—The Unmarked Grave—
-Season 2, Episode 8-
Search And Destroy-
Elysium, 1998-
“Are we even sure he’s still alive?” Kane asks, bored at the table. Abigail glares at him, her lip snarled in disgust. “We need to try and find him, at least. What kind of leader would I be if I left a man to die?” She responds snidly. Kane smirks, glancing over at Rev. “Why, you’d be Doctor Abigail Bright, of course.” He answers. Abigail slowly walks over to him, and his face shifts from smugness to fear. “Mind repeating yourself, Samuel?” She asks, leaning down to look him in the eyes. Kane glances over at Rev, who smirks at him. “Go on, Doc. Tell her what you told me.” He says. Kane looks back into ABigail’s dark brown eyes, a sinister hint of evil within those pupils. “N-Nothing, sorry…” He says sheepishly. Abigail giggles slightly, standing back up and walking back towards the projector. “Anyway, now that we’re all back on track, we’re going to search for Jack. I believe he should still be somewhere within Denver, but we need to be careful not to attract more attention from The Thule. They already want us dead after the whole Airport fiasco, and I’d rather them NOT get ahold of my amulet.” She says. Rev nods. “So who’s going with you? Kane, Lucy, or myself? All three of us?” He asks. Abigail glances at Kane. “Kane is. He’s joining me so we can let you deal with trouble around here.” She says. Rev nods. “Aye, Captain.” He says. He looks around, his eyes falling on another empty chair. “Where’s Lucy?” He asks. Abigail sighs. “She said she went to ‘relieve stress’, and is supposed to be taking a shower. That was over an hour ago… Rev, go check on her. Keep an eye on her. Kane and I are leaving.” She commands. Rev sighs. “Yes, Ma’am.” He says, getting out of his chair. “Anyway, now that he’s gone, I need to know: Who the fuck are you?” She asks, looking into Kane’s eyes from across the room. Kane looks confused. “What?” He asks. Abigail walks over to him, revealing a dagger from between her breasts. “You know what this is? This knife was crafted by some of the most ruthless Demons in Hell. It’s capable of wounding even the strongest denizen of the Land of The Damned. Tell me who else is in your skull, or I’ll force him out.” She says coldly. Kane looks around while laughing nervously. “W-What are you talking about?” He asks. Abigail leans over, grabbing his face with her left hand. The cold metal gives Kane the chills. “Fine. Play it this way.” She says, stabbing the dagger into his thigh. Kane cries out in pain, and Abigail covers his mouth with the metallic hand. “Silence. The only thing I want to hear is a name. Who the fuck are you?” She demands. Kane’s eyes gloss over, and a strange smokiness covers them. “Who do you think you are, daring to summon ME!?” He shouts, his eyes completely black. Abigail smiles. “I’m Abigail Bright, and I demand to know who you are, and why you’re riding shotgun inside one of my employees?” She asks. The man smiles, sighing deeply. “Fine. I am Alastor Morningstar, and you’re about to have a crazy revelation.” He says with a smirk.
The Blood Of A Demon-
Elysium, 1998-
Lucy stands in the shower, the warm water running down her body. She looks at herself in the mirror stuck to the sower’s wall. Her eyes seem faded, and the bags under them weigh heavy. She sighs, looking away from the mirror. Her eyes wander to the shelf, the shampoo and conditioner resting beside a razor. She looks down at her body, the scars and bruises from her years of fighting flashing before her eyes. The Spencers torturing civilians. Gears sacrificing himself to stop Loki. Rev running off into the woods firing his revolver. Jack shooting himself in the head. Zombified Abigail lunging at her. She shakes her head, looking away from her wounds. “Stop it…” She whispers, leaning against the wall. Tears well up in her eyes as she thinks of more of her friends. Frost exiting through a door, never to be seen again. Arthur getting shot in the back. Jack standing before the particle accelerator. Wyatt’s plane hitting the air traffic control tower. “Stop it!” She exclaims, sliding down the wall. She curls up under the water, the warm water slowly turning cold. She looks up, and a familiar face is looking back down at her. Green eyes flowing with binary code, and a half-shaven head look down at her. “Heya, Lucy.” She says. Her voice sounds distant, almost like the wind. “C-Cass?” Lucy asks aloud. Cass nods. “Hi. It’s been a while.” She replies. Lucy slowly stands up, but Cass rests a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t. Stay sitting, I need to tell you something.” The ARC says. Lucy nods, sitting back down in the lukewarm water. Cass smiles down at her. “You know it’s your fault, right?” She asks. Lucy’s heart sinks. “W-What?” She asks. Cass smirks. “All of us. Arthur. Jack. Wyatt. Frost. Myself. All of us are your fault. Do you think Abigail would have had to recruit any of them if she hadn’t met you? Be for real, Lucy.” Cass says snidely. Lucy just gazes at her. Cass kneels down, her green eyes meeting Lucy’s red. “You know what I think would help your guilt?” Cass asks her, the ARC’s voice surprisingly low and serious. Almost threatening. The Demon looks around, covering her ears. “D-Don’t say it, please… P-Please don’t s-say it…” She begs, her tears mixing with the cold water running down her face. Cass closes her eyes and sighs. They open, and they glow a deep red. “You should join us, honey. It would make me happy. Make ALL of us happy.” She replies. Lucy looks around, and the faces of all of her dead friends surround her. “You should join us,” Wyatt says, his voice echoing. “Ye should, ‘tis finally quiet and peaceful,” Arthur adds. Lucy looks around at all of them, her eyes overflowing with tears. “I-I’m sorry! Please!” She says, the faces glaring down at her. A set of hands rests on her shoulders, and she looks up at the man. “F-Father Adam?” She asks. Father Adam smiles softly down at her, and he starts brushing the hair out of Lucy’s face. “Easy now, dear Demon. You should rest now. You’ve earned it. Here.” He says, handing Lucy the razor. Lucy looks down at it, her vision fuzzy and sporadic. “Take it, hold it tightly. Think of it as a key. A key to peace. Peace and silence.” Father Adam says. Lucy looks up at the apparition. He smiles. “Would a Priest lie to you?” He asks. Lucy’s eyes fall back down to the razor. She looks around and finds Cass next to her. The ARC looks at her softly, smiling as she speaks. “Lucy, you’re almost a hundred years old. It’s high time you rest. Take that razor, and slit your wrist. Join us. Join me, please.” Cass begs. Lucy looks back down at the razor and presses the blade against her wrist. Cass and Father Adam smile happily as she breaks the skin. Suddenly, a loud pounding distracts her. Cass and Father Adam are gone, and Rev’s voice is muffled by the door. “Lucy? You okay in there?” He asks. Lucy remains silent, and she looks over at the door. She can see his boots covering part of the light peeking through the bottom of the door. “Go away… please just go away…” She whispers. Rev finally sighs, turning around and walking away. Lucy exhales in relief and looks down at her arm. “No… this needs to hurt. I need… I need to feel what they… felt.” She says, her eyes glowing. She stands up, looking at herself in the mirror once more. Her eyes seem hollow, the sparkle of life missing. She looks tired, and her face is pale. “I… I don’t even… look like me… anymore.” She says, remembering that scrappy little short-haired Demon who planned to conquer Earth so many years ago. She turns her arm over, and slices at the skin deeply. One large cut across her forearm, and blood spills down her leg. The blood mixes with the water collecting at the base of the shower, and she sighs. She prepares to slice again when the door is suddenly kicked in. Rev stands there, his bootprint right above the lock. “LUCY! NO!” He shouts, lunging at her. He wrestles her to the floor, and she stabs him in the back with the razor. Rev grabs her arm and applies pressure to the slit. Lucy’s tears cover his face, and she climbs on top of him. He lies in the pool of her own blood, and she snaps out of it. Her eyes regain their color, and she looks down at him. She drops the razor and climbs off of him. “R-Rev… I…” She says, her voice cracking as she cowers in the corner of the bathroom. Rev stands up, applying a towel to his wound. He walks over and wraps Lucy’s arm in another towel, and the white fabric is painted red by her blood. “I’m sorry, Rev… I don’t…” She stammers, but he just helps her to her feet in silence. “Rev… I didn’t mean to h-hurt you…” She says through sniffles. He just hugs her. Tightly. Lucy looks down at his wound, and she hugs him back. She applies pressure to his back, and eventually, the bleeding stops. Rev breaks away slowly, and he looks into her eyes. She stares back into his eyes. She kisses him on the cheek and rests her head on his shoulder. “Thank you, Rev…” She says softly. He smiles. “Don’t worry about it, Lucy. Are you feeling better?” He asks. Lucy nods, and he sighs. “Why didn’t Abigail come to find me?” She asks slowly, looking up at him. He looks away. “She… She’s busy right now, I’m sorry…” He answers. Lucy frowns at him. “Tell me the truth, Rev Finnegan.” She demands. Rev takes a deep breath. “She went with Kane to look for Jack. She thinks he might be alive, and she pretty much told me to babysit you.” He replies. Lucy looks down at the floor. “Hmm.” She replies. Rev chuckles. “‘Hmm’ indeed.” He says, and they both giggle.
Tension-
Elysium, 1998-
Lucy and Rev sit in silence at the main table of the HQ, Rev drinking a beer and Lucy sipping on some hot chocolate. A knock echoes around the facility, and Lucy glances nervously at the door. “I got it, you keep relaxing,” Rev says, standing up. He slowly heads over towards the front door, his hand resting on the revolver on his hip. He slowly opens it to find a young man and woman standing there. “Hello, is this the current headquarters of Division 18?” The man asks. Rev glares at them skeptically. “It is. Who’s asking, exactly?” He replies. The man smiles softly. “A friend.” He answers. The woman smiles, and a familiar sound hits Rev’s ears. The hammer on a pistol being drawn. “Are you going to let us inside?” She asks. Rev growls. “Sure, please come in.” He says coldly, opening the door all the way for them. The man barges in, his brown hair covering his forehead. He has a slight goatee and wears what appears to be Vietnam-era military wear. The woman joins him, her blonde hair waving as she walks past. She glares down at Lucy, who glares back up at her. The woman scoffs. “Can’t believe I’m stuck working with one of them…” She mutters. Lucy jumps up, her eyes glowing red. The man reaches for his gun, but another man’s voice stops him. “My God… it’s you…” He says. This voice causes Lucy’s ear to twitch. She turns around and finds a familiar face looking back at her. “Holy fuck. Lucy Daemon…” He says, rushing over to hug her. Lucy gasps, hugging him back. “Richard Frost… I can’t believe you’re alive! How?” She asks. Frost smiles. He reaches into his shirt and reveals Harold’s old amulet. “This little thing kept me safe all these years. How have you been?” He asks. Lucy remains silent, looking over at Rev. Frost clears his throat. “Ah, where are my manners? I am Doctor Richard Frost, I run a small faction working against the Thule known as The Osiris Project. Leon, Riley, this is the old friend of mine I speak about.” He says. Leon lowers his guard, and Riley continues to glare at Lucy. “You never mentioned she’s a filthy brimstone bastard…” She says with disgust in her voice. Frost frowns at her. “We’re fighting the Nazis, not speaking like them. Check yourself before I do it myself.” He demands. Riley sighs. “Fine. I’m sorry. The name’s Riley Thompson, I’m a reporter working with Doctor Frost.” She says. Leon approaches Lucy as well, extending a hand. “Leon Chambers, I work as head of the army for Doctor Frost. A pleasure to meet you.” He says. Lucy shakes his hand, and Frost smiles. “But enough about me, what’s happening with you? What have you done since we parted ways?” He asks. Lucy glances at Rev sadly. “Oh? Is he your boyfriend? Husband?” Frost asks. Rev smirks, but Abigail clears her throat. “No, that would be me.” She says firmly. Frost turns around, and smiles. “Ah! Doctor Bright! It’s truly an honor to meet you in person!” He exclaims, walking over to Abigail. She stops him. “No, you can tell me exactly how you know my girlfriend. Or I can force it out of you.” She demands. Lucy steps up next to Frost. “Abigail! Don’t threaten my friend!” She says sternly. Abigail glares at her and brushes past them. She rests against the table, and Kane walks in. “Doctor Richard Frost. You told me you had information on Jacob?” She asks. Frost nods, and Kane speaks up. “Do you know about a police officer named Jack? Any info at all?” He asks. Frost looks over to Riley, and she shakes her head. “No, I’m sorry. I only know about Jacob Bright.” He says. Kane sighs, sitting down in a chair. Rev sits next to him, and Lucy just stares at Abigail. “When the fuck did you change?” She whispers to herself as she sits down for Frost’s briefing.
Not Hallucinating-
Wolfrun, 1998-
Jack runs down the highway, his hair getting in his face. “Gotta run… gotta get away…” He pants as he sprints towards the nearby city. He finally stops, falling to his knees. “Please… please go away…” Jack begs. A woman kneels before him. “C’mon now, Jack. You know you can’t shake me that easily.” She says. Jack looks up at her, his eyes red from sleep deprivation. “L-Liz? Is that y-you?” He asks. Liz smirks down at him. “Of course it is. Now, how about we go and get even with that fucking Division, huh?” She asks, offering him a hand. He smiles weakly. “No thanks, I just… I want to rest.” He says. Liz groans. “You won’t rest until they’re all dead. Abigail. Lucy. Rev. All of them. Now, we need to start small. Hit some scientists. That’ll get their attention. Let’s go, Jack.” She says. Jack sighs. He slowly gets to his feet and looks up at the city before him. “W-Where is this?” He asks. Liz drapes herself over his shoulders, resting her head against his. “Wolfrun, Colorado.” She replies in a hushed whisper. He smiles. “Fine. Let’s get to killing.” He says with a twisted grin. Liz smiles as well, and he slowly lumbers towards the city.
Not Alone Anymore-
Wolfrun, 1998-
“Detective! Sir, someone’s called in about a breaking and entering!” The secretary shouts. Vincent Price opens his office door, his brown hair covering one of his eyes. “And this concerns me how?” He asks. The secretary looks over at him. She rummages around for a folder and tosses it towards him. “It follows the same pattern as those Denver murders. For The Ripper.” She says. Vincent’s eyes widen. “Oh? Then, I’ll have to take a peek!” He says, returning to his office. He closes the door and studies the folder. “The Ripper, huh? Let’s see where you’re at right now…” He says, opening the envelope inside with a transcription of the 911 call. He slowly reads the transcript, and his eyes narrow as he continues. He suddenly jumps out of his chair and rushes out of the door. He quickly opens his car door and climbs inside, flooring it out of the parking lot. After a quick drive, he arrives at the building the caller gave the address for. He slowly approaches the door, his weapon drawn and flashlight aimed at the doorknob. The door is busted off of its hinges, and the dark lobby of the apartments looms over Vincent. “WPD, show yourself!” He calls into the building. A strange, inhuman gurgle answers his call, and he takes a sharp breath. He bursts into the lobby, and his flashlight finds a trail of blood leading up the stairs. “Fuck.” He mumbles, slowly climbing the large staircase across from the landlord’s office. He reaches the first floor, and the blood trail takes a sharp right turn. He peeks down the hallway, finding an open door with a dim light shining from the furthest part of the corridor. “Fuck this…” Vincent says, reaching for his radio. “Dispatch, this is Victor-04. I need backup at 1888 Hemsworth Way, the apartments. Over.” He says, lowering the radio. He catches his breath and calms his nerves. He slowly walks down the corridor, his feet slipping in the blood now and then. As he walks, the dimly lit apartment door slowly opens. Vincent looks down at his pistol worriedly and enters. A dull thud bounces inside his skull, and he falls to his knees. He looks up and finds a strange man standing over him. In one hand, a baseball bat. The other, some rope. “W-Who are y-you?” Vincent asks. The man shakes his head, kicking him in the side of the head.
The Real Resistance-
Elysium, 1998-
Lucy, Frost, and Abigail sit at the table, Abigail glaring at Frost. She looks down at his amulet, and back into his eyes. “Where’d you get it?” She demands. Frost smirks. “Lucy told me you dealt with a guy back in North Reach… blonde hair, blue eyes, psycho? That was Harold Bright. You were able to kill him thanks to me stealing his amulet. So… what I’m trying to say is you’re welcome.” He says. Abigail narrows her eyes at him. “So, what? You managed to steal a Bright’s amulet without them noticing?” She asks skeptically. Frost nods. “Well, he turned himself into a monster and was so focused on taking down the last of Humanity to care. We froze him in time, the same way Lucy said you dealt with that Mind Breaker freak. With Gears.” He says, looking over at Lucy. “Which reminds me. You cannot trust him. Something’s not right with him. He’s not of this world… not like me or you.” Frost explains. Abigail scoffs. “You seem to keep forgetting I’m here. I run Division 18, not her. So warn me. I can deal with him.” She says, standing up. Frost jumps up. “She’s stronger than you. She’s been through more than you know. Hell, I personally don’t think you’re that special. I’ve met two other Brights when it took me to find you. One of them was Jacob, and the other was a schizophrenic freak. And you’re the least interesting of the four I know.” He says coldly. Abigail’s face turns red. “What the fuck did you just say to me?” She shouts. Lucy winces at the screams, and Frost instantly picks up on it. “You’re capable of making a Demon cringe in pain. How often do you shout? How often is it directed at her?” He demands. Abigail glares down at Lucy and sighs. “I… I don’t mean to. I never do. It’s just… I have a lot to deal with, and she knows better.” She says sadly. Frost frowns at her. “Bullshit. Lucy’s last lover was dealing with a lot as well. She was finding herself, dealing with her previous owner dying, and figuring out what it meant to be Human. And she was a fucking robot. You, a Human by design, have no fucking excuse.” He says, storming away. Abigail looks down at her feet and sighs. Lucy slowly stands up, reaching for Abigail’s shoulder. Upon contact, Abigail slaps her hand away. “...okay.” Lucy whispers before walking away. Abigail stands alone in the room, until a sudden jolt of static surprises her. She walks over towards Frost’s radio setup, and tunes it. “Dispatch, this is Victor-04. I need backup at 1888 Hemsworth Way, the apartments. Over.” It says. Abigail looks up at the map nearby, and Wolfrun catches her eye. “Hemsworth… that’s where he lived…” She says, looking over at the door. “KANE! We got a lead! Wolfrun, Colorado!” She shouts, heading for the front door. She looks back at Lucy’s room and wipes a tear from her eye.
Dark Passenger-
Wolfrun, 1998-
Vincent opens his eyes slowly, a bright light shining in his eyes. “W-Where am I?” He asks aloud. A man stands over him, the crazed individual gazing down at him with vacant eyes. “The apartments. I need your help.” He says softly. Vincent looks up at him. “S-Sure! What’s your name? I’m Vincent!” He replies. The Ripper smiles down at Vincent. “I need your help learning about human anatomy! Coach over there was a fine start, but one body only gets you so far!” He exclaims. Vincent looks over to where The Ripper mentioned, and a disturbing sight waits for him. A human has been turned inside out, his arms and legs ripped off and nailed to the wall. He feels vomit rise in his throat, and he looks away swiftly. The Ripper smiles at him. “Don’t worry, man. I’ll take good care of you.” He says softly. He walks towards his cart of tools, and Vincent’s heart sinks when he walks back over with a surgical saw. “Now, take a deep breath. This may hurt a bit.” He says, pressing the saw against Vincent’s right wrist. Vincent closes his eyes, and a sharp burning sensation explodes from his wrist. He opens one eye to find The Ripper slowly and carefully sawing through his wrist, blood running down both The Ripper and his arm. Vincent tries to scream in pain, but The Ripper shoves a dirty rag in his open mouth. “Can’t have the neighbors here this… that would be awkward.” He says with a cheery smile. Vincent’s pain only worsens as the sawing gets louder. Eventually, The Ripper sighs in relief, and the pain in Vincent’s wrist slowly lowers. “F-Fuck…” He says, looking over at his hand. It rests on the ground below his bleeding wrist, the rope now almost completely red with his blood. “W…Why?” He asks, looking up at The Ripper. The killer looks down at him, and with a smile, says: “Because the voices in my head told me so!” The Ripper then tosses aside the saw and grabs Vincent’s left arm with both hands. “H-Hey… w-what are you…” But he’s cut off. The Ripper tears his arm out of its socket with one strong pull, and the flesh holding the mangled arm to his torso is shredded with a disgusting tear. Vincent blacks out from the pain, and he goes limp. When he wakes up again, he finds he can’t speak. A disgusting gurgle is produced from his mouth instead, as he quickly finds out his tongue is torn out. He weakly looks up at The Ripper, who’s now covered in Vincent’s blood. The killer smiles down at him and mocks him by pretending he can't speak. He shakes his head and grabs a railroad spike from his cart. Vincent watches as he places the spike right between his eyes, and grabs a large hammer. “Another one to add to my collection…” He says, slamming the hammer down on the spike.
The Snake-
Elysium, 1998-
Lucy emerges from her room, only to find Abigail missing. “Where’d she go?” She asks Frost, who’s sitting across from her fiddling with his radio. He clears his throat. “Well, I’m assuming she went to Wolfrun to search for your missing friend.” Frost replies. Lucy sighs and sits down at the table. Rev and Leon enter the room, with Rev smiling and Leon laughing. Frost perks up at this, and raises an eyebrow. “What’cha guys laughing about?” He asks. Leon waves his hand, dismissing the suspicion. “Don’t worry, Boss. Rev was telling me about his time in Hell. He’s made some pretty good stories, and they got me so pumped to stop these bad guys!” He exclaims. Rev smirks, and Frost sighs. “Just don’t get too headstrong. He’s been to Hell and survived, He’s far stronger than you.” He reminds Leon. The young man nods, and turns as Riley enters the room as well. She’s drying off her hair, and her clothes are still partially wet. “Enjoy the shower?” Lucy asks. Riley looks down at her, rolls her eyes, and sits down next to the Demon. “Yeah, it was warm.” She says coldly. Lucy sighs and stands up. “I’m going for a walk.” She announces. Rev looks up at her, and their eyes meet. A look of desperation hits Rev like a brick, and he takes a breath. “I’ll join you. We need to discuss some… stuff.” He says. He walks past Frost, but the current man in charge clears his throat to stop him. “Talk about what?” He asks. Rev looks over at Lucy, and sighs. “I wasn’t going to tell everyone… but Lucy’s pregnant. With my child.” He says sternly. Everyone’s jaw drops, including Lucy. She stares at him in disbelief. Rev continues, much to Lucy’s dismay. “It happened right around the murder of a previous foe. We found ourselves in a spaceship’s restroom together… and Lucy and Abigail had a big fight… one thing led to another, and now we need to discuss what comes next.” He says, grabbing Lucy’s hand. Frost shakes his head and chuckles under his breath. “A decent lie, Rev. Come back safe, please.” He whispers to the Hellwalker. Rev nods, and he takes a surprised Lucy out of the building.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
After they’re out of earshot of the building, Lucy punches Rev’s arm hard. “Dude! What the FUCK was THAT!?” She whispers aggressively. Rev stammers, waving his hands around. “I needed a decent lie… and I thought that would… work?” He answers, almost as if asking her. Lucy just stares at him, the shock still plastered on her face. “Frost knows I’m gay!” She says. Rev’s face turns red. “O-Oh… that’s what he meant about a l-lie…” He says sheepishly. A twig snaps nearby, and both Lucy and Rev draw their weapons in response. “Jesus fucking Christ, I could hear you two from almost a mile away!” A voice says. Her voice is low, almost threatening. “Who are you? Show yourself!” Lucy says firmly. A giggle bounces around them, and two golden eyes ignite in the darkness before them. “Hello, Rev Finnegan. Lucy.” She says, the two golden lights slightly dipping in a cordial bow. Lucy narrows her eyes, and they spark up into a bright red. “Show yourself.” She demands. Rev pulls back the hammer on his revolver, and the unknown female laughs. “Fine.” She says. A tall figure emerges from the darkness, with silver hair messily draped over her shoulders. She wears a black sweater, with a large black trenchcoat over it. Dark grey jeans and black boots complete her outfit, and a golden halo floats above her head. Two large wings are folded neatly behind her back, and a grin adorns her face. “It’s nice to finally meet you.” She says. Lucy frowns. “Angel.” She says, firing her shotgun at her. The Angel quickly dodges it, rushing at Lucy and grabbing the shotgun from her hands. She tosses it aside and returns to her previous spot. “I don’t want to hurt you, Lucy. Just to speak with you.” She says. Lucy looks over at her shotgun and sighs. “Fine. Rev, stand down but be on guard.” She orders. Rev nods, lowering his gun. The Angel sighs and looks between them. “I am Eris, and I work for The Dolus Institute.” She says. Lucy growls at her, but Eris raises her hands to show peace. “I want to tell you about it. I imagine you want it gone?” She asks. Lucy nods silently. Eris continues. “Well, you can only access it if you are approved by The Director himself. I’m offering you an ally within the walls of the impenetrable Institute.” She says. “And what’s the catch?” Lucy asks immediately. Eris nods. “I’m sure you think there is one, and there definitely is, but it’s not much. I need you to kill that bastard when the time comes. Don’t fuck it up. I’m risking my life to help you, and if you fuck it up, we’re all dead. Deal?” She asks, extending a hand towards Lucy. The Demon looks down at Eris’s hand and sighs. “Fine. Deal.” She says, shaking the Angel’s hand.
Attack Of The Institute-
Elysium, 1998-
“Leon. Come here.” Frost exclaims, hovering over a monitor. Leon arrives a moment later, with Riley close behind. “Did we call for reinforcements… did Division 18?” He asks, pointing at a group gathering outside the base. Leon frowns, drawing his pistol and loading it. “No, Sir, we did not.” He replies, rushing for the door. Riley grabs an assault rifle and joins him at the door. Frost loads his light machine gun and kicks over the table. He rests the barrel of the LMG on the table for support as the enemies begin to try and kick in the door. The door bursts in, and several armed soldiers swarm. Leon and Riley open fire, with each of them taking out large amounts of soldiers. One of them enters, his eyes glowing a bright blue. Riley shoots him, but he simply tanks the hit. “Heheh… Now, I’ll consider that as a simple mistake. Lower your guns and say ‘Thank you, Director. Thank you for sparing me!’” The man says. “Sir?” Riley asks, looking back at Frost. He nods, standing up from behind the table. “So you’re him,” Frost says, approaching the man. The Director smiles. “Uh, yeah. I’m him. And you’re Richard Frost.” He replies. Frost nods. “So. What’s the deal? Are you gonna kill us violently? Maybe even parade us for Lucy to find?” He asks. The Director looks back at the soldiers behind him. “Guys? Cuff these fools. Leave the Boss for me.” He orders. The soldiers enter the room, restraining Leon and Riley. “Just go with him. If he wanted us dead, we’d be dead.” Frost shouts at his followers. The Director smiles down at Frost, his feet levitating off of the ground. “Now, I need to ask you: Why are you helping that Demon bitch?” He asks. Frost glares up at him. “Because she’s my friend.” He replies coldly. The Director sighs. “Whatever, dude. We’ll get the info out of you one way or the other.” He says, snapping his fingers. Frost looks confused. “What information? That’s literally all I’m doing. I’m helping out a friend.” He says. The Director smirks, and the duo teleport away.
The End of The Thule-
Elysium, 1998-
“So, why are you helping us, exactly?” Lucy demands as the three walk back to the headquarters. Eris sighs. “I can’t say much, but… I’m tired of The Director’s abuse. He hurts everyone. Civilians, employees of The Institute… even me.” She says. Lucy shakes her head. “Bullshit. It’s worrying, though. If someone can hurt and abuse a fucking Angel like you… fuck me, he must be strong.” She replies. Eris nods. Rev holds up a fist, stopping them in their tracks. “What’s up?” Lucy asks. Rev pulls out his revolver and motions towards the front door of their base. Eris’s eyes light up a bright gold, and she cracks her knuckles. Lucy glances over at her, worried. “What, no weapon?” She asks. Eris smirks. “Don’t need one.” She replies, spreading her wings. She charges inside the building, and the sound of a sonic boom knocks both Lucy and Rev off of their feet. After regaining their balance, Lucy enters the room first. Eris stands over a corpse, with a giant hole in its chest. “W-Who was that?” Rev asks, looking down at the pile of gore. Eris wipes her hand on her overcoat. “An enemy. This base is compromised.” She answers coldly. Lucy narrows her eyes at the Angel. “How do we know you didn’t just kill Leon, or Riely, or even Frost?” She asks. Eris scoffs. “I’ve been watching you guys since the Nuclear Frontier. I know your allies and your enemies.” She answers. She looks down at the body and kicks it over, revealing a familiar emblem on his coat. “Thule,” Rev says with disgust. Lucy sighs, and Eris smirks. “I guess they scared off your buddies. I bet we’ll meet up with them. I must return to The Institute, but you guys search for your friends. I’ll meet up with you guys when I can.” Eris says, vanishing. Lucy throws her hands into the air in frustration. “Sure, fuck it. Why not.” She shouts, annoyed. Rev kneels next to the corpse, taking his Nazi insignia off of his coat. “Maybe we could infiltrate them… I bet they took the others.” He says. “I’m sure I can be of some help.” A voice says from the doorway. Lucy and Rev turn to find another Angel staring at them. Ezekiel.
The Ripper-
Wolfrun, 1998-
“Alright, Squad. Listen closely.” Abigail commands, and several armed Wolfrun Police officers gather around. Kane stands among them, listening for orders. Abigail nods. “Inside this building is a dangerous threat. We need to take him out, dead. Not alive. If he manages to escape again, he could be gone for good. We don’t want that kind of threat running loose in America. Now, here’s the plan.” Abigail says. She reveals a small hand-drawn map of the apartment complex. “You two, head around back to cut off his escape. You three, with me and Kane. And for you, guard the door. Nobody escapes alive without my say-so. Copy?” She demands. The officers nod, unholstering their guns. Kane nods, a grin spreading across his face. “Let’s put this monster to rest.” He says. Abigail nods and kicks the door in. The officers follow her and Kane up, eventually coming to the same hallway Vincent peered down a day ago. She motions for one of the officers to open the door, and he obeys. He creeps up to the door, his gun drawn. Suddenly, a meathook comes swinging around the door, piercing the officer through the eye. He screams, and his finger spasms, firing a shot. This prompts the two officers behind the building to rush up the fire escape. Jack laughs, opening the door for them. “Stop! It’s a trap!” Abigail screams, but it’s too late. The officers enter Jack’s room and are met with massive handcrafted spears flung through the neck. One of them ducks down just in time, grazing his ear. “Now! Get him!” Abigail shouts at the other two officers, and the three remaining officers attack Jack. He dodges a bullet, grabbing the gun from one of them. He shoves his fingers inside one of their eye sockets, and he screams. He puts the other finger in his other eye socket, and a third finger up his nose. A sickening squelch fills the room, and the officer falls limp. Jack lifts him and throws him at another officer. His comrade’s dead body pins the cop, and Jack jumps on top of him. He smiles widely, putting his hand inside the surviving cop’s mouth—one hand on the roof of his mouth, and the other on his lower jaw. Jack shouts and rips the cop’s head apart. The final officer manages to wrap his arms around Jack, restraining him. “Sir! Now!” He shouts at Kane, who aims a shotgun. He fires, but Jack leans forward. The cop’s head rests exactly where Jack’s did a moment ago, and Kane’s shotgun blast bursts the officer’s head. “NO!” Abigail shouts, and Jack shakes the officer’s dead body off of his shoulders. “You should’ve sent your Demonic fucktoy after me. Or that fool with his flaming coat. Not these chucklefucks.” Jack says, his voice dry and heavy. Kane takes a step forward, his blue eyes locking with Jack’s brown. “You get me.” He says, preparing to charge at the former NRPD Officer. Jack smiles and draws a knife. Kane charges, revealing a knife of his own, and the two stab each other. Jack’s smile fades as he feels his stomach getting warm. He looks down, finding Kane’s hand resting around the hilt of a dagger, the hilt protruding from his stomach. “But I got you…” He says, looking at the knife sticking out of Kane’s back. The burly man falls over, and Jack glares at Abigail. “You. I’ve been wanting to talk to you.” He says coldly. His eyes are vacant, his hair messy and bloody. He’s frail, and his face is sunken in. “Y-You’re a mess, Jack…” Abigail replies. Jack chuckles, dropping his knife. “I wonder who’s fault that is.” He says, approaching Abigail.
You Don’t Know Jack-
Wolfrun, 1998-
Jack smirks at her, his eyes staring at the amulet hanging from the golden chain. “Eyes are up here, buddy.” She says sternly. Jack scoffs. “As if I’d want you. You’re dirty. Tainted. We saw that look all the time in the precinct. Some poor lady comes in, crying about how either Daddy or her mean boyfriend raped her. You know, you think you’re all this. A genius. Inventor. Savior of Humanity. Hell, you thought you could stop a nuclear fucking war. But guess what? You got raped. You got stabbed. You got hurt. You’re nothing special. In fact, you’re just. Plain. Ordinary.” Jack says with a sinister look in his eye. Abigail’s face turns red in anger. Her fists ball up, and her knuckles crack. “For your sake, stop it.” She demands. Jack laughs. “Oh, I know who’s special. One of a kind. Never met anyone quite like her.” He says. He grins and stares deep into Abigail’s eyes. “Lucy. She’s something special. I would have loved to have tried that one on for size.” He says. Abigail frowns. Jack chuckles, wiping some of the blood away from his eyes. “Oh… yeah. I know she only swings one way, but I bet a strong hero like me would persuade her. Especially since I don’t abuse her. I don’t scream at her for my faults. I don’t slap her away when she only wants to help. I most certainly do NOT force her to rely on some other guy for emotional support. You’re an awful girlfriend, Abigail. Let me take your place. Come on, tag me in, Coach! I got you! I can make her swoon!” Jack shouts, lunging at her. She jumps out of the way just in time, and Jack quickly hops on his four limbs like an animal. He snarls at Abigail and laughs. Abigail, however, is reaching for one of the fallen officer’s pistols. Jack jumps over her and swats the gun away. “No, we’re not done talking, sweetheart.” He says, standing over her. He kneels down, holding her arms down as he looks her up and down. “Oh, yeah. With those curves, I see why it happened.” He says. Abigail tries to push him off, but he slams her back down. He leans down, sniffing her neck. “Hmm… I’d say it was… German? Female? Who touched you, Abbi? Show me on the doll where she did it!” He shouts, grabbing one of her boobs. She looks away, tears welling in her eyes. “J-Just get it over with… p-please…” She begs. Jack scoffs, jostling her chest. After a slow and painful few seconds, the amulet emerges from between them. He grins, yanking it off of her. He jumps up and laughs. Abigail sits up and sighs. “You wanted to talk? Fine. Let’s talk.” She says. Jack looks down at her and smiles. “Thank you.” He says.
He Who Rests Under The Unmarked Grave-
Wolfrun, 1998-
Jack stands across the room, looking down at the weak and powerless Abigail. She looks up at him, the most dangerous thing she’s ever faced: A Human with a vendetta against her, with her amulet in his palm. “Jack, please. Just talk to me. Who made you like this?” She asks. Jack’s eyes suddenly dart to her mouth. “Who did this? W-WHO DID THIS!? YOU!” He screams, rushing over to her. He grabs her by the straps of her tank top, lifting her. “YOU TURNED ME INTO… INTO THIS!” He screams, throwing her back to the floor. She grunts as she lands, and she looks back up at him. His face isn’t angry. It isn’t thirsting for blood. He’s crying. His eyes are soft, yet still angry. But not at her. “Y-You…” He says, falling to his knees. “You f-forced me to join… I j-just wanted to g-go home… I just…” He says, sobbing. He falls to the ground, his arms holding him up as he cries. “N-North Reach… gone… You took it from me! I HAD A LIFE! I HAD A JOB! I HAD-” He stops himself, shaking his head violently. “E-Elizabeth…” He says softly. Jack can feel a hand rest on his shoulder. He looks up at her, and Liz smiles down at him. “You’re almost there, Jack. I know you can do it. Kill her and you can rest.” She says. Jack looks back down at Abigail. She slowly looks up at him, blood running down her face. “Jack… I didn’t know… If you had said something, I would have let you go!” She protests. But Jack just glares at her. “No, you wouldn’t have. You’d have kept me on my leash as long as Father Adam was around. As long as Steiner was around. Hell, we could fight GOD HIMSELF and you’d yank on my collar like a hound. You’re a lying, abusive, manipulative asshole, Abigail.” He says, standing up. He grabs a hammer and a railway spike. “Time to die, Abigail.” He says, grabbing her by her hair. She’s dragged to the wall, where she notices Vincent and another victim hanging. Their limbs were torn apart, and pinned to the walls by massive pikes. Abigail looks at him, her eyes watering. “Jack, please. Please just talk to me. Please.” She begs. Jack stops and drops the tools. He looks at Abigail, and his eyes shift. “H-Huh? A-Abigail?” He asks, his eyes hazy and tired. She leans forward. “Jack? Jack?” She asks. He looks around, noticing the bodies of the cops and previous victims. “O-Oh my God…” He stammers, falling to the floor. Abigail stands up, raising her hands in surrender. “Easy, Jack. It’s okay… it’s okay…” She says, slowly hugging him. He sobs into her chest, and she looks away. “I… I’m so… oh my God…” He says between deep breaths. He lets go of the amulet, and it rolls away for a moment. Abigail grabs it, and her bloody wounds close up instantly. She stands up, looking down at Jack. He looks up at her, his eyes still sad, but more angry. “You did this to me. You ruined my life. You turned me into this. If you hadn’t forced me onto your team, I wouldn’t have been taken by the Russians. I’d never be a weapon. I wouldn’t be… be… THIS!” He shouts, jumping up. Abigail looks at him intensely. “Listen to me. I’m sorry, but you need to let go. Move on. We have bigger threats-” “There you go! All you do is deflect! NO! WE’RE TALKING ABOUT ME FOR A FUCKING SECOND!” He shouts, grabbing a knife from a nearby table. Abigail quickly gets into a defensive stance. “Jack, drop it. We’re talking about you, so you don’t need to fight.” She says. Jack grins. “Oh, yeah, sure. You’ll beg and bargain when I’m armed, but the second I let my guard down, you steal the amulet back from me. It’s all about control, isn't it, Abbi?” He says, vitriol dripping from every word. Abigail glares at him, her eyes darting between the knife and Jack’s face. “Jack. Drop. It.” She says slowly. Jack just tilts his head and smiles. “You’d like that, huh? Yanking my collar for the final time?” He says. He tightens his grip on the blade and lunges at her. She quickly intercepts his arm, forcing the knife out of his hand and into hers. Jack’s eyes widen, and Abigail pushes him away. He catches himself on the table and laughs. “What? Gonna kill me? Make me bleed?” He asks. Abigail just stares at him, her eyes narrow. “Go on. Stab me. Pierce me. Kill me. End it.” He says, standing up tall. “Gonna get me? Better make it quick!” He says, rushing towards her again. Abigail takes a sharp breath and plunges the knife deep into Jack’s stomach. His blood covers her hand, and the blade is pulled upwards. His flesh rips as the blade carves into it, and Jack’s eyes widen. “A-Abigail…” He says. She looks into his eyes. Finally, after all they’ve been through, his eyes look normal. The boy she met all those years ago in North Reach. “I… You stabbed… me…” He says weakly. Abigail’s eyes widen, and tears overwhelm her eyes. “I know… I know…” She replies. Jack sighs, coughing up some blood. “I-It’s… okay… I needed… to go… this i-isn’t a… a life…” He says, his breath growing hollow. Abigail just looks into his eyes, and they slowly gloss over. “I… No. I d-don’t forgive you…” He says, his eyes finally losing their sparkle. He sighs and finally goes limp. Abigail stands over his body, the blade still resting in his stomach. She looks around and vomits next to him. She stops, coughing and wheezing, and wipes the tears from her eyes. She looks back at Jack, into his dead eyes. And she screams. She screams as loud as she can, all of her pent-up anger exploding in a war cry. She finally stops and catches her breath. She looks back towards the door to find Kane standing there, watching her.
The Witness-
Wolfrun, 1998-
Kane looks at her, disappointed. “How are you gonna lie to me and cover this up? Huh?” He asks. Abigail just looks at him. He sighs, sliding her a gun. “Here. Let’s get the fuck out of here.” He says coldly, turning away. Abigail slowly reaches down and grabs the pistol, and she narrows her eyes at him. “I’m sorry.” She says, aiming the gun at him. Kane chuckles and quickly spins around. A pistol is already aimed at Abigail by the time she realizes it, and he fires. The bullet hits her in the shoulder, knocking her to the floor. She groans in pain, and the amulet slowly begins to heal. Kane walks over to her, gazing down at her. “I won’t tell anyone about this. Trust me. You helped me all those years ago, now let me help you. We need to get rid of Jack’s body.” He says. Abigail nods, and Kane helps her to her feet. She walks over, giving one last look at Jack’s body. “Alright. How do we do it?” She asks. Kane smiles. “Bury him.” He replies, heading out of the apartment. Abigail sighs, squats down, and hoists Jack’s body over her shoulder. She carries it out of the building, and around the corner. She follows Kane to the back of the apartment complex, where she finds him waiting with a shovel. He starts to dig, and the two work in silence for several hours. Finally, after the work is done, and the sun is slowly peaking around the trees, the grave is dug. Abigail tosses Jack’s body into it, and Kane starts to move the dirt back in place. Abigail heads off, looking for anything to mark it. Kane scoffs. “Don’t bother marking it, we’re never coming back here.” He says. Abigail sighs and returns to the small dirt mound where Jack’s body once was. Kane looks at her and sighs. “Why did you do it?” He asks. Abigail looks confused but never looks at Kane directly. “W-What, killed him? He was a threat…” She replies. Kane shakes his head. “No. Had him join our team.” He corrects her, and she wipes a tear away. She takes a deep breath and lets out a long sigh. “I… He knew about all those awful things that happened in North Reach. Plus, he worked with the police, who most certainly trained him about Wolfrun. He was…” She stops, shaking her head. She smiles. “He was useful. That was all. He knew about us, and we couldn’t have him living with that knowledge.” She answers firmly. Kane groans. “So you ruined a young man’s life because you were sloppy, and Lucy wanted to help him. No wonder he hated you. He only hurt me because I attacked him. He wanted you dead from the start.” Kane replies, turning away. Abigail reaches out to stop him, but her words won’t come. She sighs and silently follows him back to the car.
Freedom?-
The Institute, 1998-
Frost, Riley, and Leon are thrown into a small holding cell, with large metal bars locking them inside. “Great job, Sir. You let him capture us.” Riley says, sarcastically. Frost sits in silence, and Leon sighs. “Let’s keep the bitching to a minimum, Riley, and instead find a way out of here,” Leon says. Frost smiles. “I know you’re watching me from over there. You have two big giveaways, you know.” He says rather loudly. Leon looks over to where he’s looking and finds two little blue lights in the cell across from them. They flicker, and Leon realizes that it was a blink. “Introduce yourself. If he locked you up too, then we must be on the same side. I’m Doctor Richard Frost, and these are my associates, Leon Chambers and Riley Thompson.” Frost says, standing up. The glowing blue eyes carefully scan each of them, darting between the three prisoners. They rise and slowly head towards the light. A naked woman, with shoulder-length blonde hair and glowing blue eyes. She looks at them and softly smiles. “Hello. I am Azrael, an Angel. I was trapped in here after I betrayed The Director to help… a Demon.” She says slowly. Frost perks up. “A Demon? What was her name?” He asks. Azrael stops for a moment and looks down sadly. “Her name was Lucy.” She answers bluntly. Frost smiles widely. “So you know her too? She’s an old friend of mine.” He says back. Azrael smiles and looks around. “Listen. I heard some rumors from the guard over there. Apparently, someone is trying to break into The Institute, and they are getting close. They might set you and me free.” She says. Riley jumps up. “Freedom? Already?” She asks. Azrael nods. “Indeed. Though it is but a rumor.” She says sadly. Riley sighs, slowly sitting back down. Frost smiles softly. “I have an idea of who would be crazy enough to break into a supernatural Dimension…” He says, and as soon as he does, a loud bang explodes from a nearby cell. Azrael smiles but slides back into the shadows. “My time will come. You guys go ahead and leave, just be sure to unlock my cell. I will help anyone who remains or is captured.” She says. Three figures emerge from the smoking cell, one of them bearing horns. “Frost! You in there?” A familiar voice asks. Leon leans into the hallway, poking his head out from the cell. “Hi, Lucy!” He says. Lucy rushes over, Ezekiel and Rev close behind. They break the lock on Frost’s cell, and he, Leon, and Riley exit the cell. Frost subtly breaks the lock on Azrael’s cell as well, and he turns to face his savior. “How’d you even know where to break into? This place is massive… infinite, even.” He asks. Lucy sighs, and a fourth figure steps into the light. “She got it from me.” A familiar voice says. Jacob Bright steps into the hallway with a sinister smile.
Rouge Agent-
The Institute, 1998-
Eris sneaks into the cell block, only to find Frost’s cell empty. She growls but smiles subtly at his escape. “You knew they escaped,” Azrael says from the cell behind her. Eris turns, facing the Angel. She shrugs. “Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t… What’s it matter to you?” She asks. Azrael smiles, her eyes glowing blue softly. “I care because it shows that you are conflicted. You want to help them but are scared to fully commit to either side.” She replies. Eris sighs. “Look. You won’t tell The Director, will you?” She asks. Azrael nods. “He and I are through working together. Look at where I am.” She answers. Eris nods. “Okay. I want his spot, his power, so I can truly live up to my father. I want to be the true owner of this Institute like my father runs Heaven.” She says. Azrael groans, rolling her eyes. “But why own it? Why not install someone under you so you can go explore the vast universe? Why lock yourself away?” She argues. Eris takes a moment, pondering. “Because why explore when you can control?” She replies. Azrael nods, judging but understanding. “I know what you mean, but I have met some wonderful people when I was free… Lucy, Kane… even Remiel was wonderful… why not go explore? You had to have met some fun people while you were out and about?” She asks. Eris looks down to the floor. “I… must leave.” She says, storming away. As she walks, she runs directly into The Director. He looks down at her and smiles. “Hello, Eris. I was looking for you.” He says. Eris looks up at him. “Yeah? What for, Sir?” She responds. The Director looks into the cell block and smiles. “I wanted to congratulate you. You pretending to work with that Demonic bitch will lead us right to her. I’m proud of you, and actually wanted to invite you out to dinner… or something…” He says, looking away shyly. Eris, realizing what he’s asking, smiles slyly. “Sure, where would we go?” She asks in return. The Director thinks for a moment. “Ever had pizza? I know a wonderful place in New York, they’re known for their solar-baked pies!” He offers. Eris looks confused. “Um… what year is this place opened?” She asks. The Director grins. “2097.” He answers. Eris smiles. “Sure. Let’s go, we can talk about you if you want. I don’t really know much about you.” She says. The Director laughs. “HA! That sounds amazing! I love talking about myself!” He says, leading her down the hall. She glances back at Azrael and winks at her. Azrael smiles and sits down in her cell.
