Elsewhere five days prior Eveline's blight incident, somewhere in Central America, a cloaked wanderer is on the ground seemingly unconscious on the side of a dirt road. A stray skinny dog approaches the wanderer's body and take a sniffs it. It's body showing its ribs and somewhat scrawny legs wobbles to the wanderer. The dog's focus turns towards the arm of the wanderer and sniff that until it takes a bite. The teeth sink into the flesh on the arm, unfortunatly the dog is swung by the arm its' bitting. As the dog lands on its' side it begins to growl at the wanderer, he grabs hold of his bitten arm as black blood seeps out from the wound.

Cipher: GOD DAMN IT YOU STUPID DOG! THAT FUCKING HURT!

The dog barks and growls viciously as it looks at Cipher. He sees that it's a weak looking German Shepherd.

Cipher: Oh shut up before I kick you in the damn ribs! You want that you stupid dog? Get moving! *walks towards the dog*

Depsite the constant snarling, it begins to back away as he gets closer to it. A small gust of wind hits him, smacking his faces with dirt and heat. As it does the hood that was over his head ended up being blown off as well. His face covered in dirt and sweat drip off as more accumulate the more he moves. Both his eyes showing signs of fatiuge, but at least is no longer like they were when he left Los Angeles.

Cipher: Why can't I stop sweating? I'm supposed to be dead. A walking corpse more or less, but I'm sweating. Does that mean I'm alive; but that would require me to feel hunger and I haven't felt since I came back.

It seems as well that he no longer has any armor protecting him as the wind reveals all he has on is worn out dark blue shirt, stained and ripped jeans, and torn shoes. He looks behind himself only to see that the dog is following him from a distance.

Cipher: Hey! Stop following me you stupid mut! It's fine right now but trust me when I say this: Your going to regret it when the night comes!

Not understanding what it's being told, the dog continues following.

Cipher: Fine! Come and get killed if that's what you want.

Cars pass by the two once and awhile, but Cipher tries his best to keep his distance from others. He glances back every now and then to notice the dog behind him. He's sighs and hears a group of people consititing of women and children. Placing his hood back on, Cipher looks down in order to avoid eye contact. Despite he is now in a place where no one knows who he is. The people in the crowd pass by him to notice his filthy clothes, seemingly dirty face, and horrific smell.

Woman1: Este olor!

Woman2: Huele como un animal muerto!

Child: Creo es ese con el perro.

Passing the crowd Cipher lifts his left arm up and sniffs his armpit and part of his cloak. Replused by the stench he then looks back and sees the dog still following him.

Cipher: Man those people aren't wrong. I can also see why you won't go away, I smell like a free meal to you.

However the dog then collapses onto the ground. He acts dissmissive about it and moves away but cannot commit to leaving. Constantly glancing back and forth to the dog's location until Cipher looks up to the sky with a facepalm.

Cipher: ... *sighs* Oh god damn it. *walks back to the dog*

He kneels down and observes the dog is still breathing. He looks around to see if anyone is around but sees no one. Even the crowd the from before is now far from them. As he is about to carry the dog, he hesitates once realizing that he could accidently puncture it with his crystal shaped claws. So he does his best to avoid touch the dog with them as he uses his arms to hold it; exposing the claws out in the open. Remembering the crowd Cipher runs towards the direction they came from. Wondering if there is a town, villiage, or any facility he can take the ailed canine to. The dog whines and moves around a bit while in Cipher's arms.

Cipher: Quit moving so much. Wait, I hope this thing does not have flees... who am I kidding.

He hears more people ahead and goes faster. More cars are also heard and then a sign is seen from the area ahead.

Cipher: *gets to the sign and stares at it* 5 miles till a Taller de Mechanica. Okay, maybe you'll live.

It takes him quite awhile to get to the mechanic shop. He thinks about using his teleportation ability but is unable to for the moment. He feels his arm is still healing from the dog bite and knows that he does not have the energy to do so. Finally arriving to the shop, he sees truckers, street venders with their children, a gas station, and regular civilian cars. He stops by one of the street venders that is selling fruit for help.

Cipher: Um, desculpeme pero se pudede-

The vender notices Cipher's apperance and the dog he's holding, causing him to act very agressive.

Vender: No toques mi mercancia, te porqueria sin hogar! < Do not touch my merchandise, you shitty homeless!>

Cipher: Que!? No solo-

Vender: Vaya! La gente no va a comprar mi fruta con usted aqui! < Go! People will not buy my fruit with you here!>

Not wanting to make trouble he abides to the venders demands and walks away. He tries with a few others but each one is harsher than the previous. He tries the mechanic's shop but is immeditaly kicked out. He thinks about trying to ask one of the people that are in the cars but realizes that his apperance will only cause issues.

Cipher: Sorry dog. Looks like I'm going to end up letting you die...

He looks at the drooling dog in his arms and closes his eyes.

Cipher: ... I guess I should put you somewhere and steal some of those stuff those venders have. Maybe one of them will have something you need.

A boy's voice is heard behind Cipher, causing him to turn around.

Boy: Oi, quiere este?

The boy holds up a bowl of water towards the dog's snout. It catches the dog's attention and his tongue starts to lick up some water. Looking at the boy Cipher notices that he has very short black hair, an outdated cartoon shirt, blue jeans, and somewhat worn out tennis shoes. They both put the dog and bowl onto the ground to let it drink on its own.

Cipher: Gracias.

The boy doesn't listen as he stares at Cipher's crystal claws. His hand reaches out to touch them, as the index finger close to the sharp weaponry that can easily rip flesh and bone is immediatly pulled way.

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Cipher: DON'T TOUCH THEM!

Taken aback by the sudden yell, the boy looks at him with a mixture of shock and confusion.

Cipher: (Oh right, this isn't the best place for english.) Mire-

Boy: You speak the english!? I know it a little. I'm Robeto. I'm 6

As Roberto introduces himself, he sticks out his little hand for a hand shake. However it is left hanging.

Roberto: No shake?

Cipher: I just said-

Roberto: Oh you don't have normal hands. Why are your fingers like that?

Cipher: Don't ask. How do you know english?

Roberto: T.V. that my papi buy. I like the american action movies with the guns and stuff.

Cipher: Oh, and where is you papa and mama?

Roberto: Papi is in the bano. Ma is with abulea e abuleo in heaven.

Cipher: Sorry to hear. How long have they been dead?

His bluntness causes an awkward silence, but Roberto breaks it with his answer.

Roberto: 10 days ago. I miss mi ma e abulea e abuleo.

The happy innocent look collapses as his face begins to show tears and disheartened child.

Cipher: Go back to your pa. You shouldn't leave and talk to someone that you don't know. This isn't a safe place for kids to go and have an adventure or something.

Roberto: ... Que?

Cipher: Just go to your dad! And thanks for the bowl of water!

Roberto perks up a bit and waves bye to Cipher. He sees him meet up with his father and looks like he's being scolded for wandering off. Cipher turns to look at the dog still drinking the water. He smiles at it for a moment before he walks away from the area and his journey alone. The sun beating down on him, Cipher looks at the sky and sees clouds gathering.

Cipher: (Rains going to be here soon. Hope that dog can find someplace for shelter, it'll suck if it dies right when I saved it. Well I guess that kid technically did. Whatever, it's not my problem anymore.)

Minutes passby until a bus filled with people pass past him as Cipher is hit with a full bottle of water. Before he could think of retaliating, Roberto's head pops out the window. A sorry can be heard as the vehicle becomes smaller and smaller as it moves away. Cipher picks up the bottle off the ground and looks a the barely visible and distant bus.

Cipher: Damn kid, guess the next time I see him I gotta smack him.

A loud abrupt bark rises from behind, catching Cipher off guard.

Cipher: Jeuss christ dog! You're still chasing me?

However this time the dog doesn't seem as hostile as it used to. Instead it's tail waging and mouth open, giving the impression of a smile.

Cipher: Fine. Follow me all you want, but I won't be responsible for anything that happens to you, understand?

It barks.

Cipher: Ugh, I'm talking to a dog like it's a person now. Have I been alone that long now? Well, I refuse to give you name. I'm not gonna even try to get attached to you got it?

It barks again.

Cipher: ... *groans*

Couple of hours fly away and the sky is now clear of clouds. The dog walking besides Cipher continues to breath with its mouth open and tongue out. Cipher also completely slouching with each step forward.

Cipher: ... (WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CLOUDS! WHY NO RAIN!?)*glances over to the dog* This is bullshit, huh doggy. Screw it, I'ma have to deal with it since this is Honduras. God knows how long till I reach San Perdo.

The dog's ears perk up and without warning echoes of gunfire becomes apparent. Cipher looks around them but sees nothing out of the ordinary until recongizes that the sounds are coming from ahead of them. There's no place to sneak to observe as the path had less forest on the side. Walking faster to understand what the situation even is, the noise of rapid shooting is replaced by yelling. Eventually what he sees before him is the bus being surronded by a group of people with their faces and heads masked by cloth.

Cipher: *looks at the dog* Stay.

As he moves, the dog about to follow him is met with a glare that causes it to stop moving.

Cipher: Stay here. Now.

Listening to him, the dog sits down and does what it was told. As it looks onward, all it can see is Cipher's back covered by a cloak riddled with holes, filth, and old but dry bloodstains. Some of the robbers are entering the bus while others stay out and keep watch. Because of this, a few of them spot Cipher as he walks closer and closer. Two of the gunmen point their assualt rifles at him and demand him to stop where he is. He rushes ahead only to met a barrage of bullets pierce his flesh. As they rip right through him, many on the bus see and hear the gunfire which causes panic. Many of them are praying, wimpering in fear, and some infants are crying out loud.

Passenger1: Que esta pasando?

Passenger2: No se, pero mantener la cabeza.

They are all ordered to step outside by the leader of the group. Walking off the bus, some people look to some of the seats and see that some passengers were painted in red as their blood leaked out from bullet wounds. Some of their eyes open as the heads hang from the seats and some in agony as they cling to life. Though they too are eventually forced out as well. The leader calls out to the two that were shooting. They turn their attention back to the bus.

Lead Robber: Oi que fue lo que disparaon?

Robber1: Una persona que empezo a correr aqui.

Robber2: Lo dije que para, pero no. Asi que rodamos el cabron.

Among the passengers, Roberto and his father stay together he desperately and tightly clings to him.

Roberto: Papi, que va a pasar?

Roberto's dad: Nada hijo. Solo van a robarnos y dejarnos.

He tries to smile so that he could bring some sense of hope for his son, but he knew the truth. He recognized the robbers and that they were the type that will kill everyone of the passengers to leave no witnesses. He also knew that the reason that car hasn't been spotted yet is because another group must be holding up traffic while disguised as policemen. He feels his son poke him slightly on the leg.

Roberto: Papi, vamos a ver a mami?

Roberto's dad: Que?

Roberto: Van a matarnos, vera? *tears slowly fall* < They will kill us, right?>

Seeing his son holding in his tears, despair collapses inside him as he attempts to grab hold of his son. A hard blow to his face by the stock end of a rifle in which makes him fall onto his back. Blood spill out as he holds his nose now broken from the impact.

Roberto: Pa-

Roberto's dad: Quedate ahi!

He takes glances over to the leader and sees him tell others to keep a lookout for anything else and to leave the body they shot at alone. His eyes widen from what he sees next; they turn away from each other and the gunmens' faces are slashed off by a hooded individual. The leader hears a splat on the ground, turns back behind, and his head is pierced through by Cipher's claw. The other robbers finally take notice on what the situtaion is and point their weapons at him. Cipher looks at the bus and notices some blood splat on the otherside of some of the windows. Roberto takes notice of Cipher but remains scared on what's happening.

Cipher: ... *looks around* Te voy a dar la opcion de- < I'll give the option of->

Guns are fired off as the bullets tear into Cipher's body. The passengers watch in horror as they witness an execution that no one should see. Limbs begin to seperate as more and more bullets hit. The firing stops and all can only see smoke coming off from the body. One of the robbers cautoiusly walks closer and get a better look. He holds his gun up to the body, but he then falls onto his side and shouts in pain. His right leg has been biten by the dog who came after the loud gunfire. Pulling out a knife he stabs the dog on its thigh. As someone else is about to shoot the injured dog, black miasma appears and within it, Cipher bites the gunman's neck off. So much blood gushes out like a broken water pipe, even if it was for a moment.

Passenger: Un demonio.... Dios mio! < A demon. My god!>

Everyone sees Cipher's one glowing diamond red pupil, black sclera, crystal claws grow, and miasma covering most of his body. Quickly he deals with the others as they now are running away. Cipher, no longer in control continues to kill and devour parts of the assailants until he comes back to where the bus is. He ignores the plee of the passengers and enters the bus to find a robber. He drops his weapon and gets on his knees as he cries in fear.

Robber: Por favor no me maten! Dios-

He's ripped in half as Cipher guts him open and his organs are toss out of his body. The scream is heard for only seconds only to leave silence. Cipher exits the bus, causing the passengers to think they are next only to be ignored once more as he walks to the dog. He reaches out his hand but stops himself from moving. His breathing begins to intesnify until the black miasma fades, his claws revert back, but unforutnately his eye remains the same.

Cipher: (Again. I lost to it again. This cannot continue. I can't keep hold back this fucking power like this. I need to get to that city and see if there's any lore about a power like this. I just hope there's something there)

He looks around him and observes the fear the people around him have. He begins to stagger as his vision blurs. He sees Roberto looking at him as his father holds him close.

Cipher: Get... away... from...

He falls as he tries to finish his sentence but pass out. The people unable to understand on what had just happened eventually surround Cipher's body and help the injured dog. Sirens are heard from afar as the real police finally arrive. Among the passengers, an foreign photographer stands up and goes to the people around Cipher's unconscious body.

Photographer: This... this is the Bloodstained Crow!?