[ Keystone Police Station ]
"I believe I have said all that I know, monsieur."
The Keystone Chief of Police, Perry Welter, hums. Looking up from the report written up by officer Ray Tornell, he takes in the French woman, Morgan, and her thin-lipped associate, Luna.
"I'll admit, this sounds troubling. Still, thank you for reporting this to us. Mary Lin is a well-known artist within our city. I only hope we'll find her and figure out what happened."
Luna silently glances at Morgan, who closes her eyes to a smile.
"Yes, I wish you all the best," she offers, then sighs. "It must be terrible timing, though, especially when you're already under pressure to find Lecia Bowden."
"So even tourists catch the news." Perry snorts. "Not every day of our job is ideal. There's at least better evidence we can use here."
He stands and offers his hand. "Regardless, you two are cleared. I'm only sorry that your visit of our city had to involve such disturbances."
"Oh, monsieur, it really is not a problem," Morgan insists, shaking his hand. Her eyes open, smiling softly. "Please, there's nothing more important than making sure we all are safe, don't you agree?"
"Of course."
The chief looks on as the two won lower their head before leaving his office. Once they're outside the station, Luna breathes out shakily. She holds a hand to her chest, heart beating as the city lights fill the parking lot.
'I can't believe that worked out as well as it did.' Her eyes shift warily to the ho-hum French boss to her side. 'How did Nico deal with her? She's fucking insane! Do we really need to involve the police now?'
"C-council, ahem...I an, Morgan," Luna corrects. She swallows carefully. "I understand you tampered with that officer so he was made to believe there were bloodstains, but won't this make it overall more difficult for us?"
"Difficult?" Morgan clicks her tongue, shaking her head. "Luna, things have already beco difficult. Lecia's disappearance has garnered unending attention by the dia. Now, we have Nico's death after that. Even if it's limited, there's more awareness about us than ever before. With a likely remnant among us, we can't afford to slow down."
"Right, but... an actual bloodstain is needed. Once they revisit the studio, they'll find out there is none."
"So?"
"Huh?!"
Morgan snickers at Luna's bulging eyes. "Don't get wrong, it would be easy for us to take our fallen brother's blood, then plant it where he would have died. Except, there's no need to get our hands dirty. We simply had to give the police suspicion sothing was up. I believe the cara footage of Nico entering, but never leaving, should warrant an investigation."
"Wha..." Luna frowns, catching herself. "But, they'll try to identify Nico. Won't that be a problem for us?"
"Not at all!" Morgan chirps. Arriving at Luna's car, she opens the passenger side door before continuing. "They'll have a hard ti matching. Nico was an abandoned child, so even if they find information, there's not much to be gained from Italian records."
Luna takes the driver seat with a sigh. "So, this is simply to put pressure on Marlin and his niece. They'll use their resources to track them, and we just have to wait."
"Exactly." However, Morgan leans back, closing her eyes. "Still, what a ss and opportunity we have to work with. I'm ashad Nico beca so greedy at a ti like this."
"..." Luna stares at the steering wheel, then her lips creases. "Morgan, are you... not more sad? He was soone even the council valued, and yet... it just seems you..."
"I helped raise him, Luna," Morgan cuts, her voice leveling. She looks past her window, narrowing her eyes. "Of course I'm sad but... am I angry? Do I want revenge? I don't know. He's not the first I've lost."
Luna raises her brows.
"The way I've lived, helping shaped this Order, maybe your great-great-grandfather, probably... it ca at the cost of just...living." Morgan leans against the window, sighing. "Of course, my condition helps to lead a greater good for our goddess, so I can't be too bitter. Still, it's a fact that people blur around , and Nico is one of many I've taken under whom I peered into, and gave purpose. If anything, it's only to selfishly give myself so aning."
"aning..." The blonde repeats, then swallows carefully. "Forgive , but... are you really human?"
The French woman blinks before her lips rise crookedly. "Pfft...Bahahahaha!"
As her superior breaks forward in a fit, Luna jerks and quickly lowers her head. She fumbles her hands together, figuring she must've said sothing stupid. "S-sorry, that was silly of . I didn't an—"
"No, haha... no, it's okay!" The French woman assures, patting the girl's lap as her laughter staggers to a halt. Lifting her head, her eyes shine so fondly toward this bartender she's taken a liking to. "Yes... yes, Luna, I'm human."
She straightens. "Although, if you're curious as to why I've lived long..." Her eyes slim as she wags a finger. "That's a French secret~"
"Oh... Is it related to the snails?"
"Ha, funny. So you know, I've always disliked escargot." Morgan waves a hand. "But, I digress. Once you co to bear witness the Flood, you'll co to understand I'm nothing special. Life and death shall hold less aning for all of us, then our wills and mories be forever eternal... always shared... always understood."
Luna twists her lips as she starts the car. "I understand that as far as I read our records, but... hearing you, it feels it might be more chaotic than I always imagined."
Morgan stifles a chuckle, watching the stars glimr above. "No more chaotic than our universe, demoiselle." She places a hand against the window, her eyes wide. "Life breathes from chaos, after all."
══════════ ∴ ══════════
Beep...
Daniel breathes.
His eyes snap open from a gooey chaos, only to be t with a hallway of doors and troffers instead. At this point, he shouldn't be surprised, but that doesn't stop his head spinning. Looking closely at the walls, each wooden door along is marked by a plate number. In between his clean and white surroundings, background murmurs and muffled beeps also arrive to him in no particular density.
Beep...beep...
"A...hospital?" he observes, steadying himself.
Brows furrowing, his heart beats to what sounds like electrocardiogram monitor mounted within each room. A chill creeps down his spine as he looks to the particular set of numbers he's around.
His pupils contract. "No..."
As recollection follow through, his legs musters a step forward subconsciously.
Then another.
Soon, air escapes his lungs faster as he's running through the hallway, hope, and dread filling him while the numbers blur past.
Only one number matters.
"278... 278... 278..."
He follows the ascending numbers while repeating, the chis of the heart monitors growing louder and piercing. It seeks to overwhelm until finally, his feet plants itself with a large thud, echoing across the unending hallway.
The beeps stop.
Standing in front of the door, 278, Daniel stares, his eyes quivering. Just as he's about to reach for the knob, a hand strikes out from his right, gripping him.
"Wha...!" Daniel blinks before turning to the side. Instantly, all the tension he held lts away as his eyes reflects a similar pair of silver.
"Mother..."
His mind clears.
Viviane stares back, her aching silver eyes a much-needed grounding away from his hurry. Glancing down, Daniel notices she's dressed in a nurse's scrubs, the sa one she stole when they were at the clinic.
"Daniel, it's okay," his sli mother assures softly. She smiles bitterly, pulling his hand away from the door. "I know what you're thinking. While I'm not exactly sure what's going on, you don't need to force yourself to through this door again."
Daniel blinks a few tis before frowning. "Is that... dical advice?"
Viviane twists her lips. She glances down at her attire before returning his gaze with a huff. "That's my motherly advice, child. Also, I just found myself in this uniform, thank you very much."
Her son snorts. "Okay, but is that entirely your own or... from my real mother?"
The elder sli's eyes widen before they lower.
The hallway buzzes in their silence.
"Both," she admits after a while.
Silence fills the hallway for a few more monts until Daniel sighs. He turns and wraps his arms around her. She hitches, but squeezes back, raising her gaze to him. "Child?"
"I love you."
"Ah."
"But you, Anne, and Mary are..."
"...not replacents," she finishes, shutting her eyes. "I know."
"And yet, you're my reality now. That doesn't an I can ignore the past."
Viviane's hands tighten around her son's back. "I'm sorry, I... I know how important Amy is to you... How influential she is to us, but I just... I didn't want you to experience the pain."
"Pain? That's funny coming from you." Daniel chuckles lightly. He pulls close, cupping her cool, pale cheek. "You need to stop treating like a child. Nothing ever good cos out of running away."
Viviane stares blankly. "Then, what were we doing leaving the city?"
"A cult coming after us is different, okay?"
The elder sli titters, and slides away from his hand. Her eyes shine weakly. "Alright, just rember we're dealing with mories here... or maybe sothing more. Either way, let's be careful. So far, every new joining has sohow stimulated what has been hidden."
"Was it your idea to drag into it?"
Viviane glances away. "I think we were just a little overwheld."
"A little?"
She coughs. "If we're able to find Mary and Anne, I'm sure we can make sure you're not part of us. Although, the whole point of this rge was to see whether we could all visit my dream realm to et my mother together."
"Well, this certainly isn't the place, and as far as mothers go..."
Daniel returns his attention to the door in front of him.
Of course, that's a number he won't ever forget.
His hands clench for only a fraction of a second, but let's go of it all. Stretching a hand out, he takes so ti to feel the sensation of the door's fra on his fingertips. Clearly, the fact that he's able to perceive such sensations ans they're not exchanging mories like it had been before. Even the last mory Viviane gained of her rebirth as a remnant felt more personable.
He inhales slowly through his nostrils, reminding himself of what is true. After a few seconds pass, he slides his hand down to the doorknob and opens.
Spoiler
[collapse]
Light flashes imdiately from the opening before llowing out into a soft evening haze. A standard hospital room illuminates within. Seated upright among an adjustable bed, Daniel's holds his breath by the familiar folds that adorn a woman's dark hair. Her face hidden, she looks past the rays spilling through the window, all while the heart rate monitor silently draws a flat line.
Despite what he sees, there's really no life or breath to be had.
Regardless, Daniel swallows carefully, then smiles as he steps in.
"Hey there, mom."
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