Todd Wants Key's Face

Blood Puppet: *he comes back with Dusk* Haha... and here we are. Hello hello, good afternoon to you both. <3

Dusk *keeps silent*

Annabelle: :D!

Celine: How did it go? I take it you were successful.

Blood Puppet: Well, obviously they were all FURIOUS. Sarah ran at me and I had to remind her that she's pregnant, and THEN I put that lovely black rose on his grave... out of respect. Hahahah...

Dusk: ...

Celine: *smirks* Well done, as usual.

Annabelle: I wish I had gotten to see... :I

Blood Puppet: Perhaps you can accompany me when you're older, Annabelle.

Dusk: ... *he moves into the other room*

Annabelle: Please. :D

Celine: ... If you'll excuse me.... *goes after Dusk*

Blood Puppet: *he notices this* ... >:/ *he doesn't know what to think about this, entirely, as he knows nothing innocent will come from Celine willingly separating herself from him. He decides to wait. Wait a few minutes. Then see if Celine really is doing what he thinks she will do*

meanwhile

Dusk: *sees Celine follow him into the room* ...

Annabelle: *notices his expression change* ...Dad? <:/

meanwhile

Celine: ...You're still supposed to obey my commands, correct?

Blood Puppet: Yes, Annabelle?

meanwhile

Dusk: ... Yes...

Annabelle: ...Is something wrong?

meanwhile

Celine: Then I command you to stay still... *steps closer to him*

Blood Puppet: ... Just a problem that I'll soon fix.

meanwhile

Dusk: *stands still* ...

Annabelle: .... :/

meanwhile

Celine: *stands right in front of him. she pulls back his mask just enough so his mouth is exposed, and kisses him*

Dusk: *he shivers a bit, but lightly kisses back*

Blood Puppet: *walks in on them* AHA! I knew it - I KNEW it...! DB<

Annabelle: ? *is curious, but stays in the main room* ...

meanwhile

Celine: ! *steps away from Dusk* ...

Blood Puppet: *he's angry, and it shows... for a few seconds. Then his expression settles into an oddly... pleasant smile. Not unlike the one Celine wore the other day* ... Celine. It's been a while since you last watched the swirl. Perhapss now would be a good time to do just that.

Dusk: ...

Celine: ! *feels like she really wants to, but at the same time, she's a bit... hesitant. she doesn't move* ...

Blood Puppet: Celine, don't you want to feel really good?

Dusk: ...

Celine: ....Yes...

up

*the funeral is as long as it is difficult for everyone there. The tombstone is unveiled, marble shining in a bright sunlight, engraved with "Samuel Gatzsky, Lieutenant, Son, Husband, and Father. Taken too soon." There is much weeping, much despair*

Gilder: *he stays close to Claire and Sarah, trying to remain calm, but unable to keep from crying for the fallen Lieutenant*

Claire: *is completely inconsolable, sobbing into her hands, mourning her son, her husband, what used to be her entire life, gone. she doesn't even have her job to distract her anymore. there was nothing left*

Sarah: *can't bring herself to tear her eyes away from the tombstone, tears streaming freely. Their time together had been too short, much too short...*

*and then Blood Puppet entered the cemetery*

Gilder: *he is the first to see and stands up, glaring furiously at the intruder. He hisses through his teeth* GET OUT.

Blood Puppet: I simply wanted to pay some respect to our dear, dead Lieutenant.

Claire: ?? *looks up, and only stares. she has sunken so far into despair already, that it was impossible for her to feel any worse from Blood Puppet's appearance*

Sarah: !! *looks over, and stands with Gilder, glaring at Blood Puppet, MURDER in her eyes*

Everyone: *glares angrily at Blood Puppet*

Blood Puppet: He DID fight, you know. Did to the best of his ability, STRUGGLED and all that, but alas, he did not struggle as much as he should... and now he is gone. *To Sarah* I would like you to know that your husband was the best meal I've ever had.

Gilder: D8< !!!

Sarah: *something in her mind just snaps, and she shoves Gilder out of the way, shoves EVERYBODY out of her path running straight at Blood Puppet. her mind is so clouded by rage, by vengeance, that she forgets the fact that he could kill her in an instant*

Blood Puppet: *suddenly reaches out and grabs Sarah by the shoulder, drawing his katana and pressing it against her neck lightly, but hard enough to cut the skin. He shouts out to the other guests at the funeral* ANYONE SO MUCH AS TAKES A STEP FORWARD OR DRAWS A GUN, AND SHE DIES! *he then hisses in Sarah's ear* ... I wouldn't be so quick to anger, madam... you must remember that if I were to KILL YOU like some brute, I would be killing you... and your unborn children. And really, that's just a TASTELESS thing for me to do... but if I must, I must...

Everyone: *unable to do anything, they stare in horror and fury* DDD8< ...

Sarah: *freezes, the realization suddenly dawning on her as the rage fades. she stares at Blood Puppet, that anger quickly turning into fear*

Everyone: *stares* D8< .....

Blood Puppet: Oh yes, how horrible, how RECKLESS of you... now then... *he roughly pushes her away and puts away his katana... then he pulls out a black, thorny rose from his coat* I have something to give the dear Lieutenant.

Everyone: D8<

Sarah: *stumbles back, but catches herself before she falls... she backs away towards the rest of the crowd, feeling ashamed of herself*

Everyone: D8< ....

Blood Puppet: *he steps over to the grave, chuckling under his breath, then places the rose in front of it* ... There we are... no harm done.

Gilder: GET OUT!! D8<

Blood Puppet: Very well. But only because you asked so... nicely. *he leaves*

Everyone: *stare in a shocked, angry silence*

Sarah: *doesn't take her eyes off of Blood Puppet until he's completely out of sight, her hate for him only intensifying*

Gilder: ... *he sits back down, now regretting not trying to capture the man - the MONSTER*

Sarah: *looks over at Gilder, then pushes her way back to him* S-Someone has to go after him!! D8<

Gilder: ... I-I'll go get some troops ready. D8< *he runs off*

Sarah: *tries to calm herself, but fails. she plops onto a the chair next to Claire with a frustrated sigh, putting a hand on her head* son of a dog....

Claire: *looks over at her, still clearly upset. she puts a hand on Sarah's shoulder*

Sarah: ? *looks up at Claire* ...

Claire: ...Never do that again. Please.

Sarah: <:( .... *nods*

meanwhile

Gilder: *with a group of soldier, he chases after Blood Puppet, a fiery rage in his eyes* D8<

Blood Puppet: *from a roof* Decided to follow me did you? Big mistake!

Dusk: *he walks out of an ally and stands in front of them, knife ready*

Gilder: WH-WHAT - WHO IS - ??

Blood Puppet: A friend of mine. *leaps down and stabs the nearest soldier*

Soldier: !!!! *is stabbed. He falls down, bleeding to death*

Gilder: !! *he is also stabbed, not by Blood Puppet, but by Dusk, right in the gut* HRNK!! *he also falls*

Blood Puppet: Follow me, Dusk! Off we go!

Dusk: *nods and runs*

Soldiers: D8

Annabelle: *is a bit miffed at the fact her father didn't let her go out with her* >:I

Celine: *waits patiently for the others to return*

up

Gilder: ... He had an overwhelmingly powerful sense of justice, you know... possibly why he wouldn't just stay in the Outpost, but prowl the streets like some sort of comic book hero... I had a great respect for him... Sam was almost like a son to me...

Claire: ...I just wish he hadn't put himself in harm's way like that...

Gilder: ... We can all wish as much as we want, but the sad truth is that he did...

Claire: ... *looks down, closing her eyes* ...........

Gilder: <:( *he leans over and puts a hand on her arm*

Claire: *glances up at him, teary-eyed, and puts a hand over his* .......

Gilder: *he silently keeps his hand there, not knowing what to say* ...

Claire: *stares at him for a moment, then quietly breaks down into sobs again*

Gilder: D:> ! He - he's in a better place now, Claire...!

Claire: *between sobs, trying to restrain them* I-I have nothing left, John...!!

Gilder: ... That's not true, Claire... you have the rest of your life to enjoy... <:(

Claire: *says nothing* ....

Gilder: ... Would you rather I leave you alone for now...? <:(

Claire: *nods, but only slightly*

Gilder: Very well... I'll... see you t the funeral, then... *he leaves*

In the Middle of the Night

Dusk: *as ordered, he sneaks into the first home he can find. There, he breaks in, takes out his knife, and guts a young child in her bed without a second thought. He then proceeds to do the same to the parents, who had noticed and were shrieking in horror*

meanwhile

Sarah: *sits in her home, completely oblivious to the fact that her husband was still alive. no, all she knew was that there was a funeral two days from now, and that there isn't even a body left to mourn over. she hates Blood Puppet, HATES him for ruining everything, for taking Sam away so brutally. Hell, she would go after that psycho herself if she wasn't putting more than her own life at risk...*

meanwhile

Dusk: *as ordered by Blood Puppet, he waits for someone to report the noise so that some soldiers can come to investigate. When they do arrive, Dusk stabs a soldier in the gut and runs off before the others can do anything. When he arrives at the Dentist's Office (now that his "family" has moved back there) he is splattered with blood* ...

*two days later... At Sam's funeral*

Sarah: *is there, along with Claire, her mother, and many distinguished soldiers. they had managed to shoo the cameras outside, so they could have some semblance of privacy...*

Claire: *sits silently with everyone else* ....

up

Gilder: Ah, well, no. Not yet. We have no idea where he's gone. Though, I'm not a general anymore... I've had to take up Lieutenant Gatzsky's roll... I'd rather stay as a general. It feels almost disrespectful to sit in his chair... and another thing. His... his funeral's in two days.

Sarah: *stares at him for a moment, then nods* ...Thanks for letting me know, Lieutenant.

Gilder: I'm sorry this happened. I really am.

Sarah: ..... I'm sorry too. *lets out a tired sigh* I'll let Claire know about the funeral...

Gilder: ... Well, I think I'll go ahead and do that myself. I was planning to anyway, and we haven't talked for a very long time.

Sarah: Alright... Just a warning, though, she's really hurting...

Gilder: I understand that. Have a good night, Mrs. Gatzsky.

Sarah: Good night, John. Please let me know if you find anything. <:(

Gilder: Will do. *he then leaves and drives to Claire's home. He knocks on the door*

Claire: *opens the door after a few moments, looking quite tired, emotionally drained* Ah... Good evening, General... To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?

Gilder: ... Lieutenant now. I just wanted to see how you were doing.

Claire: ...I'm... doing. I guess. Would you like to come in, L-Lieutenant?

Gilder: I would love to come in, thank you. *he steps inside*

Claire: *closes the door behind him* Can I get you anything...?

Gilder: I'm fine, thank you. *He sits down on a couch* ... Claire... I came here to tell you that your son's funeral is in two days...

Claire: Ah... *sits down across from him* ...W-Well... better sooner than later....

Gilder: ... How are you feeling right now, Claire? <:/

Claire: *chokes up when she tries to talk, so she takes a deep breath to try to steady herself* ......Tired...

Gilder: ... I know it must be incredibly difficult to choke down... why, I lost my own son during the second infection. I know from that experience that it's going to take a long while for this wound of yours to heal... but it doesn't mean you have to let it rule your life. Now, see... I'm not telling you to not grieve. You have every right to do so. Just don't let it dominate you for the rest of your life.

Claire: ... *nods* I'll do my best....

up

Blood Puppet: Oh, I know you will, dear. I know. Wooden stake.

meanwhile

Dusk: *he hesitates and ends up unable to kiss Celine back, suddenly reminded of... the Lieutenant? Doing the same? This, he finds unsettling, and weakly tries pushing Celine away, something inside him screaming for him to fully shove her off*

Annabelle: *goes blank* ...

meanwhile

Celine: ... *stops, and pulls away slightly, eyes narrowed* ...What are you doing?

Blood Puppet: Annabelle... you're going to remember everything I've taught you, and you will continue remembering everything you learn.

meanwhile

Dusk: I... Don't know... forgive me, Celine.

Annabelle: *nods slowly* Remember everything....

meanwhile

Celine: *frowns* Alright, I'll forgive you... But don't let me down again. *tries to kiss him again*

Blood Puppet: ... You crave for more knowledge... you want to know how to kill.

meanwhile

Dusk: *he then, without warning, shoves Celine off his lap* D8>

Annabelle: Want to know... to kill...

meanwhile

Celine: *is thrown to the ground, caught completely off-guard--but her shocked expression quickly turns to a look of fury*

Blood Puppet: Yes... you want to learn... you're dependent on me... LOYAL to me...

meanwhile

Dusk: *he stands up and stares at Celine, horror in his normally blank eyes* D8> ...

Annabelle: Loyal to you....

meanwhile

Celine: *if looks could kill, Dusk would be a bleeding mess on the floor. She slowly stands up, still glaring at him, and moves towards him, her voice eerily calm* That was a rude thing to do, Dusk... Why would you do that?

Blood Puppet: Good girl... now become incredibly affectionate and wake up.

meanwhile

Dusk: *he retrieves his mask and puts it back on. His blankness seems to come back with it, his tone once more flattening out* ... I don't know, Celine. I wish nothing more than to please you, Annabelle, and Blood Puppet. I am sorry for my actions.

Annabelle: *wakes up, and immediately hugs him again*

meanwhile

Celine: *stops right in front of him, and smiles, that fury still in her eyes* You may want to work on your obedience, Dusk. Don't step out of line again.

Blood Puppet: *he smiles warmly, hugging Annabelle back*

meanwhile

Dusk: ... Yes, Celine...

Annabelle: I love you, dad...

meanwhile

Celine: ...hmph. *backs away from him, and turns towards the door* Come on. Let's go back to the others. *leaves the room, still fuming*

Blood Puppet: I love you too, Annabelle.

Dusk: *follows Celine out* ...

Blood Puppet: Ah! Dusk, I have a job for you.

Dusk: Yes, Blood Puppet?

Blood Puppet: I need you to commit a high-profile murder inside someone's home tonight. I want people to be afraid. KNOW you're out there.

Dusk: Yes, Blood Puppet.

Annabelle: *listens quietly*

Celine: ..........

Blood Puppet: Was your time with Dusk nice and friendly, Celine?

Dusk: *he looks over at Celine* ...

Celine: Quite.

Annabelle: ...?

Blood Puppet: Excellent. Now let's rest up, everyone. Tonight is the night that... well... things will change.

meanwhile

Gilder: *knocks on Sarah's apartment door*

Sarah: !! *opens the door* ...Hello, General... Did you find him? <:/

up

Blood Puppet: Perhaps I can teach you some of what I know using this old factory. Would you like that?

meanwhile

Dusk: *he doesn't know how to respond to something that's not an order, and so he remains silent* ...

Annabelle: :D!! *nods excitedly* Yes, please.

meanwhile

Celine: ...Could you sit down for me, Dusk?

Blood Puppet: Very well. *and so he begins to train Annabelle in the art of parkour*

meanwhile

Dusk: Yes, Celine. *he then sits down in a chair*

Annabelle: *does her best to follow along without killing herself*

meanwhile

Celine: *practically sits down in his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck* ... take your mask off.

Blood Puppet: *instructs her, willing to catch her if she falls*

meanwhile

Dusk: *without hesitation or thought, he takes his mask off, staring into Celine's eyes with his own blank, empty ones*

Annabelle: *feels a bit safer with her father as a safety net, and tries to do everything he asks*

meanwhile

Celine: *stares back, putting a hand on his cheek, gently stroking it with her thumb* ...I've always found you very attractive, Dusk... Such a shame you were wasted on someone like HER... *nuzzles him*

Blood Puppet: *he teaches Annabelle all he knows, helps train her so she can achieve such things*

meanwhile

Dusk: ... Wasted... on...?

Annabelle: *learns as much as she can*

meanwhile

Celine: Mm, never mind that... *kisses his cheek, then nuzzles into his neck*

Blood Puppet: Getting tired?

meanwhile

Dusk: *he speaks to her quietly, somehow deeming it appropriate to do so* ... Where is Blood Puppet...?

Annabelle: *is a bit out of breath* Y-Yeah...

meanwhile

Celine: With Annabelle... Why do you ask?

Blood Puppet: Then let's rest. *he picks her up in his arms and jumps off the structure they had been climbing on*

meanwhile

Dusk: ... I don't know...

Annabelle: *hangs on to him as they jump down*

meanwhile

Celine: heh... *continues to nuzzle him, occasionally kissing his cheek, his neck*

Blood Puppet: *lands with the grace of a cat and sets Annabelle down* My, you're VERY skilled Annabelle. I think you're a natural-born athlete.

meanwhile

Dusk: *he has no idea how to respond, why Celine is acting like this, or if Blood Puppet ordered her to. Not that he can ask these questions. Simply WONDERING is already quite out of line, and he'd hate to displease Blood Puppet*

Annabelle: R-Really? :D!

meanwhile

Celine: *keeps doing this* Return my affections, Dusk...

Blood Puppet: I wouldn't lie to you, dear. :)

meanwhile

Dusk: *he does as told, kissing Celine back on her neck, her cheek*

Annabelle: *grins, feeling rather proud of herself*

meanwhile

Celine: *adjusts her position so that she's straddling him, pressed right up against him, still kissing him*

Blood Puppet: *he hugs her* Eventually, with enough training, you will be able to go out again.

meanwhile

Dusk: *he continues to kiss her back, but he doesn't understand why. His confusion does not deter him, however, as stopping would be against Celine's wishes, and that would be a most terrible thing indeed*

Annabelle: *hugs him, quite excited by this new information* I'll try as hard as i can!

meanwhile

Celine: *moves a hand to the back of his head, and kisses him, quickly deepening it, expecting Dusk to react accordingly*

up

Blood Puppet: Ah! F-feels good, heheheh...!

meaanwhile

Dusk: Because Blood Puppet told me to wear it.

Celine: *doesn't respond--instead, she just goes harder*

meanwhile

Annabelle: Oh, okay. :/ *looks around, trying to think of something to do* ...

Blood Puppet: *he moans from the pleasure he receives, only to do so louder when he climaxes*

meanwhile

Dusk: *watches Annabelle* ...

Celine: *moans with him, but starts right back up again, her lust seemingly insatiable due to his command*

meanwhile

Annabelle: *glances at Dusk* ...

Blood Puppet: A-ah...! N-now, now, dear... let's calm down for a bit, shall we? S-stone pillar.

meanwhile

Dusk: *continues to watch Annabelle, not moving*

Celine: *immediately goes blank* .......

meanwhile

Annabelle: *finds this just a teensy bit unnerving* ... >_>;

Blood Puppet: You're feeling satisfied, love. You're feeling happy and satisfied.

meanwhile

Dusk: *continues to watch Annabelle, unable to tell how uncomfortable he is making her*

Celine: ...Happy and satisfied...

meanwhile

Annabelle: ...C-Could you, um... not stare at me like that?

Blood Puppet: You want to focus your attention on your good friend, Dusk, now.

meanwhile

Dusk: *mumbles an apology and looks away from Annabelle*

Celine: ....Focus on... dusk....

meanwhile

Annabelle: s'kay...

Blood Puppet: Yes... you like Dusk very much. Go show him how much you like him, Celine.

meanwhile

Dusk: *stares off blankly into the distance*

Celine: I'll go... show him... *gets up, off of Blood Puppet, and heads over to the other side of the factory*

meanwhile

Annabelle: .......

Blood Puppet: *now that Celine is off him, he quickly puts his pants on* ... Perhaps I shouldn't have made that command so strong...

meanwhile

Dusk: *stares blankly at nothing*

Celine: *finds the room they ran off to* ! Hello... Annabelle, could you go look for your father?

Annabelle: Uhm... okay. *leaves the room, a bit confused*

Blood Puppet: Hello, Annabelle! Do come here.

meanwhile

Dusk: *looks over at Celine blankly* ...

Anabelle: ! *goes over to Blood Puppet*

meanwhile

Celine: *after Annabelle leaves, she steps closer to Dusk* ...I like you very much, Dusk.... I appreciate you being here...

up

Blood Puppet: *he combs his fingers through her hair* ... Interesting... crystal tower.

Dusk: ... *he looks back at Annabelle* ...

Celine: *closes her eyes and sighs happily, too far gone to have much of a reaction at all*

Annabelle: *sleeps soundly, quite tired from the say before*

Blood Puppet: ... Celine... when you wake up from this trance, you are going to be completely overcome with the feeling of lust for me... it will drown out your reasoning and it will be practically unbearable to not have sex with me. Now wake up. Dusk, take Annabelle to an entirely separate part of the factory.

Dusk: *nods, picks Annabelle up, and does so*

Annabelle: *doesn't wake up. she snuggles against Dusk's shoulder*

Celine: *almost abruptly snaps back to reality. as soon as she's aware of herself, she immediately tries to pin Blood Puppet to the floor*

Blood Puppet: *lets her push him down* Hahaha! Your motions scream of want, love!

meanwhile

Dusk: *he carefully sets Annabelle down in the office of whoever once managed the factory* ...

Celine: *silences him with her mouth, kissing him almost hungrily*

meanwhile

Annabelle: *stirs, waking up* mmh....

Blood Puppet: *he kisses her back, laughing a little into it*

meanwhile

Dusk: *in a whisper* ... Good morning...

Celine: *moves down to kiss his neck while trying to undo his belt*

meanwhile

Annabelle: hmm...? *sits up, rubbing her eyes* oh. *yawns* good morning... *glances around* ...where are we?

Blood Puppet: *he runs his fingers through her hair as she does this* Goodness, you KNOW what you want.

meanwhile

Dusk: We're in the office area of this building. I have been ordered to keep you here until further instruction.

Celine: *responds with a brief "mhmm," then tosses his belt aside and takes his pants off*

meanwhile

Annabelle: ....Oh. Okay. Why? :/

Blood Puppet: A good thing I made sure our daughter is in another room...

meanwhile

Dusk: I don't know.

Celine: *dismissively* Of course... *kisses him again, sliding her hands under his shirt and rubbing herself against him in an effort to arouse him*

meanwhile

Annabelle: ...mmh. What if i try to go? :/

Blood Puppet: Mmmhmhm... that feels good...

meanwhile

Dusk: Then I will stop you.

Celine: mmh, it better... *forces him into herself with a pleased groan*

meanwhile

Annabelle: Aww. :/

Blood Puppet: *groans with her and rubs her back* ... crystal tower...

meanwhile

Dusk: *he moves his gloved hand under his mask so he can scratch his neck* ...

Celine: *lets out a low moan, closing her eyes. as soon as the sensation passes, she starts moving her hips back and forth*

meanwhile

Annabelle: ...Why do you have a mask? :/

up

Dusk: ... Okay...

Blood Puppet: *watches then*

meanwhile

*the soldiers, Gilder, and Sarah head back into the city, and Gilder drops Sarah off at her apartment*

Gilder: ... I truly am sorry, Mrs. Gatzsky... he was a very good friend of mine, not JUST my superior... try getting a good sleep tonight, alright?

Sarah: *nods* I-I'll do my best... Thank you...

Gilder: You're very welcome. *he then takes his leave, worried about Sarah and Claire, who he had known before. She has already lost her husband. Finding out that she has also lost her son would shatter her*

Sarah: *closes the door after Gilder leaves, trying to put her thoughts back into a coherent order. Should she call Claire and tell her now? No... no, she would go find her tomorrow.... No one deserves to hear news like this this late at night... she tries to sleep, but only manages brief snoozes before she wakes up again, forcing herself not to cry every time she sees the empty space on the other side of the bed*

The Next Morning

Blood Puppet: *he examines the sleeping form of Dusk, who had decided to sleep in his full costume, mask and all... or perhaps he didn't think to take it off* ...

Dusk: *asleep*

Annabelle: *asleep*

Celine: *is waking up--she watches Blood Puppet through hazy eyes* ...

Sarah: *had been laying awake for an hour now... she had given up on sleeping, no matter how tired she felt. she just couldn't do it. she gets out of bed, showers, and gets dressed, trying to prepare herself for delivering the terrible news to Claire...*

Blood Puppet: *he looks over and finds Celine looking at him* ... Ah - good morning, Celine.

Dusk: *waking up* ...?

Celine: Good morning... *sits up, rubbing her eyes* Mmh...

Annabelle: *asleep*

meanwhile

Sarah: *barely eats anything before going out, unconsciously walking slower than usual... she hates having to be the one to tell Claire* ...

Blood Puppet: ... I'm curious about something, Celine. Would you please come here?

Dusk: ... *he puts a hand on Annabelle's shoulder, rubbing it with his thumb. He feels, if anything, partly responsible for her* ...

Celine: mhmm... *goes over to Blood Puppet*

Annabelle: *shifts around a little bit, mumbling unintelligibly in her sleep*

meanwhile

Sarah: *eventually reaches Claire's house. She takes a deep breath, and knocks*

Claire: *opens the door* Oh, hi, Sarah. ^^

Sarah: ...Can I come in?

Claire: *wonders if there's something wrong* Yes, of course! :/ *steps aside to let Sarah in* ...Is something wrong?

Sarah: ... *nods*

Blood Puppet: ... Stone pillar. *He wonders what would happen if he said the phrase a few more times* ... stone pillar. Stone pillar. Stone pillar.

Dusk: *he looks over at Annabelle blankly*

Annabelle: *zzz*

Celine: *blanks out the first time he says the phrase, but becomes more and more blank the more he says it--until her brain slows so much that she loses her balance*

meanwhile

Claire: ...So what is it?

Sarah: ...You might want to sit down...

Claire: *can tell just from her tone that this was very serious* ...Alright... *leads Sarah to the living room, and sits down*

Sarah: *sits down next to her* ...I-I really wish I wasn't the one to tell you this, but....

Claire: ...But?

Sarah: ...It's Sam... H-He's gone...

Blood Puppet: ! *he catches Celine* ... Ah... so that's what it does... can you hear me, love?

Dusk: *watches them* ...

Celine: *nods, but only barely, almost completely limp in his arms*

Annabelle: *zzzzz*

meanwhile

Claire: *is silent for a moment... then--* ...What?

Sarah: ...He went missing a few nights ago... we went out to look for him yesterday, but... w-we weren't fast enough... I'm sorry....

Claire: ... *looks away from Sarah, staring at the floor. No, she must have heard her wrong, there was no way... it's just... it...* ...that's not POSSIBLE... S-Sam, he can't... *trails off, the thought of Sam being gone now too becoming too much to bear. She already lost Harry, now she had to have her son taken from her as well? It was hard enough coping with Harry's death, but THIS... she just couldn't take it. when she looks back up at Sarah, her expression is a mixture of hurt, loneliness, and so much grief that it was hard to look at* ...Thank you for coming to tell me...

Sarah: *tears up just from looking at her, from remembering her own feelings of loss--but unlike her, Claire's lost EVERYTHING. she nods*

Claire: *after a few moments, she looks away again, and slowly but surely breaks down, sobbing into her hands, her strong front falling apart*

Sarah: *puts an arm around Claire's shoulders, in a measly attempt to comfort her. It was a hard thing to do when you're hurting just as much as the other person is...*

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Gilder: Alright. I'll head back and ready a team of specially trained men. This is going to take a few hours - can you hold on until then?

meanwhile

Dusk: *asleep*

Sarah: *nods*

meanwhile

Annabelle: ....Are you sure?

Celine: Absolutely. You'll see when he wakes up.

Gilder: *runs to his car and drives are*

meanwhile, an hour later

Blood Puppet: *comes back* Hello! Has he woken up?

Dusk: *is waking up* ...?

Celine: *glances at Dusk* You seem to have arrived just in time.

Annabelle: !! *observes from a distance*

Blood Puppet: So I have. On my way back I noticed the military rallying up some special troops. Something tells me that we'll have to stay in the shoe factory for the night. Don't want them to hurt us all, do we?

Dusk: *looks over at Blood Puppet - there's an emptiness in his eyes* ... Military...?

Blood Puppet: Oh, yes. Wouldn't want to run into them in the state we're in right now. I guess they must be looking for the Lieutenant.

Dusk: ...

Blood Puppet: The Lieutenant's dead now, Dusk.

Dusk: ... Dead... you... killed him...?

Blood Puppet: In a manner of speaking. Now let's all move before they arrive! Oh - but first, here - *gives Dusk a bag* Change into these in the other room. I also have a weapon for you to use.

Dusk: *he nods and goes into the other room to change*

Annabelle: ...They're trying to catch us, huh?

Celine: *nods* We can't let that happen. We have another hiding place somewhere else.

Annabelle: ! S-So we're going outside?

Blood Puppet: For a little bit, yes. But then we'll move into the shoe factory... and keep quiet.

Dusk: *comes back dressed in black clothes with white gloves and bracers. He wears a full mask with a white, simple skull-like pattern on it*

Blood Puppet: *gives him a large knife* This is your now.

Dusk: ... Thank you...

Blood Puppet: Off we go, then!

*they quickly leave for the shoe factory*

*and then they get there*

Annabelle: *had appreciated the breath of fresh air, however little she had gotten while they ran. however, now it was back to being cooped up in a building again* ...

Blood Puppet: We're safe in here.

Dusk: ...

meanwhile, an hour later

Gilder: *he approaches the Dentist's Office with five highly trained soldiers and Sarah*

Celine: *nods*

Annabelle: *sits down on the floor with a huff* ...How long do we have to stay here?

meanwhile

Sarah: *stays toward the back of the group, not wanting to put herself more at risk than she already was* ...

Blood Puppet: Until the bad men go away. If you're bored, you can go play with Dusk.

Dusk: ...

meanwhile

Gilder: *sneaks into the building with the soldiers and Sarah, gun ready*

Soldiers: *with their guns also ready, they search every room thoroughly*

Gilder: ... They're not here... they're not HERE...

Solder: General! I've found something you may want to see! *runs into the other room*

Gilder: ! *runs and and slows to a stop, gaping in horror*

*among the broken bodies and bloody bones was Sam's clothing*

Annabelle: .... *gets up, and goes over to Dusk, staring up at him--she was a bit intimidated by him* ...

Celine: He won't hurt you.

meanwhile

Sarah: What is it?? D:> *pushes past a few soldiers to see what everyone else is looking at--and stares in horror* ...Oh no... oh god, no no no no no...! D8>

Blood Puppet: He won't bite. Go ahead, Annabelle.

Dusk: *looks down at Annabelle blankly* ...

meanwhile

Gilder: *takes off his hat in respect* ... I'm truly sorry, Mrs. Gatzsky.

Soldiers: *do the same as Gilder* ...

Annabelle: ... *to Dusk* ...Wanna play hide and seek?

Celine: ...

meanwhile

Sarah: N-No... th-that CAN'T be it... he... he can't...! *breaks down into sobs* H-He CAN'T...!!

Dusk: ... Only if you want to...

Blood Puppet: ...

meanwhile

Gilder: *he puts a hand on Sarah's shoulder* ... He was a good man...

Soldiers: <:( ...

Annabelle: *nods* Please?

Celine: ...

meanwhile

Sarah: *can't hold back her sobbing long enough to say anything in response--she simply refuses to believe Sam is gone... oh god... what was she going to tell CLAIRE...?!*

Dusk: ...Yes, of course.

Blood Puppet: You'll have to be specific, dear. His mind's a bit foggy. Just tell him what to do, and he'll do it.

meanwhile

Gilder: ... *he picks up Sam's clothes* ... We should get out of here, in case that murderer comes back...

Soldiers: *quickly leave the building*

Annabelle: Oh, okay... *to Dusk* So, you have to hide somewhere while i count, and stay there until i find you, okay?

Celine: ...

meanwhile

Sarah: *follows them out, still despairing. All she had left of him now were his clothes, and their children... the thought only broke her heart even more*

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