Our Journey

Unraveled - Part 1

A chilling splash of cold water collided with his body, sloshing noisily against a gray, cement floor. Trickles of red imbricated with the translucent fluid before spiraling down a nearby drain.

“Clean yourself up.” A voice crashed down on him, more freezing than the water that chilled his body.

Then, without sparing the trembling form of white a second glance, he left without another word, the heavy door slamming shut.

Silence. Not a single sound past the gentle trickling of lingering water echoed in the tiny room, Max staring down listlessly.

Candidly, he didn’t quite care for the state of his appearance. Both his hair and his fur were caked with filth, having long since lost it’s healthy sheen…But he knew refusing to clean himself would land him in hot water later. So, removing his bloodied clothes, Max cast them aside, plucking up the bucket of ice cold water, and pouring the remainder of it’s contents onto himself.

His body shuddered in protest, but somehow, that very chill relieved him in a way. A freezing splash of reality, he was reminded that he were a living thing of flesh and blood...But he wondered if what he felt was truly even relief at all.

He could still see it. A vibrant spray of crimson, the steep black of his arms, even as both had long since left his pale skin.

The memory revived in vivid detail…He still smelled it...Tasted it. That intoxicatingly sweet red, choking his senses. The rending flesh still echoing in his ears and body...He felt sick. His stomach churned as dry heaves escaped him, a searing pain igniting deep in his throat. It spread slowly, burning away at him.

He was going mad. Surely, that’s what was happening right now.

How long had he been doing this? Days? Weeks?? Months??? Max could no longer recall. It seemed as though he had always known this pitiful, gray room. Perhaps this had always been his reality.

Somewhere in the back of his mind, he chastised himself for such a ridiculous notion.

He just wanted to sleep.

Gathering up the last bit of his mental strength, Max stood up, making his way over to the crusty bed before curling up, attempting to find some sense of solace in his sleep.

But that solace was short lived, at best.

“Get up.” Words Max could not readily understand bounced off of his dulled senses.

Another cold splash of water was more than enough to jolt him awake, and violently.

“The hell?!” Anger flared throughout Max faster than he could catch himself, realizing his slip of the tongue only thereafter. Yet, to his surprise, Alacard had no visible reaction, his icy blue eyes preoccupied with something else entirely. They were fixated on Max, narrowing suspiciously.

“...What is that?”

The sudden, out of the blue question caught Max off guard, not understanding the context of Alacard’s question.

“...Well, no matter.” Alacard didn’t elaborate before moving on to a different subject, tossing something at Max. “Put that on and get ready. We’re leaving in five minutes.”

What was tossed Max’s way appeared to be a bundle of clothing, having a surprising amount of weight to them. As he unfolded the bundle, Max realized it was a uniform.

The clothing was entirely black, embroidered with the green, spiral-like symbol of the Society, proudly displayed along the chest. It was quite obviously tailored to Max’s physique, leaving the arms open to accommodate his unusual change in appearance as he fought. There was even room for his tail to slip out comfortably from the waist of his pants.

...Rather, it was actually surprising to see how much thought and care had been tailored into this uniform. Max wasn’t sure if he should feel thankful, or concerned.

Right as he finished dressing, the metal door swung back open, Alacard giving him a blatant once-over.

“Hmmm...It’s rather suitable. More so than I thought.” He nodded, saying these words to himself, presumably. “It was about time you were fitted with a proper uniform. I can’t imagine why Azuma seemed to find a lack of one acceptable.” He scoffed. “Come. We leave now.”

Max had to retain the urge to question where they might have been going, simply trailing after Alacard as he turned on his heel without another word.

It felt like ages since Max had seen the bright, marbled floors of the foyer-like entrance. He had grown accustomed to leaving only in the dead of night, so the bright light was actually a bit painful for his eyes at first.

“Ah, there you are.” Alacard spoke out to someone, and Max followed his gaze, catching sight of a jet black tail, contrasting sharply against all the sunlight.

...Kaede.

Even with his uncanny resemblance to Aaron, Max’s immediate response was spite. After all, this man was responsible for Max being put into this predicament in the first place.

At least there was nothing holding him back from staring daggers at the man.

“Oh? He’s tagging along??” Kaede’s royal blue eyes sparked with surprise and amusement. No doubt he knew exactly what was going on in Max’s mind.

“He’ll be accompanying me today.” Alacard replied on the dime, not even batting so much as an eyelash. “Let’s not waste any time, shall we? Lead the way.”

“Right.” Kaede replied with a seemingly innocent smile before glancing down at Max. “Not bringing anyone else?”

“He’ll suffice. Now stop procrastinating. You’re lucky I’m even obliging this ridiculous request of yours.”

Max didn’t have the foggiest notion as to what they were talking about, but Kaede led the way, followed by Alacard, which meant Max as well.

Past the city interior, and into the vast forest surrounding Vars.

Where exactly were they going? Did Max not have to deal with any Demons today?? He felt a strange sense of unease with not knowing what awaited him.

“Seems like you’ve become his little pet.” Kaede’s voice sounded off just beside him, having slowed his pace to match Max’s. “How sad.” He chuckled, loosely hanging his arm around Max’s shoulders. “It’s a pity your little bulldog isn’t around to wriggle you out of this one, huh?”

Max felt a sensation akin to his fur being rubbed the wrong direction.

“How about you come a little closer so I can bite your ear off?” He hissed, shoving the man away.

“Aren’t you supposed to be behaving yourself?”

“There’s nothing in my rulebook saying I can’t obliterate you if you piss me off enough.”

Kaede clicked his tongue, but he didn’t seem to readily leave Max’s side, despite the fact that Max would lash out at him.

Max’s ear twitched in irritation, looking back over at the man to ask why he was still walking beside him, but Kaede spoke first.

“...Hey.” He said, his playful tone dropping as royal blue eyes fixated down on Max in wonder and confusion. “...We haven’t met somewhere before, have we?”

The question in itself was strange enough, but the look on Kaede’s face was even stranger. As though he were trying to figure something out.

“...No? Unless you're referring to when I first met you before you ratted us out.” Max answered even though he was still agitated with the man.

But Kaede’s gaze lingered, disbelieving for some time, before he shook his head, returning his gaze ahead.

“...No….I suppose not…” He muttered. “You just seem...Familiar somehow.”

“Up here where I can see you.” Alacard’s voice called out from in front of them, Kaede walking forward before Max could get any enlightenment on the strange questions.

...Just what had he been going on about, exactly? Max felt a sense of anticipation, but it was lost to him before he could identify the source.

They wandered around the vast forest for some time before the trees began to thin out, a large clearing spanning out just a ways ahead.

Towering over the enormous field, was a large, rectangular shaped building, at least four stories tall. In fact, somehow, it reminded Max of the Society itself.

“...I see.” Alacard’s voice rung out, regarding the building with a sense of familiarity. “To think they’ve still been using the same complex from when our organizations were still a joint operation.”

Max...Had a strangely terrible feeling about this place. He sensed that instinctively, but even so, he had no choice but to follow after Alacard.

Large, metal doors stood at the entrance, lacking color, and the moment those doors opened, Max found a label for his apprehension, a strong, chemical odor hitting him in full force.

A sterile scent at first, and then his vision was dominated in white. The pearly floors, the walls, the ceiling. All was dyed in that blinding, bleached white.

His stomach churned, knotting painfully.

“Ah, Alacard. It’s a pleasure to see you again.” A voice called out to the trio, a man garbed in that same white approached them. His hair a light gray, his eyes sporting a bright, amber color as he smiled amicably. “I see our messenger arrived to you safely.”

“I didn’t come here to catch up for old time’s sake, Sorren. I’m merely obliging your errand dog’s request to meet with you. I owe him a slight debt, and as such, he should be repaid...Somewhat.”

“Ah...Yes.” The gray haired man nodded, amber eyes fixating on Max in curiosity. “It’s rather unusual for you to be accompanying yourself with a Demon...Given your disposition with them.”

“He’s a special case.”

“Indeed…” Sorren’s eyes narrowed, stepping closer to Max in an attempt to inspect him. “He’s not a native Demon...Farronian, perhaps?” He was clearly intrigued, and Max couldn’t stop himself from shying away. “At any rate, I had a proposal for you and the others.” Amber eyes met with an icy blue. “Why don’t we merge our organizations again?” He suggested, gesturing for Alacard to stay silent for a moment. “Now, now. I’m not expecting an answer right away. At least hear me out here...Don’t you think things would be far more convenient if we work together?”

“...You’re a fool if you think I could accept such a proposal…Have you forgotten the result of our last collaboration? Surely you couldn’t have forgotten such a detrimental outcome??” Alacard’s eyes narrowed sharply. “...I’ve humored you long enough.”

“...What if I told you we’ve discovered a way to make our own Demon’s?”

Alacard had begun walking away, but this, however, stopped him in his tracks.

“...What?”

“We’ve discovered a way to artificially create our own Demon’s, from Humans. In fact, it’s really quite simple.” Sorren shrugged, pushing up his glasses slightly. “With a compatible host, we simply inject them with Demonic DNA, and the rest is up to the individual...Of course, this is not to say the process is not without it’s own risks. The rate of rejection is quite high, and lethal. However, with a study bodied individual, the outcome is priceless. An individual with the strength and powers of a Demon. The regenerative abilities, the heightened senses...All of the above in a single being, but one who retains their Humanity.” Sorren explained, gesturing towards Kaede. “He is the result of a successful merge at it’s finest. The prototype, if you will...I’m sure with our combined knowledge and technology, we will surely uncover a safer, more effective method for success.”

Alacard was silent, those blue eyes fixated on Kaede.

“Just think about it, Alacard...Rather than relying on Human power alone, we can turn the Demon’s own strength against them.”

Alacard still didn’t answer, but it was clear as day that he was heavily contemplating the subject.

“...Very well. I shall discuss the topic of this matter at my next meeting with the other Lumos. You can look forward to whatever our response may be after that, for the decision is not mine alone to make.”

“Always by the books. Some things don’t change, do they?”

“I suppose not. You’re still as eccentric as I last recall.”

“You flatter me.”

“It was hardly a compliment.” Alacard scoffed, his back still facing Sorren. “If that’s all, I’ll be taking my leave now.” He turned his gaze to Max. “Come.”

Already, Alacard was walking away, and Max hustled on after the man, not wanting to prolong his time in this awful place. Even as he walked away, he could still feel eyes boring into his back, sending chills down his spine.