(Bloodwraith POV)
Blood.
Ever since then, I've found it beautiful.
The day I escaped.
The day I discovered...
Alarms blared through the building, an obnoxiously loud sound as they knew we were here. After sneaking in, it was much more difficult to stay hidden without my powers.
Oh, hold on, let me catch you up to speed real quick~!
Kasai and I partnered up. Kasai and I have infiltrated the new facility that dickhead Waverson bought. Kasai and I are committing murder.
BEAUTIFUL.
The sharp tip of my umbrella stabbed into the guard's throat, pinning him to the wall. He stared at me with wide, horror-filled eyes, gurgling on his own blood. With a quick retreat of the umbrella, blood poured from his neck as he face planted onto the ground.
Another guard raised their gun, their shaking finger on the trigger. I opened my umbrella, moving it in front of me and reflecting the bullets shot into the ceiling.
As the bullets stopped another guard rushed me from behind with a knife. I quickly unopened my umbrella, grabbing it by the opposite side and using the hooked end of the handle to grab the man by his throat.
With a quick movement I flung him in the way of his fellow companion who started to shoot at me once more. Bullets riddled the guards body, sending him to the ground in a gorgeous heap of crimson liquid.
The other guard froze in a terrifying realization, and that moment of hesitation was all that was needed for his head to suddenly be disconnected from his body.
Kasai stood behind him, her bloodied blade already sheathed again. The guard's body collapsed, his head staring up with the frozen face of someone in terror, yet with eyes lifeless as they could come.
"You really know how to decapitate someone~" I smirked.
"Is that supposed to be a compliment?" Kasai raised an eyebrow in response.
"Yes." I giggled, stepping over the bleeding, deceased bodies.
"Bloodwraith." Kasai stated. "Be cautious. The alarms started practically the moment we set foot in the building."
"What, you think they were expecting us?" I questioned.
"Either that, or someone immediately noticed the hallway camera you broke." Kasai replied.
"Eh, who cares?" I shrugged. "I don't really care as long as we send these miserable excuses for researchers six feet underground."
"We share that sentiment." Kasai stated. "But don't forget your powers still are suppressed."
Giving her an affirming nod, we continued our merry way down the hallway. It didn't take long for more guards to appear, and it didn't take long for them to die either.
The researchers tried barricading themselves into their lab rooms. Kasai decided to let a fire foster within the rooms and leave them to desperately struggle to undo their own barricades as the fires consumed them.
Her cruelty is truly wonderful~!
To think that a hero would be this fun to work with, I never would've thought~!
After all, I've never really felt much about heroes.
Other than-
FOOLISH.
Or maybe that's just my own jealousy speaking. Doesn't matter now! Now I have my precious Jason~!
Oh, how I can't wait to snuggle into your arms when I'm done with these vermin. I won't let Sophie stop me from cuddling with you all night long~
Ehehehe~
Another slash and another dead, blood spraying from their neck in a beautiful arc. They collapsed to the ground, creating another crimson puddle that was starting to become a sea within this facility.
It was when we entered the top floor, after clearing the others, that trouble struck.
Kasai had dashed forward, unsheathing her blade in a quick motion and cutting a guard in half. The other brought up their gun, only for it be knocked away by the hilt of her weapon. With a quick slash the second one fell.
I watched her wondrous form as I murdered another guard, sending his blood splattering against the wall.
And then a door fell.
To explain, a strong, metal door slammed down inbetween us from the ceiling. We must've been in a high security area for that to be here. And unfortunately for us, it cut us off.
I heard Kasai's muffled voice from behind the door, barely able to understand it. I tried to communicate back, but it was quite difficult.
How FRUSTRATING.
Whoever activated this metal door, I have a special entry to death reserved especially for you~!
Well, if I remember the layout correctly from what Kasai told me, then we should be able to loop around the hallways and run into each other again before reaching the largest research lab.
Well, best start-!
Only for me to turn around and see a familiar face. Or I guess to be more accurate, the top half of a face, since he wore a black mask that covered the lower half.
"Nightshade." I greeted. "Not a bad alias, Alex."
"I don't go use that name anymore, Eleanor." He replied. "You know what I'm here for."
"Yes. Yes I do." I chuckled. "And I'm going to make sure you're DEAD for trying to bring me back to him."
"After all..." I twirled my umbrella with a twisted grin. "...isn't death a kinder fate than being a brainwashed pawn?"
A low growl emanated from him as he pulled out a knife and quickly rushed me. I swung straight for his neck, missing as he moved out of the way for a stab to my stomach.
I twisted my body out of the way, stabbing my umbrella into the ground and quickly readjusting the direction of my momentum.
I sent a high kick which he caught with his free hand, only for me to jump up and lift my other leg into the air as well. With a mid-air spin I generated enough power to kick his arm and get him to release me before he could use his knife.
I landed on my palms, quickly pushing myself away as he swiped with the knife. He threw the knife at me, only for me to catch it mid-air and redirect it into the wall.
I landed back onto the ground, grabbing my umbrella and giving a mock bow. After all, wasn't that just a wondrous performance~?
"I've always hated your gymnastics." He growled.
He continued to rush me as he pulled out a second knife, dual-wielding them and not giving me a chance to retaliate without getting hit. It wasn't until he continued pushing me back that I realized what he was doing.
He was cornering me. Dangerous enough by itself, and that's without considering his special power-!
A shadow hand burst from behind me. I contorted my body, avoiding both his strike and the shadow hand. However, this put me horribly off balance, allowing a second shadow hand to grab my arm.
It jerked my arm back, moving my umbrella away from its tactical position. The other shadow hand then grabbed my other arm. I struggled against the shadow, only for another to grab my first arm. More burst from the shadowed corner, grabbing my limbs and keeping them from moving.
Nightshade stashed his knives, walking up to me and staring me in the eyes. "To think there'd be a day that I finally beat you."
"Beat me?" I chuckled. "You didn't beat me, Alex. You beat a powerless version. Can you really call that a victory."
"Shut up." He replied. "For so long I had wanted to best you...but I lost that desire years ago. Now I'm jealous of you for another reason."
"You escaped, leaving me to rot." He spat, staring at me with eyes full of hate.
An image of his younger self, looking at me with adoration, flashed across my vision. Followed by a slightly older version, blood trickling down a cut on his cheek as he stared at me with wide eyes.
The next time he was covered in sweat with a determined look on his face. The next time his eyes were confident. Then frustrated. Then jealous. And then angry.
And finally, hateful.
The same hateful eyes which I saw now.
But if anything, they were worse now. Rage that had built up for years, fostering within him. And even when we met again, he mostly kept the facade. But now, in his eyes, I could see all of his rage.
And I can't refute it. I did abandon you.
I...I'm...
"You could've escaped." I replied. "Use your power, dumbass~!"
"If it was that damn simple, I would've done it ages ago." He cursed. "You are just as damn frustrating as you used to be."
He sighed. "But as angry as I am, I have to thank you. Thank you for possibly giving me a chance to escape today."
Before I could ask what he meant I was dragged into the shadows. My senses went haywire as darkness clouded my vision. It felt like I was getting tossed and turned inside of a box on a ship in a great storm, absolutely confusing and disorienting.
And then I was suddenly staring at the floor.
I gasped for air, taking deep breaths as I reoriented myself. And then, I looked up, dread filling my soul.
Sitting there, at the desk that was now in front of me, was the man I hated the absolute most.
Wilson Waverson.
"It's been a long time, Eleanor." He sickeningly grinned at me. "Though I heard you've decided to call yourself Bloodwraith."
I tried to stand up, I have to escape! But he extended his arm and pointed his finger at me and spoke those horrible words. "I command you..."
"...to never run away from me again."
And all strength that was in my legs with the thought of escaping was suddenly sapped. I couldn't bring myself to raise myself from my knees, no matter how much I tried to force myself.
FUCK!
"No! Damn it!" I screamed, clawing at my legs, trying to make them move. But they wouldn't.
I can't use my powers on him. I can't attack him. And now I can't run away from him.
He won this long game of cat and mouse we've been playing for years.
No...
Jason...
My fingernails dug into my legs, drawing the beautiful blood I so desired.
Waverson let out a pained grunt as he slowly stood up. He staggered from the desk, walking towards me.
"I'm surprised you can walk, old man." I spat at him with a venomous glare.
"A lovely new invention called an exosuit." He laughed, before it sputtered into coughs. "My power may have taken almost all of the strength in my body...but with this, I am no longer immobile."
"You should've stayed immobile." I growled. "Or better yet, you should've rolled over and died."
"Now now, Eleanor..." He leaned down, staring me in the eyes with his disgusting grin. "...you shouldn't say things like that to your dad, you know?"
"You're no fucking father of mine." I spat out.
"Oh, how you wound me." He chuckled, slowly standing up with a pained look. "But it doesn't matter. I've finally got you back in my clutches. And with your power..."
He monologued to himself, laughing at his own success. "...I can rule everything. I don't even need those 'allies' anymore. In fact, I think I know your first target after so long, Bloodwraith."
"Rejoice, Eleanor!" He cackled. "You are the key to my reign! With your power and my suppressor, nothing will stand in my way!"
Jason...
I'm sorry. It looks like I've actually failed.
Hah...haha...
My tears dripped onto the cold floor.