#everyone ooc can go in w the apprehension of knowing its going to be so very Fucked

[mushroompollution]

Chapter 52: Bloody Rites (pt 1)

Previous Chapters: The Sablier Arc Masterpost (35-42) || 43 || 44 || 45 || 46 || 47 || 48 || 49 || 50 || 51

Read the manga: imgur || mangaread (ad warning / full chapter so spoiler warning) I promise 2-parters won't be the new norm, but I think the second half of this is too important to cut down that much. also this chapter is just stupid long, I'd have to combine pages to fit it in one imgur album anyway

Isla Yura is speechless as he watches Lottie and her Chain make short work of his two guards. But as she threatens to do the same to him if he doesn't take her to the Stone, it's quickly apparent that it's not fear that Yura is gripped with.

It's admiration. This man could not be more excited to have the big bad Baskervilles murdering his servants. Actually, its the highest honor. This is his own Christmas!

But unfortunately, he can't just hand the Stone over, he still needs it for his ceremony. And so, he readies himself to fight her with his legendary hand-to-hand skills.

Yeah. Yura proves to be no real threat, to the point it's kind of pathetic.

But Break is another story.

It's not too much unlike they way met back in Sablier. Remembering that interaction, Lottie asks what he meant back then, when he had asked her to be his friend.

It's simple, Break says. He and the Baskervilles seem to have the same goal, so why don't they team up?

Oh, but their partnership does hinge on one little detail. He knows about the Pandora guards murdered by the Baskervilles. But there's one of them still unaccounted for. Depending on the fate of Reim Lunettes, he may give up any plans of a peaceful solution, Break threatens.

Back in the other hall, Oz tells Leo to go ahead. Leo protests that it's too dangerous for him to be alone, but Oz makes a great point. If the Headhunter is really there, wouldn't Elliot be a more likely target than him? Besides, Leo wanted to apologize for their fight as soon as possible.

He admits to being a bit envious of Leo and Elliot's friendship, the respect they have for each other that allows them to speak their minds so feely to each other.

Leo thanks him and takes the traumatized maid as he races back towards the main ballroom. Oz watches them go, then turns back to the hall with a much more serious expression.

Whoever was lurking at the end of that hall is suddenly taken down as Alice pops out of Oz's shadow. As he tries to comprehend what's going on, he hears Sharon's voice in his head, speaking to him through her Chain, Equius. She explains that she heard the tense conversation and didn't want Oz to go alone.

Meanwhile, Alice pulls back the hood of the shady figure she's just tackled. And Oz is shocked to recognize them.

Back in the other hall, Break and Lottie are suddenly surrounded by two red robed figures wielding short swords. Except, they aren't any Baskervilles Lottie recognizes.

From his place on the ground, Isla Yura laughs.

Gilbert and Elliot race up to Sharon as all hell breaks loose in the ballroom. A red robed figure appears behind her as she tries to relay Oz's situation to them, and is summarily neutralized by one roundhouse kick from Gil.

Finally, he's not entirely useless.

But Sharon still has no time to explain, as she and Gilbert watch in horror as more people in those red robes begin to set fire to the billowing curtains. In the chaos, Vanessa and her valet frantically search for Elliot, who seemed to just disappear into the stampede.

Back in the other hall, those figures who had ambushed them are no match for Lottie and Break.

Doug's chain moves too quick to really see. But as he grabs Lottie and whisks her off to safety, her eyes meet Break's. They escape, and Break notices that Isla Yura had also managed to disappear some time during their brief encounter with the imposters.

Judging by their skill level, or lack thereof, the pair that had ambushed them lacked any real martial training.

So why were they dressed up as Baskervilles? Why did they attack them?

Break thinks about his missing friend. And then Sharon. He grinds his teeth and turns to go back to the ballroom, knowing his duty is at her side.

[aweebwrites]

The Monastery Massacre Pt.2

Warning: Dark themes, death and expletives.

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Skylor jolted as she sat up, something feeling off. She looked around and frowned, noticing that the others were missing. She got up slowly, noticing that the room looked different too. Clean and newer. She wasn't foolish enough to go randomly calling when something seems very wrong with this picture. She however very quietly walked towards the exit and slid the door open. There wasn't any snow. Double jeopardy. She looked around before rushing over to the massive gates and pushed at them- but they were locked. Shit. She tried climbing but there was no footing. Maybe she could find something to break the lock… This place had a smithy, right? She swallowed before heading towards the monastery, finding herself walking into the smithy next. How did she get here do quick? She jolted once she heard the loud clanging of metal on metal. She swallowed and reached for a weapon and grabbed it, walking backwards. She kept backing up until she bumped into something.

“You should really watch where you step.” A voice says and she stiffened.

She knew she shouldn't turn around yet she did. Why did she do that? She screamed upon seeing the charred figure standing there, reaching out for her.

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She jolted awake with a scream she quickly bit back, only a whimper escaping. She panted heavily as she looked around before sighing. Everyone was asleep still. It was just a dream. She covered her face with one hand. It's never just a dream… She listened to the wind howling outside which meant the blizzard wasn't over by far. She was tempted to chance it to get the fuck out of this place. This place was the really shit, she knew it. She was trapped here with everyone else. There's always at least one survivor, right? She had to be the one- or last long enough until daylight. Then, blizzard or no blizzard, she was getting the hell out of here. Fuck it, she'll move as far away from this place as possible.

“Couldn't sleep?” She jolted with a gasp and Neuro hushed her.

“Holy shit! What are you trying to do? Give me a heart attack?!” She snapped at him in a whisper.

“Calm down, be glad it was only me.” Neuro whispered back, looking around quickly.

The air, the energy of this place shifted and the oppressive feeling of doom had woken him up. If he died, he was going to haunt Ash for all of eternity.

“What's that supposed to mean?” Skylor asked quietly, apprehensive now.

Before Neuro could answer, a loud clang echoed and they jolted as the others began to stir at the sound. Another clang sounded. And another. And another. And another. Skylor was white as a sheet because she recognized the sound from her dream.

"Why is my hand wet?" Chamille slurred, looking at it.

She then jolted at another loud bang, latching onto Griffin.

“W-what's that sound?” Griffin stuttered out.

“I don't know and I'm not willing to go find out.” Skylor says, getting up and folding her sleeping bag.

“Where are you going?” Tox asked with an arched brow.

“I'll take my chances with the blizzard.” Skylor says, picking up her bag.

“Agreed.” Neuro says, doing the same.

“Wait…” Chamille says, reaching across Tox and touching Ash's sleeping bag. “Where's Ash? And Shade?” She asked, looking up at them.

A deep chuckle suddenly sounded along with the clanging and Chamille screamed, holding onto Tox tightly.

“Stop suffocating me!” Tox hissed, prying her off. “Obviously those two are trying to scare you idiots.” She huffed as she stood.

“I'll prove it.” She says, walking towards the sounds.

“Good luck with that. We're still taking our chances.” Neuro says and Skylor nodded, both of them heading towards the exit.

“Pussies.” Tox huffed as Griffin and Chamille looked between them.

“I-It’s probably Ash and Shade… We n-need to find them any, r-right?” Griffin says and Chamille nodded, clinging to him.

“Wait for us!” Chamille called out, both of them heading after Tox.

Said green haired misfit looked around boredly as she walked towards the sound. She then came to the end of the building and walked towards the torn paper door. She slid it open and looked around before spotting light coming from the room directly next to it, a shadow hammering something.

“I-it doesn't look like S-Shade's! Or Ash's!” Chamille says, backing away from the exit.

Tox frowned. Sure Ash gelled his hair up but he didn't have enough length to get it that high. But this was a shadow she was talking about. Things are bound to look disproportionate. The hammering stopped and the shadow turned before slowly walking forward. Yeah, that was Ash.

“Very funny Ash.” She said walking out and looking into the next room.

“What?! How'd you know!” Ash scowled, hammer in hand still.

“Your walk. Even slow it looks like you have hot coals in your pants.” Tox says drily.

Twin screams came then and she sighed before peering back into the room she just came from. There, Griffin and Chamille were huddled in a corner as Shade laughed his ass off.

“Look at their faces!” Ash laughed, pointing at them.

“It's not funny! I could have had a heart attack and died!” Griffin yelled at them but they only laughed harder as Tox rolled her eyes.

“Well.” They all jolted, head snapping outside where Skylor and Neuro were standing. “You're about to wish you did.” Neuro says solemnly.

“What are you talking about?” Ash asked with an arched brow.

“Didn't you two went to 'take your chances?” Tox questioned, crossing her arms.

“Oh believe me. We would if we could.” Skylor whispered and they looked at her confused.

“Not only is the gate gone but so is the entire pathway up here.” He says and Skylor nodded her confirmation.

There was silence for a few seconds.

“What kind of bs is that? Look, if you're trying to prank us, you're decades behind.” Ash says with an unimpressed look, crossing his arms.

“The blizzard must be playing with your eyes.” Shade dismissed.

“Well… If you don't believe us, why don't you take a look for yourself?” Skylor says, gesturing to where the were.

“Fine then.” Ash says, walking past them, the others following after.

If they had been paying attention, they would have seen that 'Ash's shadow' never left, even though he did.

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All seven of them stood where the gate one was. All that was there now was empty space and a killer drop below. Just for confirmation, Neuro picked up a nearby rock and threw it off. They never did hear it fall.

“So. We're all fucked.” Tox says looking down owlishly.

“And it's all his fault.” Neuro hissed glaring at Ash.

“How the hell was I supposed to know the stories were true!” Ash yelled, panicking.

“How the fuck could you not?! Literally no-one lives anywhere near this place for a fucking reason!” Skylor yelled at him.

“Why the hell did I let you talk me into this?! We're all gonna die!” Shade yelled, hyperventilating.

“Guys…” Griffin whispered and they turned to him. “Where's Chamille?”

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Chamille didn't know when and how she got back inside. She just knew something was there in the shadows.

“I don't want to die…” Chamille whimpered as she curled up in a corner.

'Shh. It's ok.’ A soft voice whispered to her and her head jolted up as she began to cry.

“P-please! I won't say anything! I-if you let me go I'll- I'll never come back! I'll move! I'll do anything!” She yelled, pressing herself further into the corner as she saw a figure in the dark approach her.

'I'll help you.’ The figure spoke, their voice noticeably female says.

“R-really?” Chamille whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks.

‘Let me help you.’ The woman says, visible now.

Her face was noticeably pale, framed by short black and very wet hair. In fact, all of her was wet. Even her maroon clothes. She reached a hand out to her and Chamille hesitated before she took it. Her hand was cold, clammy and so wet. She pulled her up and Chamille found herself in a comforting hug.

'There, there. Everything's ok now.’ She whispered and Chamilke sighed, relaxing in her hold- until her lungs began to feel heavy.

She opened her mouth to ask what was happening but she only spat up water. She couldn't breathe! She struggled against the woman but her hold was tender yet strong. Too strong. She couldn't…

“Chamille?!”

She lost her strength and went limp as more tears poured from her eyes. She didn't want to die...

The door slammed open and the group gasped to see their friend floating, her feet barely touching the puddle of water below her before she suddenly fell like a puppet with its strings cut.

“Chamille!” Tox yelled, rushing over as the others stayed where they were, too terrified to take another step forward. “Her lungs are filled with water!” She gasped and immediately began CPR on her limp friend.

“Come on, come on!” She yelled before blowing into her mouth. “Don't just stand there!” She yelled back at the others who were just watching.

Griffin rushed over then, Neuro too after a moment. He checked her pulse as Tox continued to blow into her mouth, Griffin taking over on compressions.

“You can stop now.” Neuro said as he sat back on his heels. “She's already dead.”

They looked at him before looking down at their friend laying lifelessly on the ground, her eyes glassed over and unseeing.

They never saw Tox cry before that day.

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‘Isn’t this better?’ Nya whispered to Chamille who looked down at her own body as her friends cried over it.

She looked to the pretty blacknette and smiled.

'Yeah. Now I'm not afraid anymore.’ She says then took her hand and left.

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(Heya! I was gonna just make two parts to this fic but it kinda took the reigns and did what it wanted. So we have Nya dropping in to 'help' Chamille whom I realise is hella ooc. I haven't written the other elemental masters before so it'll take a few tries to get it right. (Also, the cliff thing was totally from silent hill) Look out for part 3!)