Author's Note (PLEASE READ): Hi and thank you for checking out my work! This is my first web novel I am currently working on, and I wanted to get some feedback on it! It is an experimental work in progress, but please, comment and critique as much as you would like and don't be afraid to post any thoughts you have on it. I promise I won't cry... too much. Anyways, I hope you enjoy.

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CRACK!!!

Shrieks pierced the night air. Running feet could be heard along with the desperate screams of those escaping for their lives.

"Sh-shit!!! Everyone fall back! Protect the room! Don't let it in!" yelled a knight in a full plate mail armor. Around him are other men and women were dressed similarly, each tightly gripping their kite shield and sword.

Just as they were about to retreat, another small explosion resounded and a body slid to the floor at the end of the hall.

Its eyes were bulged with fear as it stared holes into them. Blood and grey matter began streaming from the small void in its head.

In the silence that followed, light footsteps could be heard making their way around the corner of the hall.

Rounding the corner, a small gaunt figure concealed beneath a large cloak flecked with blood appeared. The black cloth was tattered and long enough to cover the hands. A hood blanketed the face in darkness creating a void that seemed to suck the warmth from the air.

Looking at the petite figure, the knights knew something was very wrong.

Despite its size, the whole hallway was choked by its presence. The imposing aura raised primal warnings in their bodies, screaming at them to run away, but their logic was telling them otherwise.

The way it stared at them wasn't one filled with bloodlust for an enemy, but indifference, as if they were mere objects obstructing its path. After looking at the corpse, and then back to the figure, something clicked in their heads. An ominous chill filled the air as the gore covered figure seemed to grow in size.

This being in front of them was the thing rumors talked about: the Crimson Contact.

The entity, whose trademark signs were blood filled rooms and bodies riddled with holes.Some rumors said it was a devil that killed indiscriminately, others said it was an assassin from a secret organization pulling the strings of society, but all knew it was a being that rightly earned its name.

No one knew who it was or what it wanted. No one had ever seen it.

Those who had were left lying in their own blood upon contact. Only the aftermath was ever found.

Dread enveloped the group as the sound of clattering metal filled the air.

Foul stench filled the air, but its source was indeterminate.

The small silhouette stood still, staring at them like a hunter watching their prey.

Expressionless, emotionless, it left an ominous void in the room that seemed to suck the air from their lungs.

"M-maintain formation! Use Rugkraft only if necessary!" Despite the orders, it was clear the group was on the verge of breakdown.

Unimaginable fear gripped the group as it slowly raised one of its arms. A faint red glow could be seen underneath the cloak of the raised arm.

"R-run!!!" one of the knights screamed. A couple of the knights dropped their weapons and began fleeing down the opposite end of the hall towards a pair of doors.

"COWARDS!!!" yelled their leader immediately after preparing to charge the enemy. For a split second he blinked only to realize the figure had disappeared. Behind him a single crack tore through the air accompanied by the sound of bodies falling.

Agilely turning around, he saw two fresh corpses lying on the floor. Blood oozed out from underneath the bodies. A hole could be seen in each of their heads. Next to them the figure held strange metal objects in both of its hands; a thin trail of smoke snaked its way out of them as a light glow radiated from the metal.

A rush of air swept through the hall. All of the knights were stunned. For a second the youthful face of a child no older than ten years appeared from underneath the hood.

Their face was completely expressionless.

The leader froze.

I know that face!

He moved to say something, but before he could, a knight regained her composure and dashed towards the figure brandishing her sword for a thrust.

Realizing what was happening, the leader made a move to restrain both of them.

"STOP!!!"

Right as the blade was about to pierce the figure's heart, it vanished from existence only to reappear above the knight.

Before anyone could react, the figure appeared in multiple places for a split second pointing the metal objects at the knights.

CRACK!!!

A flash appeared from the metal objects all at once as they radiated an intense glow.

Wind plowed through the room as blood suddenly bloomed from the knights.

Their bodies crumpled to the floor like ragdolls ruining the floor with their gore.

After staring at the fresh corpses with indifference, they began walking towards the door at the end of the hall.

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Inside a room, a young girl with long golden brown hair was hugging her legs to her chest while hiding underneath a desk. Tears rolled down her face as she quietly cried.

Surrounding her were shelves upon shelves of books. From the window facing opposite of the door the moon gently caressed the room with its soft light.

Outside the window lay a large courtyard. Strewn about it were bodies of both armoured and unarmoured persons. Underneath them were puddles of blood staining the ground a permanent crimson.

"Why..." she grieved as she pulled her legs closer.

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The day had been like any other.

Noelle was at home in her family's estate. It was the day she was being taught the importance of the Zhertopf bloodline to the connection to the Church of Orihs, but most of it went in one ear and out the other.

"...cestors of the– Noelle, are you paying attention?"

"Ah! No. Sorry..."

"Haaa... You need to pay attention to this. You may still be a child, but one day you will..."

Again, the tutor began another long-winded oration that went right over her head.

Why do I have these boring classes? I don't need to know history. I want to go play!

An hour later, the sun began setting and the tutor was just finally finishing her exegesis.

"...so never forget that, understand?"

"Yes, of course!" Noelle said with a wide smile.

"Ok, then you are free t–"

Before she could finish her sentence, Noelle was already darting down the hall and went out of sight around the corner.

FINALLY! Now time to play with Shinku!

Sprinting out of the house, she ran to a tall tree in the corner of the courtyard. Hidden from the mansion, a boy was leaning against the tree taking a nap. In the dying light of day, no one would have seen him had they not been looking for him.

Hehehe. He's so cute when he sleeps.

Sneaking over to him, Noelle stood right over his softly snoring face.

Hmmmm. I wonder how I should wake him.

Pondering it for a moment, she quickly came to a conclusion and picked up a nearby stick.

Taking a moment to check her swing, she swung the stick at full force aiming for his head.

The boy's hand shot out as if by instinct, redirecting the swing to sail just over his head.

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Noelle, not expecting it to be redirected, lost her footing and fell on her butt.

"Ouch~"

"What goes around comes around," the boy nonchalantly stated.

"That doesn't mean you have to hurt me!"

"Hypocrite."

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Hmmmm! Don't use big words I don't understand!"

"Don't swing branches at my face."

"Hmpf! But you never get hit anyway."

"Doesn't mean you should do it."

"Don't hurt me while stopping me then!"

Noticing a pattern forming, Shinku breathed a sigh. "Fine. Anyways, why did you wake me up?"

"I wanted to play with you!"

"Hmmmm. Maybe."

"Yay!" Noelle shouted while jumping excitedly.

"Oh, but first, how is your father?"

"Hmmm? Papa is fine, but he's been in his study a lot and doesn't play with me anymore."

"Do you know what he is doing?" Shinku asked with a concerned look.

"No. Papa just stays in there all day. Oh! But sometimes a really pretty light comes from his window!"

For a split second a dark shadow appeared on Shinku's face before it went back to normal. "I see. I can't play today."

"Awwww! But you said you would."

"Sorry, I have to go, and it's almost supper." Shinku began scaling the tree and jumped on top of the courtyard wall.

"Fine. Promise you'll come back after then."

A small grin appeared on Shinku's face.

"Ok."

Leaping off the wall, he went out of view. Noelle headed back to the mansion, and got scolded for being outside so late in the evening.

She ended up having dinner with only her mother. Her father had remained in his study again.

Only the sound of clinking utensils could be heard for the longest time at the quiet table.

Noelle sat opposite of her mother. But neither of them spoke.

"How are your studies coming along." Her mother finally asked breaking the silence.

"Ok." Noelle answered while pushing the vegetables around on her plate.

"Eat like a proper lady. And don't play with your food."

"Yes, Mother."

"You are part of the Zhertopf family. Remember that. You will become the head one day, so learn everything so you don't embarrass us."

"Of course." Noelle answered robotically.A few more moments of thick silence enveloped the two before Noelle stood up from the table.

"I'm going to bed."

"Sleep well."

She headed up to her room where her maids began preparing her for bed.

I hate this life.

Noelle thought to herself as the maids began putting a nightgown on her.

She climbed into her bed, but as the maids were about to leave her room, shouting, screaming, and sharp cracks pierced the night. Her hand was grabbed by someone as she was rushed somewhere.

Familiar scenery passed by her one by one:

The family portrait.

The giant ballroom with the double helix staircase.

The bust of the first head of the family.

All of it flew by her as she was rushed through the manor.

After what seemed like an eternity of frantic running, she arrived in a study with a large desk facing the door.

"Don't move from here and don't make a sound." a man firmly told her as he pushed her under a desk. The inflections in his voice clearly showed he was perturbed.

It was her father.

She'd never seen him like this before. His usual smiling face was now ridden with anxiety. But despite this, he still held a shaky smile as he looked at her. Reaching into his pocket, he retrieved a silver pocket watch.

It was big enough to fit in the palm of his hand, and it had an intricate design of vines engraved on the shell. In the center of the of one of the sides, a crescent moon was carved in.

"Take this watch and don't let go of it."

Her father looked her sternly in her blue eyes. Confused by the situation, she nodded slightly in response.

For a moment the two stared at each other. The girl knew something was happening. She opened her mouth as to say something, but her father lightly pressed his finger against her lips.

"Noelle... No matter what happens, promise me you will live." he pleaded her.

She closed her mouth and nodded slightly again. Tears began falling from her eyes.

A melancholic smile appeared on his face as his eyes started to shine near the edges. He kissed her on the forehead and immediately rushed off while ordering the men and women gathering in the hall to lock the doors. Just before the doors to the study closed, she glimpsed her father putting on a suit of armor.

A few minutes later, she heard shouting and screams from the other side of the door as well as several of the ear-splitting cracks.

Silence...

"Papa..." She tried to stifle her sobs, but the rivers of tears continued to cascade to the carpet.

Footsteps rhythmically approached the door before stopping right outside of them.

The locks on the door began clicking. After a couple attempts, that sound stopped too.

Time seemed to stop as Noelle's body began to tense up.

Suddenly, the doors were knocked off their hinges.

A cloaked figure flecked with blood walked through the doorway into the refuge, crushing the atmosphere with a deathly silence. Noelle held her body closer as she clutched the watch with all of her strength.

"..."

Lethargically the figure made its way through the room glancing over the books to its left and right.

Coming to the end of the room, it stopped abruptly in front of the desk. Noelle's knuckles turned white from gripping the watch. Tears began staining her nightgown as they continued to fall from her eyes.

Above her, papers were being turned accompanied by the sound of pages tearing.

An eternity seemed to pass, but the sounds didn't stop. Noelle closed her eyes as she pulled her knees closer and tucked her head in.

Almost as sudden as the sounds started, the sounds stopped.

Noelle, waited for a bit before opening her eyes and lifted her head. In her vision...

Was a metal cylinder.

Just a fist away from her was a strange metal object being held to her head by a cloaked child, slightly taller than her. Looking at their face, she noticed something.

Their eyes weren't those of a child. They were those of a corpse, living but not.

They stood there, pointing the object in her face. No hints to their thoughts were shown.

Both of them stared at each other.

Time slowed.

The watch slipped from her hand. Gravity slowly pulled it to the floor as her image was slightly reflected in its shell by the moonlight.

I'm going die, aren't I.

I don't want to die.

I'm scared.

I don't want to die…

As it landed with a soft thud, a flash illuminated the room accompanied by the sound of a window shattering. Wind rushed through the room towards the now open window scattering papers around the room.

Noelle was slumped underneath the desk, her whole body limp. Blood was splattered on her and the floor in front of her.

Lying on the floor beside her was the pocket watch lightly flecked with gore. Catching the light of moon, the design engraved on it started to glow. The glow intensified illuminating the room with a blinding light.

A few moments passed before it finally faded and the room was once again filled with the soft light of the moon, as though nothing had happened.