The enemies are closing in. Five men of the Caenis Arbus. Exchanging fire, trying to get through to the 6th floor.
Thanks to our position, they can't get inside easily but with every exchange, our limited bullets slowly run dry and their advance gradually becomes more aggressive and closer. I glance around behind me. I don't know why but they didn't come through the elevator, but regardless of that, it is clear that me and Kai can only hold on for so much longer before we get overwhelmed.
I yelled into the hallway.
"How's the progress?!"
Following a few seconds of silence, a voice replied.
"We're too high! Even if we made some makeshift rope..."
"Natalia won't be able to get down safely. It's too risky." Another of the men replied.
It seems that they still couldn't find a way out.
"What about the elevat-"
—Bang!
A gunshot rang out. It was Kai.
One of the men had tried to advance below the stairs. She responded with a shot, putting him to a halt yet again.
"Check the elevator!" I yelled one last time before I turned my focus back to the emergency stairs.
A battle of attrition. we have to buy time but time is also not in our favor. I only had three magazines and Kai seems to brought an even smaller quantity. The clothes we wore weren't really ideal for concealing nor equipping weapons. There's not much we can do. My mind recalls past encounters with the Bloodhound squad. On chaotic streets surrounded by destroyed pavement and wrecked vehicles. There were only three hounds and twenty ravens fought against a Crimson Rank Night Beast. The first case of its appearance. With no way of knowing its properties, everyone was unsure of how to deal with it. A tough fight where we have no clue of the monster's weakness... In the end the Blood Hounds claims the victory and manage to find a way to take it down through sheer brute force and efficiency.
Specialist for dealing unknown threats... Here?
"Hells..." I cursed myself.
"No time for self-deprecation, Coco." Kai replied back.
"Tch..."
She's right, but it still doesn't shake my unease.
I took a glance inside the staircase.
If one were to look at it in a positive way, they didn't seem almost as inhuman as Harley in terms of reflexes and accuracy. It almost felt like we were fighting normal soldiers. There's no relentless assault that the past Bloodhounds demonstrates. They're supposed to be elite soldiers specialized in countering D.S but that's not what I felt here.
Frankly, the only reason I told the Romanovs to fuck off is because me and Kai can't die in a conventional way, but right now... I can't afford to risk dying too. This body can't do much. Upon reflection, I'm questioning my position as an investigator... Wouldn't I be much better suited in the intel department? What even was my position previously, I thought to myself.
It's been such a long time.
I shifted my sight to the girl beside me. Staring at her triggers a memory from years ago.
During those early days when our branch consisted of just five individuals. The White Raven was but a small government project that was meant to handle extremely specific cases, unlike the large organization it has evolved into today. It was much simpler back then.
------
'There's someone that I wanted you to look after.'
That was the only words Irene gave before entrusting me with the unexpected role of a babysitter.
Her request led me to an address situated in a secluded cabin nestled within a forest near a lake, far removed from civilization.
Surrounded by towering trees and the soothing sounds of nature, it felt like stepping into a peaceful retreat. The air was clean, carrying the scent of pine, and the lake was vast.
As I got out of the vehicle, I approached the secluded cabin. Carefully knocking on the weathered wooden door, breaking the peaceful background noise of the forest. I waited for someone to open the door but there was no response.
I knocked again, a bit more insistent this time, hoping for someone to hear and opened the door. Yet, the only reply was the creaking of the door under the force of my knocks.
It doesn't seem like anyone was home.
I felt a tinge of uncertainty. I was planning to take a peek inside the window beside the door but as I walked to it, I saw someone from afar.
And so, in that remote haven, I met her for the very first time.
image [https://i.imgur.com/TcZCExz.png]
A child stood alone at the water's edge, staring blankly at the sky above.
I approached her but it seemed as though she was completely engrossed in her thoughts, I don't think she realized that there was even a person there besides herself.
"Hey!" I called out as I approach her.
"Hm? Ah..." She looks surprised when she saw me.
"What are you doing out here?"
her gaze flickering for a moment before she replied. "I'm just... Staring at the sky."
There's something in her tone that suggests to me that she was lying. This must be the little girl that Irene was mentioning. I didn't see anyone else here besides her, but why was she alone? Here in the middle of nowhere?
"No need to be cautious. I'm Irene's friend."
The girl was hesitant but after hearing Irene's name, she began to relax slightly.
"...I was listening."
"Listening?" I focused on my hearing, but there was nothing. The only thing I could discern were the gentle lapping of the lake and the rustling of the wind. "To what?"
"The Fairies. There, you see? They're all floating up there, in the sky."
I glanced up but there was nothing there. Just a clear blue sky. "...I see, what do they tell you?"
"...Hmm."
"It's okay, I won't tell anyone. Here, as proof, I'll tell you a secret too. Despite how I look, I'm actually a lot older than Irene."
"Huh? You liar... You're not an adult!"
I showed her something in my wallet. An old weathered photograph of me and a few of my ex-coworkers at the Cerulean Dreams Exhibition. "This is me back in 1783."
"W-Whoa! What is that round thing? It's so huge!"
"It's a hot air balloon. With this, you can fly to the sky."
"Just like them?" She pointed at the sky.
"...Yes, just like them." I pretend to agree with her.
"Mmm... Alright, a promise is a promise. come here." She whispered into my ears.
I expected something whimsical for a child her age but what came out of her mouth were words that no person, let alone a child would say. Abhorrent and grotesque description of what can only be called a sadistic hymn. I feel sick to my stomach just hearing her words alone. But what's even more sickening is the targets of the subject, the only two people that are present here. For her to act like it's nothing...
"Ho-How long have you been able to see and hear them?"
"Hm? But they've always been there. I just realized that they were there after Ainsel came and played with me..."
"Ainsel?"
"Oh, Yeah! You have to meet Ainsel. Ainsel always love to play with new people. Now that you're here. I'm sure Ainsel will be happy."
"Wait, This... Ainsel. Where are they now?"
"Ainsel... is trapped, Ainsel can't go back home, and it was because of me... But don't worry! As long as there's someone to play with, Ainsel is happy! Although, lately... No one came here to play, Even Miss Irene stopped coming after..." Before she could finish her sentence it seemed something caught her attention as she looked at the cabin from afar and then turned back to me again. "Ah! Ainsel really want to meet you right now. Please wait, I have to prepare first!"
"Alright, I'll wait here then."
The girl runs off into the Cabin.
Fairies... I can't detect any curse nor does it seem that she had a Discord Syndrome. There are still chances that she might just have an illness of the mind. Her mental state was off. Was it due to mental trauma? She mentioned being able to see 'them' after meeting this Ainsel, meaning it wasn't always like this. Parent's neglect... Abuse. Those can factor into her symptoms. Perhaps it was simply a hallucination. A byproduct of a strong and active imagination? Or was it trauma?
"Is this Irene's way of testing me?"
This Ainsel... Guess I'll see what they looks like first.
-----
—Bang!
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
A gunshot rang out again, bringing me back to the present.
I shook my head a little.
Really... Reminiscing about the past at a time like this.
Still preoccupied with the mercenaries inside the staircase, I look back at Kai.
The girl that I met years ago and know now. They are the same.
Frankly, it feels like it was only recently... But,
After noticing my glance, Kai turned and stared at me. "Hm? What's up?"
Now that I think about it, she's the person that I've been with the longest.
"...Nothing. After this case is over, Let's just get to a nice barbeque restaurant and get ourselves a rib. My treat."
"...Nice."
"Oh, by the way, I have an idea." She said as if she was just remembering something.
"...I don't want to hear it."
"Oh come on, It's a good one."
I glance back. The soldiers are making suppression fire. The one from downstairs has started to advance while the ones from upstairs keep shooting. As much as I hate her ideas, it's undeniable that our times of stalling are starting to run out.
"... Fine, What is it?"
"Why don't I just go inside?"
"...What?"
Of course, it wasn't a question in the literal sense, I already know what she was talking about.
She's planning on killing herself and letting Ainsel out to clear the staircase. The stairways are cramped. Letting Ainsel out would definitely put the whole squad to a halt if not killing them. despite being immobile, nothing can hurt Ainsel. At least nothing that the White Raven known so far, and they've done plenty of testing.
But.
"White Raven would detect Ainsel's emergence from the collar. What then? You want to be locked up?"
"We don't have much choice do we?"
We don't, but regardless.
"...Contact them first."
"Huh?"
"Ask for their permission."
"...Seriously?"
"Just hurry. I'll do my best to hold them off."
Follow the basic procedure.
Her collar means that one more fuck up and she will be considered a threat. Meaning that the boards will finally have a reason to seal her for good. Even if they denied the request, my case of trying to defend her would be more concrete. And besides, as long as Madam Irene got the message, I'm sure we can manage. I can make some excuses later on if the worse comes to worst.
*Beep*
"Hello? Yes, This is Kai..."
It didn't take long, thankfully. She got into contact with one of the operators.
I glance into the hallway. One of the mercenaries seemed to notice Kai's call and turned his head for a bit.
Yeah... I don't blame you.
"Can you pass a message along to Madam Irene? Yes. Yes. It was for a request. Um... The mission."
Amidst the gunfight exchange, I noticed Kai's face started to turn sour. She looked at me and shook her head.
What does that mean?
"Um... Creedence Hospital. Yes... N-no? It's a... Ok. Yes. Uh... They're still here."
Occasionally I can hear a loud voice from the phone's speaker.
I... Is she being reprimanded?
I lean and take a peek back at the stairway. One of them tried to push through, and I aimed at the head. His bulletproof helmet tanks the hit. It's not fatal but it was enough to make him off-balance and fall. I tried to take a clear shot at the fallen mercenary but the others had already pulled him and shot at the door again. One shot almost hit my head.
image [https://i.imgur.com/rqtH3nV.png]
The slight brush of death puts me into an overdrive of emotions. Not being able to hold it any longer,
"God! Just tell them the situation, Kai! Fuck!" I yelled in frustration.
It was a yell that was enough to put whoever was on the end of the call to briefly stop their nagging and give Kai a chance to continue the details of her request.
"I had to let Ainsel out. Please just pass it out to Mada- Eh? N-no we can still revive but... Yes. No, Natalia is still safe right now..."
She turned to me again and shook her head yet again.
Slowly, I'm starting to see the big picture.
They must've found out that our investigation involves The Romanovs. I haven't submitted the case files to HQ, so as far as they know, Me and Kai are just handling murder case. And the voice I heard on the phone. It must be...
"...Please. Just hang up." I told Kai in a defeated tone.
*Beep*
"Was it Tess?"
"...Yes."
Of course it was...
I told Kai to call back until we got a different person on the phone but then amidst our brief conversation, a figure suddenly emerged from the doorway.
"Whoa-"
"Shi-"
I let my guard down for a brief moment.
One of the mercenaries just decided to dash through, disregarding the chance of them getting shot. I fired at the person but they rolled and ran straight to the corridor, ignoring me and Kai. They're not after us. They're after Natalia. Across four of my shots, one hit their thigh but somehow they still ran, ignoring the wound on their leg, not even limping, almost as if they weren't even shot to begin with. They're determined to head straight towards the target.
I glance at Kai. My face says it all. The running figure are going to go straight for the kill. We couldn't linger here any longer. The mercenary must be intercepted.
"Welp..." Kai shrugs.
She throws something at me. An apartment key.
"Don't forget to feed Kai while I'm away. She doesn't like cat food, so don't give her that."
After that, without waiting for my reply she head straight inside the emergency staircase.
Numerous bullets were fired, both from her and the mercenaries inside. A few missed but most hit her. A shot in particular had pierced her stomach on her way in, a normal person would probably fall and recoil in pain but she pushed through anyway grabbing the door and closing it shut. For a split second from the crack of the door, I saw her looking at me with her usual blank eyes before blood splattered on her face, obscuring it from my sight. The abrupt end of her life made the door slammed shut in a loud violent bang.
The meaning of that gaze is obvious, I don't have to say anything.
After that, there was silence. The mercenaries inside had stopped their firing. But I knew it wouldn't be for long. I dash to the corridor where that sole mercenary was going.
Not a second had passed and I began to hear gunfire and with it, growling, screaming and violent rattling behind me. Sounds of people getting pulverized. But I ignored it and ran straight through the hallway. I can already visualize the aftermath of this mission. Kai would be seized by the White Raven. A request to seal her would be approved and I had to provide a compelling case for her freedom yet again. This will be the 2nd time that Kai will be sealed and it's going to be the hardest one yet.
"I'll get you out later... Just wait for me, Kai."
I continued running as fast as I could without looking back.
-----
I got to where the two Romanovs are. They are right in front of the elevator. One of them, the older one was injured and seems to be incapacitated. Near him, the mercenary stood in between the young Romanov and Natalia. Standing silently with a knife in their hand.
"G-get away from him!" He attempted to threaten the silent mercenary, but it wasn't a convincing one to begin with.
The mercenary is still standing there, not moving an inch.
"W-what are you just standing there for?! Help me!" The young man yelled at me. His voice sounds shaky. I have to wonder why the Romanov would put him in charge of being Natalia's bodyguard.
I took aim at the mercenary but I noticed a few bullet holes in their clothes. They had been shot multiple times but I couldn't see any blood. It's as if...
"...Hey!" I yelled at the mercenary but they ignored me, despite knowing that I could easily shoot them in the back.
Slowly they began to approach the shaken Romanov.
The mercenary didn't wear any bulletproof vest, I fired a shot to their back. By all accounts, the shot should have hit and indeed, I could see my bullet went through their chest but they didn't react. Something really was off. From the way they move to the fact that bullets don't seem to affect them. There's a hunch about the person inside that suit but before I can confirm it,
*Ding*
Without any of us realizing, an elevator had arrived on this floor.
"H-he-" Before the young man could finish his speech, the figure stopped their brisk walk and started to dash towards them. both me and him shot at the mercenary but as expected, it didn't faze them. There was no effort to even try and evade, instead, they still ran straight to the young man and Natalia, who was currently behind the man. With a knife clutched, they raised their hand, preparing to strike. But before the task can be done.
The elevator door opened and with it, a loud bang.
A shot landed straight at the mercenary's chest, throwing them back, near to my position and away from the elevator.
A person emerges from inside the elevator. A girl holding a shotgun.
"Move!"
In response to her command. I instinctively jumped to the side of the corridor.
The mercenary had already attempted to get up yet again, being unfazed by the point-blank shot from a shotgun, and was about to dash but before they could fully stand up, She held her arm in front of the fallen mercenary and for a split second, something was propelled toward the mercenary, something I couldn't quite see.
A sizable hole formed right where the shotgun's wound was, and almost as if she was doing a magic trick, as soon as that hole was made, the mercenary disappeared and the equipment and clothes fell to the ground.
Both the young man and I were silent throughout the whole scene which lasted less than 5 seconds.
"A shadow puppet." She suddenly muttered.
"A what?" The young Romanov said in a confused tone.
It doesn't seem like he has any knowledge of it.
"It's a low leveled spell. The host binds themselves to a false body to control. In this case, A set of clothing." She told him while walking up to me.
"..."
A shadow puppet... Usually, it's more commonly done with life-size puppets or dolls. I have never encountered one that is simply done using clothing. Seems like it was done in a hurry. And for it to have quite the sturdy form despite having no base support, It was nothing short of impressive. Shadow puppets are usually extremely frail. Even minor damage to the base support would usually disrupt it. But not this one. This host was able to not only maintain a body of nothing but an empty husk but even also use it for combat.
The girl approached me. She wears tattered and dirty-looking clothes. Numerous bandages were all over her body. despite her wounds, however, it doesn't seem like it affected her at all. The power she displayed is the most striking to me. It was a familiar one. There are a few candidates that I could think of and with a few processes of elimination, only a single person comes to mind that fits the description.
"It's nice to meet you again, Elise."
She disregarded my greetings and looked around. Warily observing her surroundings.
"Where is Kai?"
"She's blocking the emergency stairway... This floor is safe for now but she can't join us any time soon." I dismissively told her.
"...I see." She replied.
"Then... Everyone, get inside the elevator." She commanded, motioning for Natalia, me, and the young Romanov, who was still assisting Igor, to join her.
"Hold on. Where were you for the past few days?"
"There's no time... Get inside." She urged, a sense of urgency in her voice. Time was indeed not on our side, and the threat of mercenaries discovering another way down was still there.
We can't afford to chat and stay idle.
"Alright," I said, deciding to save my questions for a more opportune moment.
I glanced at the incapacitated Romanov. The young man was beside him, Tending to his wound and trying to wake him up. Besides his arm that was cut, I didn't see any injuries. It was off that the mercenary didn't finish him off.
Turning to the window, I gaze below the building. The countless men that were previously outside were nowhere to be seen.
Where are they?
Numerous questions I had were piling up, and there didn't seem to be any answers in sight.
Regardless, The Romanovs were right. Using a makeshift rope is too risky.
As I walk to the elevator, I glance at the little girl beside me. She doesn't seem to speak much. I can't tell what lies beyond her expression. Was it fear? Confusion? I don't know what kind of person she is. How someone like her would react to the situation surrounding her at this moment. Natalia Romanov, the heir of the Romanov family. A frail-looking girl, tasked with such a heavy role, Wi-
"Don't pity me." The girl suddenly spoke up.
It was unexpected. I had thought of her to be a shy royalty type but that firm sentence alone seems to prove my mistake.
I guess she was glancing at me the whole time. One frustrating aspect of not being able to see people's faces is that I don't know where they are gazing at.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to," I told her and continued walking inside.
Before long, everyone was inside the elevator. The elevator itself wasn't too cramped. In fact, it was quite spacious. They made it in mind to be able to transport patients on a bed so it can easily take up nine or more people.
After taking another quick glance at the hallway in front of her to make sure that it was still safe, Elise turned back toward the elevator and climbed up by stepping on the handrail at the edge, opening one of the covers on the ceiling. She then takes something out of her pocket. I recognize it to be a small explosive device.
"What are you planning to do?" I asked.
"Don't worry about it; the emergency brake system will ensure our safety. We're taking the quickest way down."
"Wait, wh-"
Before I could voice my objection, she nonchalantly tossed the explosive into the air and gracefully descended back into the elevator. She stared at my shocked face in disinterest.
"-At..."
In an instant, an explosion rang out above.
The elevator plunged at a swift pace, accompanied by unsettling sounds of scraping and loud screeching outside. It is undoubtedly the brake doing their work. The young Romanov got to hold Natalia to prevent her from injuring herself. But the same thing can't be said for me. The only person that could have helped was too 'preoccupied' with herself. My small frame left me helplessly stumbling, and I inadvertently fell and ended up on the floor.
Before long, the elevator came to an abrupt halt and everyone gathered themselves including me.
"A little warning would have been nice..."
"We had to act fast. They already know I'm here."
Despite her cold demeanor, I could tell she was being hasty. That there was a sense of urgency on her side that are different from this situation. The reasonable assumption would be that she might be referring to the Caenis Arbus, but I have a lingering suspicion that the 'they' she mentioned pertains to a different party altogether. It seems that the days she spent missing had her caught in something large. Something that put her in an even more precarious situation. A few questions linger in my mind. Whatever it is that she got herself involved in, it undoubtedly bears a connection to the Romanovs.
"Urgh..." Igor, who had regained consciousness, groaned, rubbing his temples as he attempted to shake his grogginess, trying to stand up.
"Igor! you alright?" The young Romanov attempts to give him a hand to help him.
"That bastard's too agile... Where are we, Piotr? What's going on?"
"Save your question for later. You, help me open this door." She told the young Romanov, gesturing towards the elevator's entrance.
"Another new face?" He said, clearly expressing wariness, But, Elise didn't say anything and just focused on trying to open the door.
Piotr nodded in response to her previous command, and the two of them quickly set to work prying the door open. Slowly, with determination etched on their faces, they managed to create a gap through in which the lobby could be seen.
We've arrived at the first floor.
-----
We stepped out of the elevator, our senses on high alert as we entered the lobby.
Unlike the ER, The main lobby was far more expansive and grand in design. More akin to one you'd find in a luxurious hotel than a hospital. Intricate chandeliers hung from the high ceiling. Plush velvet chairs and sofas. Indeed from the outside, the hospital building already looks impressive but after coming across the lobby, it really paints a picture that this hospital was a place that not just anybody could easily go to for their treatment. Despite the opulent ambiance of the lobby, it felt quite eerie as the floor was quiet, too quiet. It doesn't help that the numerous light source in the lobby seems to not be turned on, making the whole place look dimly lit. There are numerous windows around the lobby, showing glimpses of the outside. The sun was setting and it was getting darker by the second.
Elise was the first to take the lead, scanning the surroundings with a careful gaze. Her eyes darted from one shadowy corner to another, assessing the potential threats that might lurk.
I followed closely behind. Making sure to cover behind us.
There was nobody here. No mercenaries nor any men from the Romanov. The silence in the lobby was palpable.
"They're still upstairs... Good." I can hear Elise whisper to herself, Seemingly satisfied with this situation.
The absence of both mercenaries and Romanov agents gave us a momentary reprieve, allowing everyone to catch their breath. I saw the two Romanovs talking with each other related to someone called Lev, whilst Natalia sat near them. Elise herself sat beside the elevator door taking out something... A syringe? Red liquid flowed from the small tube attached to it and she began to inject herself with it. I don't know what the content is as the other end of the tube was hidden inside her pockets. Maybe it's blood.
The emergency stairs were blocked by Ainsel. It's doubtful that anyone could survive coming in contact with Ainsel in such a narrow place but even if they did, the mercenaries coming from above wouldn't be able to bypass Ainsel on the stairway. And the other option, the elevator, is broken. Going down would be a challenge. Though a worry had settled itself on my mind.
The user of the shadow puppet.
With how the spell works, not only do they cannot move from their position but if they do indeed expire on the stairway, It would be impossible for the puppet to still move. Yet, the puppet still moved even after the onslaught on the stairway. Meaning that not only do they manage to avoid Ainsel's attack but are also still alive.
I explain my worry to Elise and she seems to agree.
"Let's go." Elise said to the back.
The exits are nearby and Elise mentioned a safe route. All we need to do right now is to get out of the hospital first and foremost. But unexpectedly, Someone was already there. Standing by as if they were expecting us.
There was nowhere to hide and even then, he was clearly already aware of us. Elise seems tense and two men already took out their gun.
Even if I didn't notice his behavior, there really was no need to guess. The clothing that I had seen before. An outfit that the Caenis Arbus mercenary wore. A nonchalant pose as if he was just lounging around. A presence that was all too familiar.
It was obvious who it was.
A Bloodhound mercenary of the Caenis Arbus. An enemy that Me and Kai had just fought on our way to Natalia.
"Harley..." I muttered.