please… Jekyll found herself begging. Please don’t kill Mallo… She’s…

What? Taking advantage of you? 

She’s like mom. 

Hyde stopped, sighing. Jekyll could feel Hyde trying to peer through the other eye, and reluctantly, she took off the monocle to let Hyde have a look. 

How the hell is she like Mom? 

She is looking out for us… Jekyll stared at the cigarette in her hands. She’s making sure we are okay. Tell me, when was the last time someone did that for us? 

People did it for you all the time, idiot. 

But she knows about you, and yet still cares… Jekyll took one last inhale of the cigarette, covering up her left eye once more. Like mom did. 

Jekyll knew Hyde was conflicted; she felt her urge to tear everything apart that came near her, and the regret of her actions prior to Limbus Company. She cursed and threw imaginative things around. Fine! Fine… If she is as kind to me as she is to you, then I shall spare her. 

Jekyll sighed in relief. Thank you. 

I am not guaranteeing anything, Jekyll. 

There was a loud smash; Jekyll whipped her head up to see the aftermath of Jatayu swinging his tanfa across the drone’s head. His face was filled with rage as if the drone had offended him. 

The robot lit up, spinning in circles as it laughed chaotically. “Ohh! A feisty one! I can’t wait to study you all!” It mocked. 

Hey, she laughs like you, Jekyll scoffed. 

Excuse me, my laugh is so much better than that–

Mallo also seemed pissed off, whacking the robot with her stave as if it was a hammer. 

Lenore immediately followed, piercing it right in the eye. 

A strange gas started to pour out from the vent of the robot; it was dark and cold. The black smoke built up inside it, making a slow hissing noise as the sinners continued to attack it. 

I know gases like those… Jekyll’s heart was thrown into a state of panic. Something horrible is about to happen… it’s going to kill us if we stay in here!

Hyde took a moment to observe the situation. Well sh–

Dante! I need to grab Dante! Jekyll ran towards the manager and grabbed his arm, dragging him out of the room. “Out of the way, Dante!” She cried. “Get into the other room!” 

Wha–” Dante resisted in confusion, not understanding what was happening.

This son of a mother– Hyde forced her way to the front, using her strength and techniques to successfully pull Dante out of the room, with Jekyll slamming the door behind her. “Get out of the way, Dante!” Jekyll couldn’t tell if it was her or Hyde speaking. “Get into the other room!” 

The manager seemed to have grasped the severity of the situation and obeyed, running to the edge of the room Jekyll was in. 

The moment Jekyll made sure the door was closed was the moment she heard a loud hissing sound before a minor explosion. Through the cracks of the door and holes in the wall, a black mist surrounded Jekyll, disrupting her sight. Jekyll gasped for air as she glanced around, unable to see anything as the black mist blinded everything in sight. She panicked, removing her monocle to hopefully see better. She could only see two feet in front of her and she felt her sanity drop. 

Jekyll started to feel sick in her chest as she glanced around, unable to keep Hyde from having some control over her anxiety. What is happening? Dante? 

Dante has disappeared from sight. 

Jekyll frantically searched around, turning around in circles. She had lost the manager she was trying to protect. “Dante?!”

[fablegaze]

[ghost-skull-trash]

Heathcliff? Heathcliff?? HEATHCLIFF??? Heathcliff!

[art-blogge]

with @dakukabi , the theme was apparently “kill” and “die” (excluding limbitch maint side) and “how fast can i badly draw my own sona” (very)

[pocasu]

my lcb id if you want to send a request btw!

[pvlvsdog]

Okay but like the religious symbolism in the book that carries into the game makes this a little too accurate

Sinclair? More like SONclair!