Summer holidays are finally over, bringing America the chilly autumn month of September. The green leaves had turned into a pretty golden maple in colour, though some had shed their pretty leaves to be bare.
People in the streets had started wearing warmer garments such as thick jackets, woolen caps, woolen scarves and gloves are being worn to keep the populace warm. And there's no exceptions for the students in Columbia University.
Glenn had just emerged out of the gates, wearing a maroon-coloured woolen cap and woolen gloves that let his fingers peep through. He can't wait to go to Dante's to get a nice hot cup of peppermint mocha that makes him curl his toes.
"Glenn, hey Glenn, wait up."
Francis came sprinting into view, his hair all around his face. He also wore a woolen cap, his a bright yellow with white stripes, and cyan woolen gloves.
"Glenn, my man. How are you feeling really?"
"Fine."
They walked through the gates before Francis said, "Just to let you know, I'm taking the flat next door to old Mrs Harris. At least I can get away from Vargas."
"Oh, cool." Mrs. Harris is a little like Yoda from Star Wars. She sees all, knows all, even though she's a dotty old lady who rarely come out of her house unless needed. But still... She is a nice person really.
"I missed Mahler." Francis sighed as they walked down the pavement. "It has only been two weeks but I already missed her."
Glenn said nothing, but in truth, he missed her too. It aches him to know that Mia had went back to Malaysia though she is not going to stay with her parents. She had said so in her last letter. And since she's already gone, she had put up her room for sale, which Francis had snapped up. Plus he have a Volvo, which means now they both can go to Columbia together, which means no more bus.
"Want to get some coffee?" He asked.
"Sure. Let's go." Glenn led him to Dante's.
*************
V.V. was frowning to her bed, arms crossed, eyes narrowed. Her bed, or rather, sleeping bag is how she exactly tidied it. Her Minnie Mouse and Donald Duck plushies were tucked in between her flower-shaped pillow quilt, just the way she like it. Although she doesn't need blanket, Lloyd had loaned her his warmest jacket to be used to keep herself warm, which she folded it beside her sleeping bag. Everything does look nothing out of place.
Except for the black rose which lay on top of the jacket. Its petals are genuine midnight black. The stems are the usual green, but darker. It looks so alluring, yet mysterious at the same time.
V.V. picked it up and twirled it around in her fingers. She had a flashback vision of Dario twirling it in front of her, looking seductive.
She shook her head, shaking the thought out of her head.
"V.V., are you in there?" Lloyd called out.
V.V. stuffed the rose into her sleeping bag. She doesn't feel like sharing the rose just yet.
"Hey, V. I thought we could take a day off today." Lloyd pulled off the scarf he's wearing. "And that lazy bum Glenn haven't came back yet."
"Day off?" She looked puzzled.
"Yeah. You know, like a holiday. You can do whatever you want to do."
V.V. looked puzzled. "What do you do on day off?"
"Me? Well, usually I'll just rest or go and visit Serenity's grave." Lloyd said, looking thoughtful. "And Glenn usually go to Dante's for a caffeine boost or sleep like a log."
"Anything... I want?" V.V. said.
"Yep."
Hmmm, she thought. Then I might just know what to do.
**************
After her shift at the bookstore, V.V. headed down to the local internet cafe by using her recently acquired Metro Card. Even though Lloyd had already payed the bill for the broad band, she thought it would be better to not let him know what she's up to.
Occupying a table in the corner, she opened Google.com and typed Midnight black rose on the search box. Results popped out one after another like a tidal wave. Not knowing which to choose, she took the first hit, half taking in the important words.
Roses...been... popular for Valentine's....colour from red, pink, yellow, white and cream....For years.... researches...making blue and black roses... Many had tried dyeing.... But now... leading manufacturer Twilight Inc...... solution in producing black roses... with modern technology.....
V.V. stopped. One word had caught her eye.
Twilight Inc.
During her time at Stellar Inc., Erica had brought someone to the lab where she was produced. V.V. shut her eyes and let the vision take her in, That time, she was locked in her cell and it was so dark till she can't see who it was.
"This.... is one of our masterpiece." Erica said proudly, making a sweeping movement with her hand. "The perfect bio weapon after many attempts."
The figure had peered into the cell, holding a black rose in his hand. At that time, she had wrapped herself tightly with a thin piece of cloth, curled up in a corner, looking emotionless.
"Is this her? Your perfect bio weapon is a child?"
"She's not a child, Mr Darkmatter." Erica had retorted. "And appearance could be deceiving, why don't I show you a test run?"
After that, there has been several tests of her killing intruders, their blood drenched on her. She only remembered lots of blood and blurred faces of those who had screamed or begged for mercy. After she was cleaned, the figure had forced her to face him. She remembered his dark eyes that seems to show empty expression.
"V.V. eh? You'll be mine soon."
Despite herself, V.V. pushed his hands away, wrapping her arms around herself. The figure had laughed and said, "Not very friendly, is she?"
"She's not meant to be." Erica then said, "What's your company's name again, Twilight?"
"That's right. Perhaps we should discuss it in the office."
Come to think of it, V.V. thought to herself. It has been Dario all along...
Maybe I should go and pay Twilight a little visit, she thought, scribbling down the address.
*************
Lloyd who was busy sorting out another round of bills in the huge glass salad bowl, gave a sniff. " I smell...chocolate."
"Bingo."
Glenn was holding out a tall Dante's paper cup of chocolate, the aroma tempting him with the smell of fresh chocolate.
"With whipped cream?"
Glenn nodded. "Frosted with chocolate chips."
"You're well prepared." Lloyd took the cup from him and took a greedy sip.
"Well, if I got you the wrong order, you would've given me a long punishment." Glenn shuddered at the time where he gotten decaf, Lloyd's least favourite drink, which caused him 200 laps around Grand Central Park. Although Lloyd had let him took bottles of Evian water, it had shuddered him to the point where you should never risk his temper.
"Good. You learned at least." Lloyd took another sip.
Glenn took a look around. Besides bringing back a cup of hot chocolate, he had made a trip to the pretzel stand and bought a caramel almond pretzel and a small cup of lemonade for V.V. who doesn't seem to be around.
"Where's V.V.?"
"Dunno. Must be spending her free time somewhere." Lloyd said, chucking a bill aside.
"I'm going to visit Serenity's grave later on."
"Sure." Glenn said. "I'll just stay here and wait for V.V. Give you some privacy."
"Thanks."
************
"Upper Manhattan, 59th Street." The bus driver announced.
V.V. paid the driver and stepped out. She took in her surroundings. Upper Manhattan is nothing like Midtown. 34th Street is full of sights and wonders and tourists, well, there are not much tourists. Many native New Yorkers tend to treat Upper Manhattan like another borough, its distance from Midtown Manhattan and comparatively lower rents leading many to exclude this northern neck from the area New Yorkers call "The City".
V.V. took in her appearance. For the first time in her entire life, she's not wearing just a thin piece of dress or the simple white gown with blue edges and ribbons that she often wore majority of the times. This time, she's wearing normal garments that regular girls wore. A white and cyan shirt decorated with two interlocking hearts with ruffles and ribbons at the sleeves, a short dark cyan skirt and light blue wedges, matching her hair. Yup, looking like a regular girl alright.
Twilight Inc was just across the road. It's impossible to miss it. For a start, it's a huge building made out of glass that seems to made her eyes water when she stare at it in the harsh sunlight. Besides that, the name TWILIGHT INC was printed across the topmost floor in dark bold letters. Its logo is a hidden sunset behind some clouds, creating a twilight effect. What a suitable name.
V.V. took a deep breath, and pressed onwards to the huge elegant double glass doors, where there's a huge security guard armed with rifle, walkie talkie and security pass guarding the entrance.
"Halt." He said. "Who are you?"
V.V. stared back at the guard calmly. "I am a student journalist from Sacred Heart Convent." She fibbed smoothly. "We are asked to do a report on the leading manufacturing companies that creates possibilities of blue and black roses. Might I have a look around?"
The guard frowned. If it had been an adult, he would've not trust the person easily. But this is just a girl. A student from the Convent. What harm could she do? "Sure, kid. It's on the 2nd floor." He swiped his pass to a silver box located at the side of the double glass doors and said, "Go ahead."
V.V. murmured a word of thanks and stepped into the cooling hallway. She expected something more sinister. But this is totally normal. A huge crystal chandelier hung high in the towering ceiling. The hallway is whitewashed and spotlessly clean, the kind that you see in universities. Scenery of landscapes painted with water colour framed in gold hung on the walls. The floors are made of polished white marble tiles, so that you could see your own reflection being reflected back to you. In the middle of the hallway, there's a huge pond in the shape of a maple leaf, with a miniature zen waterfall with lush greenery and tiny stone lantern in the background. Red and white Japanese koi fishes swum gracefully in the water, waving their fins in a really comical way. Despite the fact that it is a manufacturer company, the place is stylish like a 5 star hotel.
The stylish granite reception counter stood at the far end, with corridors leading to the left and right. Two young receptionists with headphones and speakers were busily tapping away at their keyboards, looking too busy to take any notice of her.
As V.V. approached, two trendy phones rang and both receptionists simultaneously picked it up at the same time, like clockwork.
"Good morning. Twilight Inc. How may I direct your call?"
"Good morning. Twilight Inc. How may I help you?"
V.V. waited til their occupied then whisked into one of the corridor, taking care not to look insiquitive nor panicky. The corridor is also decorated with landscapes, though it's painted by using oil pastels for a much more realistic effect. Three classy lifts stood the end of the corridor and a door that reads FIRE EXIT, EMERGENCY ONLY. V.V. jabbed the UP button and a lift pinged, sliding open its doors.
The lift is huge enough to hold about 30 people. There's a silver railing that runs around the entire lift, leaving only the front walls bare leaving a panel for the buttons. Each one had a tiny printed label beside it telling you which floor or department you'll end up in if you pressed it.
1ST FLOOR - ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT AND CUSTOMER SERVICES
2ND FLOOR - CLERK OFFICE AND GUEST ROOM
3RD FLOOR - HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OFFICE
4TH FLOOR - HEAD OF BUREAU SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
5TH FLOOR - CONFERENCE ROOM
V.V. paused, wondering which one to pick. Before she could do so, a shadow swooped in and everything blackout.
*************
The caretaker was busy sweeping up some fallen leaves off a grave stone when Lloyd approached him and said, "Hey."
The caretaker didn't look up. Instead, he just said, "I had already taken care of the leaves and weeds, if that's what you're wondering."
"Thanks." Lloyd said, shifting a bouquet of callas lilies over to his other hand as he rummaged for his wallet. "The usual?"
"Aye." The caretaker nodded, handing him a cash bill. "The same as always."
Lloyd handed him some cash as he murmured his thanks. The caretaker then said, "You know where it is. Right over the next hill."
Lloyd nodded and headed off in that direction, towards the gravestone that is shaded underneath a huge oak tree. The gravestone is shaped like a cross with an elegant design. Underneath it, s small stone slab reads
SERENITY ARKS
Oddly, the photo of the girl that was placed on the gravestone looks exactly like V.V. Except for some differences. This girl has shoulder length dark hair with strands of brown framing her heart-shaped face with stunning eyes as gold as heaven's eye with a teasing glint.
He placed the lilies on the stone slab and prayed.
*************
"Get up."
V.V. squinted her eyes at the harsh lights and gave a silent groan.
She's not in any bright corridor at all. This place is dim and dark with various of liquids in test tubes, beakers and flasks, all labeled and arranged neatly in shelves. Various diagrams of humans and some other creatures that she can't identify were taped all over the walls. A blackboard with complicated equations scribbled in white chalk took up the remaining space.
And she couldn't move.
She was sitting under bright spotlights in a high-backed steel chair, bound into place with extremely strong chains that seems to be made of adamantite or titanium. No matter how much she struggled, she couldn't get free. She try to shift her hair into weapons, but it didn't work as well. That was when she realized. Her hair was placed into some sort of tank attached to the back of her chair like a hair salon furniture. The liquid, as far as she could tell, it's translucent blue. And it seems to have the function of neutralizing her hair.
"Well, well, well, who would've thought it's you?"
V.V. stiffened as a figure came into view. The flaming red hair and eyes, and that boyish face that has the word murderer written across it.
"I don't know whether to say that you're bold or you're an idiot." Guy snickered. He's wearing a casual t-shirt and jeans, looking just like a regular guy, except that his hair is slowly lengthening. "Bold because you have the guts to come here on your own, or that you're an idiot for trying to head into the enemy's hideout head on."
Revarie slowly shifted into view. For the first time in his life, he's not wearing any of his aristocratic Italian garments. Instead, he wore a dark suit, dark blue neck tie, dark pants and leather shoes that is polished so thoroughly til she can see her own reflection.
"I recognized her at once when she stepped into the lift." He commented. "Tell me, how's sweet Tiffany doing?"
V.V. tightened her lips, refusing to answer. Tifa's condition is still unstable. She has lost a lot of blood, her body is still weakened and she looks as though she's in comatose. Dr Chang had said it might take a while for her to recover from all of it.
Revarie must've known what she was thinking, because the next moment he went, "That retarded scum..."
"Well, ain't it too bad." Guy said mockingly. "Do you like the roses that I gave you, V.V.? You were having such a fun time hunting down the Magimaster."
V.V.'s intestines twisted. It was him all along?
Guy gave a laugh. "Why so surprised? It just shows how much I love and hate you, V. Especially that time during the war."
V.V.'s usually calm expression turned into shock. She already know where this is going. "You wouldn't..." She managed to choke out.
Guy leaned in menacingly towards her. "Oh, I would."
V.V. struggled as he step towards her, holding out what looks like a syringe filled with clear liquid in his hand. "This...won't hurt much."
************
Dario was in the studio that takes up part of the ground floor, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling mirrors. He had just finished his weekly tap dance class and was unlacing his black and white Oxfords when his bell phone rang. Taking a look at the caller ID caused him to be surprised.
It was Reo.
Without hesitation, he said, "What is it?"
"I just thought you should know," Reo's voice came down into the line. "That you might want to check out the basement of the company."
"Why?"
"V.V."
*************
Dario had changed into a dark corporate suit and as soon as the lift doors open, he went straight into the room that says NO ENTRY and said, "Guy, what did you just do?"
All of them, Reo and Allen included were there. Guy was giggling madly as he stepped away from a high steel backed chair. V.V. was bound to it but she seems so wrong. Her fringe had grown out and falls into bang, partly covering half of her face. But what is wrong is the eyes. They are blank and mad with rage, or to be more precise, berserk.
As soon as she had seen him, she gave a roar and started fighting against the bonds that held her. She didn't talk, but just roar and shriek til the beakers on the shelves were rattling.
"Isn't it great?" Guy laughed. "That was the V.V. I know many years ago."
"Don't let her go, for God's sake." Mind's Shadow adjust emerged. "You brainwashed her into her original form. You can't just let her out without her attacking us."
"I don't intend to." Guy said. "But I do want to let her rampage."
"Are you mad???"
"Shut it." He went over to the thrashing V.V. and said, "Calm down, V. I'll free you."
Using his hair, it sliced through the chains easily.
And that was when all hell broke loose.
V.V's hair, freed out of the neutralizing tank, braided itself into blades, and went thrashing around the entire room. Allen had to telekenetically stop a metal table from smashing into him. Reo had took out his gunblades and was swinging it at the obstacles that were being flung towards him. Revarie moved with inhuman speed as tons of silver scalpels went flying towards him, each one bouncing of the walls with a tinkling sound. Dario had to duck as the metallic chair went flying towards him.
When all of them were busy to move, V.V. gave another roar, and with the speed of a lioness, ran out of the room, her killer hair trailing behind her.
"Great. Just great!!!" Allen gasped, pulling himself out of the now thrashed lab.
"Did you see that?" Revarie roared. "She's a berserker."
Reo silently pulled himself up while helping Dario up.
"To you, she may be a berserker." Guy said. "But to me, she's a goddess."
"What are you doing?" Revarie demanded.
"Having some fun with my partner." Guy left, leaving them dumbstruck.
Revarie was about to go after him when Dario said, "Leave him."
"You sure about that?"
Dario nodded. "I'm interested to see what will happen to V.V."
**************
Francis was driving his Volvo to 34th Street. First thing first, he got to go and get some of his stuff from Vargas's place, then he needn't go back there anymore. He just can't wait.
Something in the corner of his eye made him turn.
V.V. was walking down the street, looking really expressionless, as though she's numb. Even the way she walked, she looked like a zombie, bumping into everyone on the pavement.
"Hey, lassie."
Francis watched as V.V. was stopped in her tracks by three menacing-looking men. All of them unfriendly.
"Where do you think you're going eh, lass?" One of them said.
Francis had stopped his car in an illegal space but he don't care, something just doesn't feel right. V.V. never wander around alone, and certainly never look so....cold.
"Answer me, lassie." Another man grabbed V.V.
Without warning, V.V.'s hair grew out rapidly and without warning, it became blades and...
Francis can't bear to watch. It's too... horrible to describe. He feel like vomiting. How could she just...do that? Dicing him into pieces as though it's child play.
"Oh my God!!!!!" The man shouted.
People on the pavement had saw what happened. Without warning, they screamed and ran. Away from the man's corpse, and the girl with dangerous hair that is now streaked with blood.
"V.V.!" Francis yelled, fighting his way through the screaming crowd.
Even as he watched, another boy with red hair came over to V.V., his face twisted with cruelty.
Guy.
"That's right, you lousy humans, scream all you want." He said, his hair also growing out rapidly. "But it won't do you any good."
In answer to that, he grabbed a couple of people who were running and without warning, stabbed them mercilessly. Their blood splattered all over the sidewalk.
Francis had finally managed to beat the crowd away just as Guy turned to face him.
"You are... that boy from before." He said, his face with malice delight. "Yes. Yes. I remembered you. Tell me, how do you want to get killed? Flayed or diced? I'm giving you a choice."
"You're sick..." Francis said, shaking his head. "Glenn's right. You're a nutcase."
Guy's hair suddenly lashed out like snakes, swirling around him and binding him into place. Like a fish on a hook, he was reeled in and without warning, Guy gave him a swift punch on the jaw. Darn, it hurts.
"I am not a nutcase." He said coldly. "I am just doing what I take pleasure of." That was when he turned to V.V. who still looked numb. "Come to think of it, you maybe useful to me in some ways..." Using his hair to tighten him, he added rather casually. "What do you think, V?"
V.V. stood still, silently staring at him. It scares Francis a lot. He don't know who is much more scarier. V.V.'s blank look or Guy's psychotic one.
"Yeah, I thought so too." Guy said outloud. "Right then, let's get to work V. I'll deal with him, you hold him tight."
Blue meets the red, and Francis couldn't help but scream as Guy set to work on him.
************
Lloyd jerked up from his sleep. Confused, he stared at the pile of bills on his desk. Oh yeah, he thought dazedly. I seemed to have fallen asleep while sorting through the bills, waiting for V.V.
A sizzling sound make him jump but it was a plate of nicely fried bacon and eggs, sunny-side up set near by his desk. The eggs had been arranged to look like eyes and the bacon to look like a mouth, so that it looks as though it's smiling.
"Well, hello to you, Mr Smiley." He commented to the plate down.
Lloyd rubbed sleep from his eyes. Judging from the mess, he must've dozed off. V.V. still isn't back yet. Glenn had gone down downtown to get some groceries and look for V.V. if he happened to run into her.
To distract himself, he picked up some of the scattered bills and dump them back into the large salad bowl that he often use to dump bills, then opened the Chinese takeout catalog menu. He was wondering if he should order some General Tso's chicken when there was a loud yell and screams coming from outside the apartment.
Annoyed, Lloyd drag himself up and stomped over to the entrance of the apartment. Must be some tourists getting robbed, they always ended up getting robbed at least once. Usually he is forced to do a gentleman act, that is, help them tackle the thief and call the police for them, but personally, he's getting annoyed. Why can't they just take better care of their belongings?
He was surprised to see Glenn standing outside, much to his relief. There are some tourists as well, but not much. Their face is a look of of horror, Glenn's is a mixture of horror, disbelief, shock and anger.
Looking puzzled, he strode up to him and said, "Hey Glenn. What's going on?"
Glenn wasn't staring at him, but staring pass him. Slowly, he faced behind him and gave a loud gasp.
Francis was crucified above the building entrance. His arms were pinned into place by wooden stakes and his entire body is bloodied. Open scar wounds and cuts were all his bare chest, which was exposed for everyone to see the horrifying sight. If that is not bad enough, the blood are dripping all over the place, leaving a trail of red streak.
"Oh my God." Lloyd said, feeling sick in his stomach.
"Frances? Francis?" Glenn yelled out to Francis's bloodied looking body.
Francis's ears twitched at the voice of Glenn's voice. Ah yes, he thought numbly. Opening his mouth, he started to sing twisted poem.
Underneath the twilight,
I ran into the ice.
And then I met the fire,
Who insisted to pass Anderson and Skyler a tune.
"Meet me where we first met at the old place," says the fire.
The ice said nothing, but stare numbly at us.
"If you both do not come, then you'll never get to see the ice ever again." He says.
I wait underneath the full moon. - Guy Moon
Glenn stared back in disbelief. When some nosy tourists tried to take a snapshot, he yelled, "Get out of here!!!!"
"Guy....Moon?" Lloyd said, looking confused.
Francis opened a lazy pussy cat eye, then said rather weakly. "Did you get it?"
"What?"
"Maybe I should sing again..." He then sang that twisted song again. "Underneath the twilight..."
Glenn, without thinking, recklessly clawed up the wall with his nails and started tearing the wooden stakes and throwing them onto the ground, where it splintered into bits of wood and blood. Francis seemed to smile as he went slumping onto Glenn's arms.
The tourists gasp and started blabbing at one another, pointing out Glenn with their fingers and trying to snap his picture but Lloyd herded them away, saying, "Nothing to see. Go on. Shoo."
Offended, they left, leaving them alone. Francis lay on the floor, eyes shut. Glenn was blinking hard at him, trying not to get teary-eyed.
Francis opened his eyes again and mumbled, "He kept torturing me, man... Kept forcing me to sing his twisted tune..."
"Francis, I'm so sorry..." Glenn muttered.
"Don't you...worry about me..." Francis coughed out a little blood. "It's V.V. you should be...worrying about..."
"V.V.?"
Francis seemed to slumped into his arms, looking peacefully asleep.
Lloyd went over to him and checked his pulse. "He's still breathing."
"He said something about V.V." Glenn said darkly.
"I heard him." Lloyd said. "Guy must've taken her."
"I'm going over to him..." Glenn muttered rapidly. "And rip his little twisted face out..."
"I think..." Lloyd cut him off loudly. "You had better get him to hospital first. You looks like you could use some treatment as well." He nodded at Glenn's nails, which are bleeding underneath.
He eyed his nails warily and muttered, "Yeah. I guess..."
"If he did something to V.V., I'm going to make sure he pays for it." Lloyd said, taking out his Zanmato. "He meant Blaze's old hideout. Meet me there after you're done. Got it?"
"Alright." Glenn nodded.
*****************
Moments later, Lloyd found himself sitting on a crate in front of the old warehouse. It had not changed much at all. It's still the same as ever, the grafittis, the old crates and dented steel shutters. The only thing that is different is that it's current inhabitants had moved to a much more comfortable setting, thanks to him.
A sound stirred him out of his thoughts and he got up, not knowing what is laid out for him and stared.
V.V. is standing in front of him, dressed in her usual white gown. Relief douse him like ice cold water.
"V.V." He said in surprise. "Why are you here? I thought Guy did something to you..."
V.V. didn't answer, but kept staring at him with an odd blank look on her face.
"We were worried sick, you know when you didn't get back." He said. "I don't know if you know this or not, but your old friend Guy dropped us a message by making him sing some of his own twisted tune."
She still kept looking at him with that odd look that seems to stir some uneasiness in him.
"V.V., are you alright?"
That was when he noticed something out of the corner of his eye. A streak of red.
He leapt away just in time as a red streak fist came slamming down where he had stood moments before.
"You're sure fast."
Guy commented, standing back up. His hair like writhing fiery snakes.
"V.V. We'll do a side attack, alright?" He said, taking out his Zanmato.
V.V.'s hair extended and braided itself to make it stronger, just like Inari's golden fiery blue tipped hair. He found himself silently impressed. Since when could she do that?
That impressment was only short-lived, because the next moment it became a powerful axe-like blade and start crashing down on him.
"V.V.!!! What are you doing?!" He couldn't help yelling at her.
V.V. didn't answer but her hair went swinging wildly, lashing out at all directions. The axe had unbraided itself and had became like javelins, trying to pierce him. He was lucky that his Zanmato is big enough to block her hair, but what he didn't count on was Guy's hair, which had formed into sharpened razors and planned to strike him from behind. Only at the last minute he managed to kick himself upwards to avoid the hair from stabbing him.
"V.V.!!!" Lloyd shouted. "What's wrong with you?"
There was a small a laugh coming from Guy. "I brought her back. The real V.V. back in World War 2. She doesn't give a care to anything except me." He gave another laugh. "That boy was dumb, trying to attack us head on. But we-" He gestured at the numb V.V. "-Took care care of that." He then mimicked the tone that Francis used to sing the tune.
"You're inhumane." Lloyd spat. "You think Francis is some sort of-of paper that you can just carve on?"
He didn't get a chance to answer though, because the next moment, V.V. came gliding past him, her hair transformed into a hook-like scythe, trying to behead him. Although Lloyd was lucky that it missed him by a few inches, he received a slight cut on his cheek.
"V.V., it's me, Lloyd, remember?" He tried as she landed on her feet. In response, her hair started to lash out at him again, causing him to snarl in frustration.
Meanwhile, at the top of a building, Reo was staring at the scene below with a pair of binoculars. His gunblades hanging loosely on either side of his waist.
"Any luck yet?" Allen asked, sitting beside him.
"Why don't you see for yourself?" He handed the binoculars over.
"No, she's scary." Allen shuddered and tightened the zip of his hoodie.
Reo frowned as something familiar came floating back to him. "When you said she's scary...Did you mean the time when you read her mind at the Brooklyn Bridge?"
Allen nodded. "Yeah, surrounded in flames and....corpses..." He shuddered again.
Back in the battlefield, Lloyd was unable to hit V.V., mainly it's because of the fact that it's still her, even though she's on a rampage. Besides, the one he wanted to hit the most is Guy.
"Stop running like a bug." Guy said, lashing his hair out at him. Thick strands of hair lashed out and looped his legs, throwing him against the building. He gave a loud gasp as the wind was knock out of him. It hurts a lot, some more he could feel his head spinning.
V.V. was suddenly on top of him, her foot on his back and her small pale hand grabbing his neck just as Guy said, "Nicely done, V."
"V.V..." Lloyd muttered, staring at her blank face. "Don't..."
"Sayonara..." Guy said, his hair braiding itself into one and spinning fast, becoming a piercing drill, ready to maul him.
Glenn came leaping out of nowhere and armed with a knife, grabbed Guy and sliced his hair, causing long strands of fiery hair to hit the floor.
"YOU!" Guy roared, grasping at his now short hair.
Without a second thought, Glenn spun the knife and stab him at the abdomen. If he was a normal human, he would've been bleeding. But instead, like V.V., a large crack like splintering glass appeared.
"Glenn..." Lloyd muttered.
V.V. glanced at Lloyd, threw him aside and went over to Glenn, who sensed her coming and said, "Hey, V. What's with the blank look?"
"Get him, V.V.!!!" Guy yelled.
V.V.'s hair became a large battle axe and started swinging at Glenn, who snarled and grabbed Guy in front of him, using him as a shield. The blue axe stopped just inches before his throat.
"What did you do to V.V., you scum?" Glenn said, his eyes cold.
"Like I'll tell you." Guy panted, beads of sweat appearing from his forehead. He was inches close to death and that's very true.
Glenn gave a sigh and said, "Guess we'll just have to do this the hard way." From within his pocket, he brought out what looks like an explosive pack. Lloyd have to admire his nerve for smuggling it all the way to here. He could've been branded as terrorist by the authorities if he had been caught.
Guy's eyes widened in shock and said, "What are you trying to do?"
"I'm going to blow you up..." Glenn said in a matter-of-fact voice.
Guy snarling in anger and his hair, cut short, began to grow rapidly, eventually becoming long and lashed out at him, knocking the explosive out of his hand. Grinning in a twisted manner like a hyena, his hair became grappling hooks and started to swing around him by ripping him to pieces.
Lloyd struggled to get up but instead, he couldn’t move. Then he realized why. Tendrils of shadows have latched itself onto his legs. In other words…
He looked up to see Allen standing on his shadow.
“Sorry.” He said. “But I think it’s better to leave them three alone.”
Glenn was dodging red and blue hair strands, even being forced to do some kind of weird ballet movement just to avoid V.V.’s mace.
“What are you doing? Ballet?” Guy taunted as Glenn did a sort of pirroutte to avoid his hair which became fists.
“You better let go of me.” Lloyd warned.
“Or what?” Mind’s Shadow loomed over him. “Going to explode on me???”
Lloyd managed to break free from the tendrils and flung himself onto Mind’s Shadow, who retreated back into the shadows. Allen’s eyes glowed, raised his palms and the old crates levitated and flung themselves at him, smashing into splinters of wood. Lloyd swung his blade down but a pair of gunblades deflected him.
“Reo!” said Allen.
Lloyd spun his Zanmato around and tried to knock Reo out but he’s good. He maybe’s Glenn age, but the one thing he noticed about him is his movements, which are graceful as an assassin.
“Get out of the way, Reo.” He warned.
“Sorry, but I’m not going anywhere.” Reo started to trade blows after blows with him, looking as though he’s dancing. Sword dance, Lloyd thought dazedly as one blow after another bash him over and over. Like that anime Glenn loves so much, the one about the samurai who held dual katanas and move with graceful movement like the water flow.
As Guy’s hair lashed past him, Glenn yanked his hair despite the fact that it’s dangerous and shot Guy in between the eyes. A blow like that would’ve killed him, but instead, he just said, “Ouch. That hurts.” And he added a four colourful letter word that ticked him off and he shot his arm, causing him to yelp as part of it cracked.
“You crazed psycho.” Glenn said coldly. “You turned V.V. into your tool, tortured Francis, made him sing your twisted tune and taunted us as though we’re morons.” He withdrew his knife out again and started hacking away at his hair. “You-lousy-psychotic-sadistic-inhumane-twisted-bloodthirsty-mad-devilish-moronic-SOB.” As he said each word, he kept hacking away at his hair, who roared with anger. V.V. tried to reach him but Glenn managed to keep her at bay by using Guy as a leverage to avoid getting pierced or stabbed. Great locks of red hair kept thudding on the ground as he kept hacking away.
Reo spun one of his gunblade and started shooting non-stop at Lloyd who grabbed him by the head and thrust his Zanmato hilt at his throat, causing him to gasp and cough for air. Allen tried to run but Lloyd caught him and knocked him uncouncious by giving him a swift jab at the abdomen.
“Very good… You grown…”
Lloyd’s ears twitched at the sound of unhurried footsteps coming towards him. Yep, it’s him alright. They haven’t set eyes at each other since the Blaze incident but he seems to have grown taller, dressed in a charcoal leather jacket and dark pants. His rapier visible in the dim light. Beside him, dressed back in his usual aristocratic garment, is Revarie. Somehow the vampire seems to be more menacing, he seems to have been feeding well tonight, he thought silently.
“Why are you here?” He snapped.
“I came to pick up my…companions.” Dario said, nodding at Reo and Allen, who are both down. And Guy, who’s screaming in rage as Glenn kept hacking at his hair. When he saw them though, Glenn slammed Guy down, causing his face to get cracked.
“Enough.” Revarie said, looking at him. “You should not have acted rashly.” He added at Guy.
“I’ll do whatever I like, vampire.” Guy snarled, finally managing to throw Glenn off balance, pulled V.V. to him and said, “I’ll get you back for hacking at my hair.”
“V.V.!” Lloyd shouted.
V.V. just stare at him silently before Guy whisked her out of sight with the others, though Dario lagged behind.
“Sorry, but taker’s keepers.” Dario said with false cheeriness.
Lloyd swung his Zanmato but he deflected it with his rapier.
“Still haven’t changed much, little brother.”
That effect caused a deafening silence that suddenly roared into the night.
“W-What???” Glenn stuttered.
“What???” Lloyd gasped.
Dario suddenly swung his rapier upwards near his neck. Something flashed at the tip and dropped into his outstretched hand. A pendant of some sort, shaped like a tiny teardrop, made out of precious red sapphire.
“This was our family heirloom, yes?” He said, dangling it in front of him with his dominant hand, whereas the free one was rummaging near his neck to held out another pendant, identical to his.
“Oh. My. God.” Glenn said, awestruck.
“So that is why we have the same face.” Lloyd said, the wheels behind his brain is finally turning.
“It took you so long to figure it out.” Dario tossed him back his pendant. ”Tell me, do you remember anything that happened in your past life?”
Lloyd looked stunned, speechless, frozen to the spot. Glenn tried to strike Dario from behind but even without using his rapier, Dario grabbed him by the wrist and tossed him over his shoulder.
“Ouch!”
“Don’t try anything foolish on me,” said Dario. Then he added to Lloyd, “If you really want to find out so much, then come to my manor.”
He then left, leaving the silence deafening.
No one spoke for a very long time until Lloyd broke the silence, saying, "I have...a brother?"
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