The trio moved back out into the hall, exiting from where they came originally as they retraced their steps to reach the main entrance. Their steps echoed off into silence around them save for the occasional rustling of fabric and crunching of dried leaves underneath heavy boots.

Aubrey bit her lip so hard that blood welled out beneath her teeth as she tasted iron on her tongue. She tried focusing instead on anything else except what she just overheard, though her thoughts continually wandered back to that tape playing itself over again inside her mind regardless of how much she fought against them.

Her anger remained raw, boiling just beneath the surface ready to flare up uncontrollably once more if given the slightest provocation or opportunity—especially when recalling Helena's mention of 'intensive psychological therapy' on top of all this.

Who did these fuckers think she really was? A dog to train? Someone's pet? Or worse! What if—

She shook her head sharply to snap herself out of it. No... No. Best not to go there; best to avoid imagining what might have been done to her if she hadn't escaped that facility all those years ago. The memories of being locked away inside that padded cell flashed briefly across her eyes as her breath caught in her throat. Those days seemed so far away now... yet somehow felt less than a stone's throw distant.

"Are you alright?" Seraphine asked, turning around halfway with a raised brow once they reached the main entrance. Her hand rested firmly upon the hilt of her sword at her side.

"Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?" Aubrey said shortly, forcing herself to swallow down the anger again along with all those dark thoughts before continuing on after them, not waiting for either Hunters reply or comment otherwise. Her voice sounded cold even in her own ears when responding.

As they exited the old asylum, Aubrey took one last look behind, watching as its windows gazed out towards her like empty black eyes that had witnessed countless acts of misery and terror during the fog-shrouded building's lifetime. It gave off an air of deathly gloom and oppression as though it held onto those memories even now.

"So, what now?" Levy spoke up once they walked a few steps outside, turning his attention towards Seraphine who seemed contemplative as she glanced back to him, then over towards Aubrey.

"That... depends entirely upon you," Seraphine answered, watching how Aubrey's eyes flickered in response.

Aubrey walked passed them both without stopping, heading further down along the gravel path before pausing midstride. Without turning her gaze back, she spoke again in same cold tone, "This is where we part ways. You can do your investigation, and I'll handle my business."

"You realize that you're still our prisoner? We can't just let you off like that, right?" Levy pointed out in turn to which Seraphine looked like she wanted say something but kept quiet instead.

Aubrey slowly turned her head back enough to glare daggers at them, then brought two fingers to her eyes and pointed back towards them, "Try and stop me. Let's see how that turns out for you," she challenged with such intensity that even made Levy shrink back half a step in uncertainty.

She continued, "I'll reach out to you if I uncover something useful. Otherwise, don't bother me unless you've something worth my time."

Then, without waiting for either Hunter to say any other protests, she spun away from them both and continued onward.

----------------------------------------

Aubrey returned to the cathedral to find Cedric, Thaddeus, and Liza lounging within, each doing their own little thing to pass time. Cedric seemed engrossed within some old tome, Thaddeus busied himself tinkering with what appeared to be a small handheld gadget, and Liza readying her violin from the looks of it.

Thaddeus looked up briefly when he spotted her enter. "Thou hadst returned safely. 'Twas commendable."

Aubrey nodded in response to that before setting herself down on one of the pews, resting her arms atop the back of it, "Well... I did run into a couple of complications along the way."

Cedric closed his book, setting it down next to him as he focused on her now. "Your face seems to tell a story."

Aubrey grimaced. "Yeah..." She proceeded to recount her experience thus far as well as discovering evidence of those involved in her past during her explorations at the asylum.

As she finished, she noticed Liza shrinking back slightly into herself, hugging the violin against her chest. The woman seemed particularly shaken at her ordeal. Did she go through a similar experience? Was that how she became Unhallowed? Or maybe some other way altogether...

"That certainly sounds ominous," Cedric stated, stroking his chin as he considered it. "Humans have such a penchant for self-destruction—especially when fueled by greed. It's unfortunate to see such a pattern continue even now."

"Verily," Thaddeus interjected without looking up from whatever gadget he was currently fiddling with inside. "'Tis regretful that such wickedness continues perpetuating throughout the ages. What becomes of thy plans?"

"Nothing much has changed really." Aubrey sighed heavily and shrugged, leaning forward until her chin rested against her forearms. "I mean, it sucks that whoever those Hunters reported back to know that I'm looking into this shit. They're probably gonna keep tabs on me now. But fuck those guys anyway if they try giving me grief."

Cedric and Thaddeus both nodded slowly at this. They didn't seem terribly worried about this news even though they just learned of them seconds ago, which should be a good sign.

Liza remained quiet as ever for the most part, though her posture appeared more tense than usual. The shadows writhed around her, making it hard for even Aubrey who sat closest beside her to properly make out her facial features beneath those billowing dark tendrils that clung loosely around her frame like some kind of veil.

"Relying on those Hunters to dig up information might prove to be troublesome given your position right now," Cedric said after another pause before continuing, "You're relying on them going after a greater threat than yourself. If push comes to shove and those higher-ranked individuals decide it's better to eliminate you rather than let you run free..."

"I'm not trusting any of these Hunters as far as I can throw them. I'll do things my way, and if it comes to that, I'll deal with it then," Aubrey replied sharply. When I decide that I need them to help me further my goal—that goal being murdering these fuckers who had experimented on me—then I'll reach out again. But not a second sooner."

"Fair enough." He chuckled softly, giving her an amused look for a moment. "Though, I'm quite certain your 'my way' would include a lot more bloodshed and violence in its execution, am I right? You've a vengeful soul—a fire burns bright within. It's admirable... albeit terrifying when directed at others."

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Aubrey snorted lightly to herself. If he knew what went on inside her head during fights, or especially her dream sequences when she imagined herself killing and maiming all those people in gruesome ways...

"I wouldn't call myself a vengeful individual," she stated instead before giving another halfhearted shrug. "If someone pisses me off, yeah. I get angry. That's about where I draw the line though. People who deserve payback will get it regardless, though."

"I understand," Cedric assured, nodding thoughtfully to himself. Then he leaned closer to rest a reassuring hand overtop one of hers. "We will help wherever and whenever needed. Do not hesitate to ask for assistance."

The gesture felt nice, comforting even. Not exactly the reaction someone might normally expect upon hearing someone talk about how ready they'd be to commit gruesome murders without so much as batting an eyelash if given the chance. But then again, they were all Unhallowed beings in the end, so it makes sense they have similar thoughts.

"Thanks." She offered him a grateful smile before continuing, "So, what have you guys been up to while I was gone?"

Thaddeus looked up once again when asked this question, his expression turning somewhat bashful underneath those glowing red eye-lights as he lifted up the mechanical object he'd been tinkering with since she came back.

"An artifice of mine creation. An arcane mechanism powered by ley lines. My current design yields modest success yet I strive toward greater potential."

"What does it do?" she asked.

"Currently, little. Yet... shouldst I complete it, 'twould prove a boon to all of thee who dwell under this cathedral's roof. 'Tis intended as a means of detection." He paused for a moment before adding, "I hadst eke altered the Luminal Projector to include a new mode which showeth the record of past events from its locale."

Aubrey stared back at him blankly, not really getting the whole point of what he explained to her. "Uhh... What's that supposed to mean?"

Thaddeus glanced away briefly in thought, then tried again. "'Tis best demonstrated than simply explained."

He headed down to the basement and returned with the Luminal Projector moments later. Aubrey's eyes widened slightly in surprise when it activated, producing vivid images of the room they currently sat in—though slightly fuzzy at the edges—within several minutes' timeframe of the present. A couple of them showed herself entering the nave, heading over towards the pews, and taking a seat beside the others who remained engrossed within their reading or practicing.

Aubrey watched in silent fascination as it played out in front of her.

The machine's projection function lasted for a while longer until it abruptly cut out, leaving the area dark again.

"'Twas merely an early iteration, and yet still requires much additional work before completion," he said as he turned to put away both objects back into storage somewhere behind altar before rejoining the rest by their seats on the pews.

"How does it work?" Aubrey asked.

"It draws upon energy found within ley lines of the locale, so it will not work in areas far removed from them. It projects the past memories embedded within the ley line aura of that specific area, though it remains limited in scope. However, the more intense the emotions involved within such events, the farther in time it can project," Thaddeus explained. "Yet with further fine-tuning... a far more expansive functionality shall manifest itself."

"That seems... pretty cool, honestly." Aubrey gave him an impressed look along with a nod in approval after digesting his explanations.

So it was basically a magical security camera that could record the memories associated with a specific location? That definitely seemed like a useful tool.

To have the ability to see what had happened in a specific place in the past would provide invaluable insight for those trying to piece together events, or figure out how something might've transpired.

Plus, it might also prove helpful in uncovering any hidden secrets left behind by previous inhabitants—not just the cathedral, but elsewhere too.

Wait... What about that recording of myself at the asylum? Surely that place was built on top of a ley line, right?

Could she see into her own past through it? Maybe she could get a glimpse of what Helena and Augustus looked like, if nothing else... It could also give clues about their whereabouts even!

"Thaddy, keep working on that thing," she told him. "When you've got it fine-tuned, I wanna use it at the asylum."

"I will do so posthaste, milady," Thaddeus replied with a slight bow of head before returning downstairs once again.

With that matter settled, she glanced towards the other two remaining, noticing Liza still looking rather uncomfortable and withdrawn. If Cedric noticed, he didn't comment on it; he merely went back to reading his book.

"Are you alright?" Aubrey asked after a moment.

Liza flinched slightly before nodding without meeting her eyes. She hugged herself tightly as the shadows around her deepened, making them almost impossible to see through properly anymore.

Aubrey sighed.

At times like this, she usually sang a lullaby to calm her down—to soothe away whatever anxiety or depression plagued her. Aubrey approached the woman slowly, reaching forward until one hand gently pressed against Liza's, causing the latter to finally raise her gaze to meet hers.

Aubrey offered her a gentle, reassuring smile. "Come on. Let's head up to my room, alright?" She guided Liza towards the stairs, glancing back at Cedric who watched them walk away but remained silent otherwise.

Upstairs in her chambers, she encouraged Liza to take a seat on her bed and made sure she remained comfortable while doing so. Aubrey herself sat down beside the Unhallowed violinist and draped an arm around her, holding her close. Then, she began singing softly to her friend.

She held Liza close against her chest, cradling the other woman while her voice echoed throughout the bedroom, filling its space completely as she sang song after song until Liza relaxed enough into slumber against her embrace. Even after that, she kept going for a while longer, letting the music envelope everything within its warm embrace.

Eventually though, eventually, even she had to stop at some point as fatigue caught up to her too.

She glanced down towards where Liza lay curled up against her own body, watching over the other woman's sleeping form as they lay there together on top of her mattress.

Liza must have really been affected by her story from the asylum earlier. She must've gone through similar experiences herself, and Aubrey's recollection might've brought up those memories.

I'll talk with her more about that tomorrow, perhaps.

She hadn't really asked Liza about her past since bringing her along. It seemed to have slipped her mind entirely in the meantime. Well, not entirely... she'd just kinda gotten used to the idea that everyone she surrounded herself with here would open up when ready.

She hadn't been completely truthful about her history either. Well, she hadn't lied about it... it's just... she hasn't exactly shared all the details of it either. A lot of memories still felt like they had been blocked out from her, or at the very least, buried deep enough that it took a concerted effort to remember them.

Her eyes glazed over, focusing somewhere far off as her mind wandered.

She pondered silently to herself for what must've been hours upon end. The sky darkened outside her window, stars emerging from their daytime shroud before vanishing back behind a heavy blanket of cloud cover. Soon it began raining, and then pouring.

A rockstar, singer, and performer—that's who she really was before this. She remembered playing concerts all around the world: performing for thousands upon thousands of people. She remembered her band, too, her best friends and companions through it all. They had a good thing going.

But... all she could remember was those moments, and the music.

Who she was outside of that, her family—assuming she had any prior—and everything else about her life beyond her music career... it all eluded her grasp no matter how much she strained her brain cells. What did she do when not on tour or making music?

She knew more about this other identity she possessed now—of this world's Aubrey Sinclair—than her own life before awakening into this world.

Did she ever finish high school? Did she have parents who loved and cared about her growing up? Friends maybe? Were they even still alive? And... if so... what did they think of her now? Do they believe she died when lightning struck the stage at one of her concerts, electrocuting her?

Who the fuck am I now?

The questions swam around in her head until finally, tiredness overwhelmed her enough to drift off into an uneasy sleep.