Pitter. Patter.
A sprinkle of precipitation fell upon the two as they stood exposed to the yellow-red stained night. The black sky was tinted with the moon's shade, the clouds not escaping the treatment either.
The Trendy Girl struggled to her feet, standing upright against the protestations of her body. Fire wreathed around her steadily, trying its best to increase in intensity along with her deepening hatred.
"Why…why is it me? I didn't deserve to die…why does everyone else get to live? It isn't fair…!" She cried tears of flame, pattering along with the intensifying rain.
Vere shrugged with pursed lips, thinking a bit before answering.
"It's just the way the world is. We're past the point for sob stories…but I'll listen if they're your last words." He said, sliding his hands in his pockets while using [Magpie]. The clear avian flew towards the broken building, retrieving Harvey for Vere as both reappeared in his thought nexus.
"He…hehe…you cruel man. You would kill me so brutally, yet you want me to talk?"
"Well, yeah. It's the least I could do." Vere replied, his lips upending as a sympathetic glint formed in his eyes.
"You could let me go…." She coughed out blood, though her face looked somewhat hopeful. Vere shook his head with a helpless look, giving her an even smile.
"Sorry, but I can't. A job is a job, and I'm nothing if I don't follow my obligations. So in the next life, take care not to get caught…." He joked, cocking his head with a peal of dry laughter.
"So you don't care that I'm a murderer…? You're such a cruel guy~hehe. You know…you'd be my type in another time…."
"That's just too bad, miss…?"
"Inel Mariglas. Hey, do me a favor and visit my grave if you win. Now…you wanted to hear me out?"
Vere nodded. "It's as good as anything else." He said as he gestured for her to continue.
"Well…it was JJ&R's grand release that day. I was really excited, you know—I grew up on the brand. The lead designer Malpatel was an icon for me, and the grand release featured some of his works!
So I shuttled across all of Westwood, ending up at Neo Westwood like 30 minutes early. Anticipation crept within me as I counted down the time of the release, but…I never got to see it. Instead, a Desire Crevice opened up at random. The kicker? It opened in a space directly between my em…chest…and my stomach. The rift itself burned me to a crisp, and I was lamenting my fate to the last.
Yet I guess I got another chance at life or something—as I woke up in this strange area. It was scary, but I eventually found my way back to Old Westwood. From there, I was drawn to this place, envy crawling within me as I got to see the employees not only living but getting to experience all the designs I would never see release.
Hehe, I can't even put those things on even now. It's as if it's cursing me, trying to drive me even further insane…I did tests, you know. The Incited employees could wear them just fine…it was only me who literally rejected their very presence. It's enough to drive a girl mad!
So…I killed. And killed, and killed, and killed some more. Yet I could only feel more and more hatred, hahaha…." Inel took a deep breath, pacing around amidst the silence for a moment.
"So, that's my story! Thanks for listening, even though it isn't anything special." She beamed, and for a second, she felt as if she were really alive again. It had been so long since she experienced someone even having the patience to let her rant and recount her past without screaming in agony."Heh. People will really kill for anything, huh?" She mocked, snorting at the shallowness of her supposed motives.
Vere crouched and stretched out his legs before rolling his neck and shoulders as he shared the smile.
"I guess so. I've probably seen people kill for less, though."
"Haha, at least that makes me feel better. Like I'm not as alone…well…." She clenched her fists, skin giving underneath her stone-like digits as her eyes spouted even brighter flames.
"Yeah…it's time to get this over with." Vere knowingly nodded, and the two ran towards each other again! Our detective had mostly healed up by now and took the lead in the ensuing conflict.
A brutal slugfest commenced—clawed digits and charcoal fingers performing their respective impacts as they ripped, beat, and tore. Fire singed the platform like ash, and sooted footprints met with the seared ones as their movements overlapped.
Vere—his movements more skilled—always had the lead. But before he could finish, he had to recoil and recoup due to the intense flames threatening to reduce him to a crisp.
His messy ponytail fluttered as rain seeped into the lesions presented to the open air, pattering down and repressing the flames somewhat. The steady tapping of the sky liquid washed away the stains of the City, casting the futuristic buildings in a new light.
Two fists smashed into faces, though Inel gave more ground as a knee jerked up into her abdomen. Shortly after, a clawed hand hooked around the back of her head and smoothly forced her to the ground while Vere pulled up a flailing arm and stepped down on its respective shoulder plate.
CRUNCH!
With a tightening grip and a swift movement, his hands blurred, causing the bones of the arm to twist unnaturally. Then, the flesh started to tear apart, only connected by gruesome tatters of viscera and veins as ashen blood spewed over the platform.
Black tendrils of Authority thought power waved and whispered as he dug his feet even further into the plate of her back. The grinding of the bones grated in Inel's ears, blood gushing underneath her as her teeth dug into her lips.
Until a final pull separated her limb from her body. Fire flared out of her back, but Vere simply batted it away with her own fire-resistant hand. Then, tossing it aside, he stomped down as fast as the heavy drops falling from the lacrimation of the atmosphere.
"Fuck—can't you…UGH…make this…ANY…quicker??" Unable to just die as she struggled like a snail pelted with salt, she hacked and coughed as she forced out these words.
Vere shook his head. His movements were pitiless and methodical. He stopped as soon as her bones were reduced to spiky paste within her flesh.
[Magpie].
Feathers fell, and Harvey arrived in his hands. Pushing the barrel down at the back of her skull, he squeezed the trigger.
And with a click, he [Pressed].
>Suspect neutralized. Processing gains…
The Magpie hovered around as Inel dissipated, waiting to pick up the yielded Evidence. Then, ignoring his SAD for a moment, he let the Magpie do as it wished and basked in the rain.
"Ha. Is it bad that I don't feel bad at all about it? Maybe…" Rain slid down upon his torso as he looked toward the sky. His face promptly fell into a neutral expression while he made for the edge of the helipad.
Sliding onto his behind, he let his legs fall over the edge and hang freely. His gloved hands reverted to their standard form as he leaned back, the hands pressed palm-first on the platform.
"…I could go for a drink right now, but let me just enjoy this view. For a moment longer."
And the Warden stayed there as long as the rain did.