"There are four hallways and one long corridor connecting them to the elevator. We'll split up, Arc and I taking the farthest right," Quill instructed as the team ascended the stairs. "Do you all have your radios?"
"Yes," everyone responded in unison, except the two new members.
"Gibbous and Crescent, head to the farthest left."
"Copy," Gibbous replied.
"Roy on the 2nd, Pierrot on the 3rd."
"Understood," the two confirmed.
They quickened their pace, and a few floors later, they reached the 8th floor.
"Report to Sycamore in cases of civilians. Don't forget channel 2!" Quill shouted by the long hallway, running with Arc to the farthest right, as everyone ran to check for the unit assigned to them.
Gibbous and Crescent wasted no time. Gibbous immediately took form without a moment's notice, and Crescent followed. After a brisk run, they reached the designated unit on the far left and burst through the door.
The door slammed open, hitting the wall it was attached to. The sound echoed inside, and the two immediately searched for any signs of movement, but there was none. It was empty.
"I'll go to the kitchen, check the rooms," Gibbous told Crescent and she headed to the opposite direction as the other checked in the kitchen.
Returning to the hallway after a quick sweep, Gibbous met Crescent.
"The kitchen was clear too."
"Empty in here as well," Crescent confirmed, standing before the last closed door. They exchanged a glance, then both looked at it.
Gibbous reached for the doorknob when suddenly, they heard a low growl from inside. Their suspicions solidified. It was this room.
Gibbous gave a nod to Crescent and she opened the door, only to find it locked.
"I'm gonna break it open."
Crescent moved aside as Gibbous stepped back, preparing to strike.
With a powerful kick to the door, it was flung open.
Crescent entered swiftly behind her, and together they spotted a woman, by the bed... tied.
They paused at the doorway, a strange confusion washing over them and also somewhat relieved.
One of the demon's hands was tied by a ribbon to the headboard, growling low and thrashing around to break free.
Minimal black blood trickled from its mouth, void-like eyes, piercing through them, and back to the ribbon that restrained it.
She couldn't speak. But as they looked at the woman's movements… it only got more strange.
She hit herself, then the rope, as she tried to break free. Her movements were erratic, as if she were attacking herself and the ribbon that held her captive.
"What is she doing?" Crescent asked in a whisper.
Gibbous' eyebrows furrowed. It seemed familiar to her. That scene. She saw pieces of ribbons by the night table, and a picture of a mother and her daughter propped on top of it.
"I think…" Gibbous approached the bed slowly. "I think she tied herself up..."
"Why would she do that?"
"Who knows… Did the woman know she was about to be possessed?" Gibbous prepared to seal and walked closer. "She has a chance… I'm gonna seal her."
Gibbous sat by the bed, gently gripping the woman's calf as she began the sealing process. The demon howled in protest, still struggling against its restraints. Gibbous' expression twisted with pain as she glanced at the photograph on the nightstand.
"Crescent," she called out softly.
"Yes?" Crescent stepped closer to Gibbous, watching intently as she continued to seal the thrashing demon.
"Find the little girl."
────────
Roy opened the door to his assigned unit, and the first thing he saw was a man's… feet.
Feet that dangled mid-air, leading to their owner's neck tied by a rope to the ceiling. The grim sight froze Roy momentarily before he snapped out of it.
He looked up. From the man's form, he could tell he was a young adult, but he couldn't quite see his face from the lack of light near the ceiling.
Turning around, he took his radio to report the sight before him when suddenly...
A loud thud was heard.
Roy turned.
The teen before him, who was dangled up in the ceiling was now on the floor, void-like eyes and a distasteful expression upon its face. He stared back.
"Where are the women?" it demanded in a deep coarse voice, in complete contrast to the boy's softly-featured face.
It was clear now; this was no longer the boy, but a demon that had taken possession, Roy would think.
He immediately put his radio back on his belt and closed the door behind him. His white form glowed more intensely as he approached the demon.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you. There are no women on this floor," Roy replied in a calm manner.
"Who are you? Are you one of them?" The demon clicked its tongue, a grotesque grin spreading across its borrowed face. "It's my first time, you know. Cut me some slack and let me enjoy my chance..."
"That body..." Roy stated firmly, already readying his right hand to seal. "It's not yours."
"I'm only borrowing it!" The demon dropped on all fours, as it stepped back in Roy's every advancing step.
"You're hurting the boy." Roy conjured a weapon, seemingly a sword made of light. He swung it right across the demon and it dodged effectively with a swift leap.
The demon chuckled. "Boy?" It pointed to itself, and to its head. "This 'boy' has committed worse than my worst crime in hell..."
Roy narrowed his eyes, his focus unwavering. He knew the demon's words were always meant to provoke. It was a lesson learned... too many times.
Roy swung another strike at the demon, and it jumped behind him, delivering a quick kick to Roy's neck. He narrowly avoided the fatal strike, and his sunglasses were flung off his eyes, clattering to the floor.
He turned and another kick was delivered straight to the gut. He staggered back from the demon's unexpected kick, the force almost knocking him off balance.
The demon cackled. "Now I can see your eyes, I was right."
It lunged forward with arms extended, aiming for Roy's exposed neck. Reacting swiftly, Roy twisted away. He knew it was faster than him, and his blows would be meaningless if he could not hold the demon down.
Gritting his teeth, Roy released the weapon. He unbuckled the belt on his waist and took off his jacket and shoes.
He took on a fighting stance.
"You won't harm anyone else," Roy declared.
"Oh, but I will," it taunted, scoffing. It crawled backward on all fours.
Roy stepped forward, the light from the window shining from behind him.
"Then... I will have to spoil your plans."