Cerberus HQ, Main Building: 936, August 12th, Sunday, 3:00 PM.
“Yeon!” Jacob—dressed in his disguise as Arwen, sprinted rapidly across a hall painted red in HQ’s main building.
Although security in the building had weakened due to the loses from Paradise’s previous invasion, most areas in the building remained protected still by officers from the company—leaving the outdoors patrol to the soldiers from the empire.
Arwen continued his quest to reach Yeon, his surroundings painted red with the blood of Cerberus’ officers—bodies lying motionless on the floor and against the walls. Unlike his usual self however, Jacob remained unflinching at the massacre that encompassed him during his search—recalling the message he urgently received from Bloodhound.
“Save Yeon,” his mind continued to demand with urgency.
His fearless advance was only halted by a familiar presence as he approached the end of the hall, a blonde girl garbed in a simple and elegant white dress—now stained with dirt and blood. Startled by her presence, Jacob planted his feet on the ceramic floor before slamming his hand on the wall next to him—coming to a stop right in front of Euthemia, who casually walked out of one of the offices. She turned to face the startled man with an innocent smile, both of her hands kept hidden behind her back.
“Greetings, Mr. Rhys.” She bowed politely. “Remember me?”
“L-lady… Euthemia.”
“You do remember, I’m so happy.” She claimed, exposing one hand to reveal the blood-stained folding knife she carried. “You don’t mind me visiting the company again, do you?”
Not forcing himself to reply, Jacob clenched his jaw while instinctively taking a step back—eyes twitching with dread. Noticing the man’s reaction, Euthemia stepped in closer with her blade pointing at Jacob—the innocence of her smile shifting quickly into a devilish smirk.
“Now, now… let’s not get too ahead of ourselves.” The princess grabbed Jacob by the collar of his suit—slamming the man’s back against the wall while rubbing his throat with the tip of her blade. “There’s no need to leave so soon, aren’t you here to help your friend?”
“We are,” a familiar voice called out from the hall—startling Euthemia as she quickly turned to face it.
Standing firmly as she observed the blonde princess threatening Jacob’s life, was Eutychia—Euthemia’s older sister. An expression filled with a mix of sadness and disappointment; the black-haired princess kept one hand on the grip of her sword—sheathed on its scabbard in her lower back, eyes focused solely on her sister’s.
“Euth—” the presence of her older sister stunned Euthemia—an opening Jacob was quick to exploit by pulling away from the princess’ clutches, quickly crawling away after hitting the floor on his butt. “Hey!”
“Go help Yeon,” Eutychia told him. “I’ll take care of this.”
Nodding gratefully at the princess, Jacob rushed away in the aid of Yeon—prompting Euthemia to immediately chase behind him. Interrupted quickly by her sister however, the blonde girl was forced to stop her hunt for Arwen as Eutychia slid in front of her.
“I knew it…” the blonde princess muttered. “I can’t believe you of all people would be working with these animals.”
“Euthemia…” despite the cluster of mixed feelings overtaking her thoughts, Eutychia bit down on her words as to not finish her sentence—recollecting herself with a deep breath. “Why are you here? I thought you were—"
“At home playing with my insects?” Euthemia cut her sister off. “I was, until the brute gave something more interesting to do.” She twirled her knife in hand—the stains of blood not going unnoticed by Eutychia.
“Did you actually…”
“I did,” the princess interrupted once again. “And I took great pleasure in doing it, nothing that wimp can do will save her now.”
“Euthemia…”
“You are my sister, Eutychia!” The blonde princess protested with furrowed brows. “They lied to you, didn’t they? They told you things about me, but they are the enemy. Not me, or father. It’s them, they want the world for themselves when it should be father’s.”
“How can you say that after what you just told me…” retorted the black knight. “Euthemia you just killed an innocent woman, and… I saw the laboratory in Pelkesk, it was yours, wasn’t it?”
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“It wasn’t me!” the blonde girl snapped. “Do you trust these idiots more than your sister?”
A sudden tremble interrupted the girls’ conversation—erupting from a lower floor. Eutychia slammed her back against the wall as to keep herself standing, while Euthemia plummeted into the floor—hitting her back in the process. The quick tremor faded just as fast as it began, giving the princesses room to gain back their composure.
“Ow…” Euthemia curled her body as she held her abdomen, looking at her drenched palm as blood continued to spill into the floor—her wound worsened by the impact.
“Euthemia!” Eutychia ran to her side, kneeling next to her younger sister. “You are injured!”
“I’m sorry…” the blonde girl whispered. “I… just want to go back to my room.”
“Hold on, I’m goi—agh!” a painful cry escaped the black knight—feeling a sharp sensation sinking deep into her sides.
Eutychia stumbled backwards as the burning pain settle near her ribs, removing the hand from her sides to spot the large amount of blood dripping into the floor. She dropped back on her knees, feeling her head spinning as blur covered her vision.
“That won’t kill you,” Euthemia said while picking herself up. “But I won’t forgive you for ruining my plans in Pelkesk… their lives were mine to play with, not yours.” she began to limp away through the hall, stopping herself to look at her sister from over one shoulder. “Don’t show yourself at home again, or father will definitely kill you.”
“Euthemia… wait!”
Cerberus HQ, Yeon’s Office: 936, August 12th, Sunday, 3:00 PM.
At the packed and disorganized office, with boxes and documents lying all over the floor—now stained with Yeon’s blood. Jacob kneeled next to the dying woman while pressing against the gaping wound in her back, eyes wide open and breaths trembling in horror. Despite the massive loss of blood, Yeon remained mostly conscious while forcing herself to stay awake—having no energy left to even lift a finger.
“You’ll be alright!” Jacob claimed as tears began to build up in his eyes. “Help is on the way… I already informed everyone.”
Yeon however, did not utter a single word in response. She simply gasped for air softly, as any movement would only intensify the searing pain in her body. Her head moved slightly, pointing with short and subtle movements towards her desk, but Jacob refused to let go of her wound—shaking his head as he explained the situation.
“No no no… I can’t let go now,” he said. “Everybody is on the way to help, just… Yeon.” Knowing well the fate of those he called for assistance—having witnessed the massacre out in the hallway, Jacob gritted his teeth in hopelessness. “It’s not stopping… why is her bleeding not stopping?” his mind kept wondering desperately.
“…” blowing air through her nose, Yeon brought Jacob’s attention back to her—continuing to point towards her desk with a cold impassive expression.
“Your…”
Spotting the only none-work related item on top of the desk, Jacob extended one arm towards the photo frame while keeping the pressure on her wound with his other hand—stretching himself far in an attempt to accomplish both actions at the same time. He managed to take a hold of the wooden frame, pulling it close into his grasp without even taking a glance at it.
“Here you go…” said Jacob as he placed the picture in front of her. “Just keep looking at it, alright? Help… help will be here soon…”
Devoted of all emotion, Yeon’s eyes settle themselves on the woman with silver hair in the photo—slowly lowering themselves to look at the boy next to her, his smile just as radiant as hers and his mother. A single tear rolled down Yeon’s cheek, feeling her consciousness fade rapidly as the light abandoned her vision.
The pain had long faded, and breathing became a tasking effort—finding a strange yet soothing sense of peace as she lied on the floor. A woman waited for her with a smile, disappearing from view to leave a small boy of silver hair in her place—slowly but surely transforming into a reliable man with the goal of protecting the world. One crimson eye smiling at her with grace and confidence, Yeon couldn’t help but return the gesture at him, as the boy had long grown out of his need for her.
“Stay awake, Yeon!” Jacob pleaded desperately—his hands completely drenched in his friend’s blood. “Please, just give them time! I know they’ll be here soon… please, Yeon…” the man shed his own tears, sniffing and trembling. “You can’t go without seeing his face at least one more time, right? Just… I’m begging you, don’t go…”
With the man’s words barely reaching her ears, and the photo of the people she held dear in life right in front of her, tears continued to roll down on the floor from her emotionless eyes, mixing with the crimson pool under her. A faint smile suddenly drew itself in Yeon’s face as her lips curved to smile at him, one last gesture she offered to her old friend, who’s face expressed nothing but fear, uncertainty, and sorrow. Unable to remain awake any longer, Yeon slowly closed her eyes to allow herself be taken into death’s embrace—resting her mind and body at last.
Her smile fading away, as she exhaled the last second of her life with a soft breath. Yeon’s life was finally stolen away by the young princess of Heildin, as not even the devil could protect her from those who hide in the heavens. Jacob screamed and cried her name repeatedly, as if to bring her soul back into her body. Nothing he could do now would bring his friend back to life however, not his science, nor his pleads to the goddess.
With daemons in the Deadlands, an increasing number of specters roaming the zone, and the intervention of Hydra and Chimera’s armies with Cerberus’ operations. A weakened Specter was almost a guaranteed result of the events enfolding on earth, results that facilitated the princess’ infiltration into headquarters, as well as the order’s chosen himself—a daring action that would bring the end of the god of extinction at the hands of their destined champion, Loki.
Left on the dirt to mourn the loss of one of its heads, Cerberus found itself at the edge of having its most crucial part being cut off from the body itself—threatened by a dutiful warrior of old, who’s eager azure eyes could not wait to fulfill their destiny.
END OF CHAPTER