xodus

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Chapter two has come to a close and spots are open for chapter 3.

Anyone that is interested don't hesitate to give me a pm, respond here or on the OOC. =D

~Chrono Asylum: Devil's Plague

"You still alive? We need you to get out of here, so don't go collapsing on us yet."

The impudence from these words were enough, the punch just seemed unnecessary. The Lost Number's head lazily tilted towards Maeve, the annoying Banshee as he liked to call her, his hollowed eyes gazing at her. Angel's appearance continued to fluctuate between healthy and withered though one thing remained constant, his empty eye sockets where darkness swirled, a void of nothingness.

"Sometimes I wonder why haven't I killed you," Angel replied as he tapped his temple while observing the other Asylums gradually appear from their 'Red Doors'. The Lost Number didn't know whether to be relieved or disappointed. On one side it meant all the effort on his part didn't go to waste and on the other it meant he was about to exude a lot more effort in dealing with what was to come. The thought of it alone caused the Lost Number's finger to twitch as if reaching for an imaginary weapon.

"It seems we're done. Can we get back to the real world now?" Olivia replied next and Angel silently marveled over the sheer audacity these children possessed.

“Now we can go."

The mild annoyance had steadily surfaced though despite that Angel maintained a relaxed expression. He had to agree with the Iranian, it was indeed their time to go and in their stead he would be left. Such irony and how a part of him wished they had failed, the guilt would have been easier to deal with.

A.M.R.O's Reaper slowly ascended from his throne, which immediately after turned to ash, and almost mockingly applauded the Asylum's with a silent clap. "Well done, I see each of you traversed your inner nightmares and managed to best them and I see you all came out for the better?" As he spoke those words his gaze settled on Cade, the medic being supported by Samad. "Well almost, the results are often unpredictable. Facing you fears can help you move forward but sometimes you end up taking a step back, there is a reason why the mind keeps such things locked behind a door."

How far have I fallen, how much am I owed?

Angel silently walked towards the "Experimental Team" and with each step the world around them rectified itself. The first step stabilized the world and the tremors seized, the second step eradicated any external constructs created by the Asylum, the third step brought upon a clean white canvas and the fourth step caused a rippled to spread across the world around them and changed it back to a familiar setting, a Victorian, Gothic stylized library. The only visible differences were that not a single bookshelf held a book, every candle around them had been extinguished and each gargoyle that rested upon the massive pillars around them, each of them now gazed at the Asylums.

I stood above it all, without equal, without weakness.

The fourth step brought Angel face to face with Cade and Samad and for a few seconds there was only an eerie silence as Angel stared at the two with a callous expression. "You seem to have understood that groveling over you past will only stunt you, I expected you to be worthless.....perhaps...not." With those words the Lost Number observed the shriveled corpse like appearance of Cade, "to be Human is to suffer." With those words a gargantuan gateway appeared in front of the Iranian and the Medic and through it they could see their own bodies, suspended in time.

A husk is all that is left

All the while Angel conversed with the "Experimental Team" Rin simply stood near a corner and stared at the "Banshees". Her expressions unreadable, her face stoic and emotionless and her mismatched eyes without a shred of a soul. The only fact that made this simple act terrifying was that Rin chose to pick them out and do so. The Chrono was infamous for her imperious attitude that even dwarfed that of her partner, she never called anyone but Angel by their name, for her the existence of all those around her were the equivalent of insects. You never pay them any heed until and unless they begin to irk you and when that happens you crush them without mercy. The Chrono's blood lust was almost palpable and solely directed towards the Banshees, the sheer magnitude of her presence was towering as if a vengeful God tore the heavens apart and now stood above you, gazing at you, contemplating judgement.

The Lost Number oblivious to his partner, perhaps due to his fatigue and or simple callousness, he turned to SenDep and observed Olivia and Lawrence. "Little girl, your past is quite the bar tale. How much of it all do you still have hidden behind doors like these?" Angel spoke, his tone a match for his expression, callous and cold. "There are three prominent cult factions that dabbled in the taboo and even the forbidden arts. One abducted children and forced their bodies to transmutate, organic alchemic change....permanent....repulsive." A hint of fury spread across the Reaper's face and in an instant it was snuffed out. "Then there was one that meddled in soul melding, the art of ripping out your sole and locking it into an artificially created body or even another....human. The last of these cults were obsessed with relics of old, weapons that possessed an alchemic drive, curses, runes that possessed ever lasting sigils, lost alchemic arts." Once Angel finished speaking a cruel smirk spread across his face. "They were all persecuted and destroyed, though not entirely....they broke away and formed clusters and faded away into obscurity." With that Angel turned away from the two and another gargantuan door war opened up revealing their bodies frozen exactly where they had been.

By the time it had taken the second exit to be formed for SenDep, Rin had approached the Banshees at an excruciatingly slow pace and now stood within striking distance, her blood lust toxic, her gaze unforgiving, her presence suffocating. "A time will come when the darkness held at bay will break, I care not for the carnage that will come but you will seek aid....and...your options will be limited....for in a witch hunt....help comes seldom....you will approach him....and he is fond of one of you....he will say yes....and then comes the toll....always the toll. It is is fortunate....such a time will never come.

"I see you ladies are getting along," Angel's voice suddenly echoed behind the Chrono, though it did not startle her, nothing ever did, it did succeed in stealing away her attention and allowing the Banshee's some breathing room.

"You need to leave, you are over extending yourself." Rin ignored her partner's sarcasm and instead focused on the signs of his fluctuating appearance. His clothes would vary between a withered cloak and a pristine cloak, his posture stiff and then bent, his face sharp and then gaunt.

"Aren't you sweet, the precious little sister worrying over her brash brother." Angel chuckled softly and ruffled the Chrono's hair causing her twin tail to swing about as if a cat twitching its ears. "But yes it is time to leave this place, I will follow you shortly little one." As the Reaper continued coddling the Chrono he raised his right hand and a shimmer began to appear between his thumb and forefinger, the glint growing brighter and brighter until the light was blinding and it manifested itself into a key.

"...A key?" Rin inquired in her usual uninterested tone and without a hint of an expression that could tell she was curious or even mildly interested.

"Indeed, there a few things you have yet to learn. Within the void the architect creates his domain and he has the key that allows him to safely exit in a situation where the domain is compromised. Think of it like a safe means of retreat when the world around you collapses. In our current situation due to the tethers creates by the Asylum it unhinged my domain and as such it was necessary to un-tether yourself first in order to safely leave the void. This key on the other hand will allow you to leave without performing any such extraneous activities."

"Was it morbid self-satisfaction the reason why you chose not to use the key for the others or is it the key can only be used once?" As Rin spoke she raised her index finger and in response the world around her shifted, the ground became quicksand trapping her partner, the furniture transformed into metal beams that extended and wrapped around her partner and if that was not enough a massive construct of a hand erupted out of the ground and clenched the Lost Number in its grasp.

"Your stupidity is tiring Angel, use the key and leave. I have no tethers." Rin spoke and despite her callous tone and expression, her steps slowly retreated, hesitant.

"Ah little one, you really are a prodigy. To influence my domain so easily, it baffles the mind....but it is my domain. I am sorry Rin but you know I won't leave you here alone, I did promise to never you alone didn't I?" Angel merely shrugged and all the tools of entrapment turned to ash.

"You are haunted by the ghosts of thousands...upon thousand....why?" It was at this moment Angel felt his very heart break, it had been a life time since he saw any expression on Rin's face and for it to be sadness, it was painful. "I would face them all if it mean't protecting you little one," and with that Angel vanished and reappeared in front of Rin and in a single thrust he had stabbed the Chrono with the key.

"Damn fool," was all Rin could say before vanishing.

Angel finally turned to face the Banshees with an expression of utter dismay and self loathing. "I suppose I don't kill you two because you don't run away. To stare at the sun and not flinch when your eyes are scorched, blindness is blissful is it not?" The Lost Number whispered. The final gateway appeared in front of the Banshees.

"Begone all of you, your demons are satiated and mine are about to be released. Avert your gaze, step through the gate and remember this kindness." With those words Angel casually turned away from the Asylums and their gateways to reality. The world around them darkened until the only light came from the gateways belonging to the Asylums and that too was being swallowed up. Then other points of illumination appeared, thousands of red lights appearing all around and coming closer and closer until they took the form of doors, each next to the other and orbiting Angel forming a titanic red halo.

Any Asylum that remained, the last spectacle they would witness before being pulled through their gateways would be this. The massive rotating halo of red door and Angel in between. His appearance finally constant, no more fluctuations just a man staring up and silently trembling, all the doors opening at the same time with each spewing a torrent of blood followed by screams and then nothing.

--------------------Xx----------xX------------------------
Innocence Log Report

• It is reported that the Ante Mortem abruptly left Innocence

• Lost Number Davis Silverfield, partnered to the Chrono titled Terra, attempted to intercept the duo and was grievously injured by the Chrono VI, titled Reri.

• The Asylums that had accompanied Ante Mortem were not associated with this sudden outburst and were given freedom to go about normally, though it is to be noted they displayed minor behavioral fluctuations. Psychoanalytical tests are not advised for now.

• The mission of over-seeing the "Meeting of Crests" has been delegated to the Chrono VIII, titled Yang. The meeting will take place at the Laofeng residence and the matter of the Bloodline massacre will be the subject of discussion. The sole witness of the event is to join them.

• Intelligence unit has detected a small village (location classified) that is a source of an erratic alchemic drive. Investigation over the matter have begun and three Asylum teams have been sent for reconnaissance and information gathering.

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Bump

New chapter soon to start and spots open. For any queries please don't hesitate to shoot a pm. =D

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Aaand Bump

Got a spot for two people for the up coming chapter.

~Chrono Asylum: Devil's Plague

"Do not attempt to use Alchemy when you're trying to seduce someone. They may notice and react poorly."

Angel couldn't help but smirk at that, his veiled gaze observing the kid who had shrieked and nearly passed out. That pain was not too uncommon when one attempted to invade another's mind and that was one reason why the Lost Number usually avoided doing so. There are after all far more subtle and less taxing means of getting similar results.

"Does anyone know why the runt demonstrated such a reaction?" Even when speaking casually his condescending tone was quite apparent which was only further bolstered by his infuriating smile.

"Invading another's mind is a clash of wills and you will always be at a disadvantage. You may retain self recognition but you are in an alien domain. To put it simply you exist as an anomaly in a world not your own, as such the rules are different....everything is different. The mind you have invaded will attempt to correct this anomaly and your conscience will face empathetic bombarded. Foreign memories, experiences, feelings, all of it clashing with your identity. If you are skilled and your sense of self unshakable, then you can manage terrifying things but if you waver you can be lose yourself in a torrent of misidentify." As Angel spoke his gaze steadily switched between Samad, Olivia and Kiara.

"The dangers often weary based upon the target and his mental condition. As such it is advised not to invade an Asylum's mind, the horrors their mind devises is a nightmare you do not want to get lost in. And some Asylums are worse than others." The foreboding silence that had suddenly surrounded the class suddenly dissipated with the ring of a bell, loud and shrill, snapping everyone out of an Angel's lull.

"Next class?"

"Combat training," Rin replied in her usual apathetic manner.

"We should have the medic fight the Iranian, their animosity is exhausting?"

"No, there is a better alternative." Without explaining the details to her curious partner the Chrono calmly departed towards the training hall.

It was a short stroll to the training grounds though Ante Mortem arrived in the end, their tardiness mostly due to Angel's lethargic pacing which was often accompanied by random pauses and groaning. Rin deciding that comforting her partner would be out of character, simply decided to slow her pace to match that of her partners'.

"Your vehicular paranoia is highly irksome," despite the Chrono's words no emotion touched her tone, nor her expression. She simple stared at her partner with her cold, doll like eyes.

"We need to work on your sense of humor little one," the Lost Number replied with a raised eye brow, a smile spreading across his lips upon noticing a twitch on Rin's lip. perhaps the closest thing to a smile.

Eventually Ante Mortem arrived to the training room which had been popularly dubbed "The Box".

"How unoriginal..." Angel thought out loud while staring at the massive thousand square yard room in front of him, a strange energy field seemed to outline it, creating a transparent barrier. This allowed the spectators to observe duels while safely protected from any stray alchemic casts.

With a quick glance at the Chrono, Angel decided he might as well begin. While on their way to 'The Box' the two had discussed the necessity of the pairings for the duels and had agreed it should start with the instructors. What they had disagreed with, were the choice for the pairs, particularly the one which include him.

"The aim of this combat training is for you students to learn by observing. The Chrono has authorized duels between Asylums so you that you realize how trained killers and alchemists fight and as such all standard restrictions have been revoked on the duels that will follow. This will be a real fight with real consequences." As Angel spoke those words a sudden spasm of excitement waved across the students, their eyes widening, whispers surfacing.

"The pairs are as follows. Lawrence will fight against Maeve and Cade will fight against...me." He ended the sentence with a resigned sigh but even the sound of that was lost among gasps of excitement and a sudden outburst of discussions as to who would win along with bets being voiced.

------------------------------------------
An Angel and a Medic walk into a box......
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Angel had been leaning against the wall when Cade appeared from the opposite end, the Reaper's gaze methodically setting upon the Medic. An arrogant smile inching its way across his face as the Lost Number casually unstrapped the Coffin from his back and disarmed himself of all weapons.

"I feel a little generous, as such I shall gift you with a handicap," Angel crowed while pointing at Cade. "You may have heard of the rumors that I never enter a battle that I deem worthy without my Aegis, the Reaper's coat." He couldn't help but chuckle at that. "I will forgo all defense and if you can force me to think other wise, I shall declare you the winner of our duel. If you are unable to defeat me and or force me to dawn my coat, you will die."

"You may begin your feeble attempts at an attack whenever you are ready," Angel didn't even bother looking at Cade as he spoke, his attention focused towards brushing the dust of his crimson vest.

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Badump

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Bump

~Chrono Asylum: Devil's Plague

Rena regarded Lawrence with a tilt of her head, her twin tails swaying as she slowly nodded to the Asylums' explanation of 'Seduction', her eyes slowly narrowing at Lawrence so as to visually display her disappointment at such a bland explanation. Though such trivialities were hardly enough to curb the Chrono's spirits and soon enough she found better sources of amusement, namely the subtle changes appearing on her partner's face. Despite having a flair for the dramatics, Rena knew that Angel rarely if ever gave visual ques of distress or at least that is what it would appear to any bystander. After spending most of your life with a person, you tend to develop an eye for subtlety that and the fact Reri knew she was a genius prodigy.

While the Asylums walked towards their assigned class, Rena kept her pace aligned with her partner, worry creasing her brow. She instantly noticed a slight slump in her brother's posture, then the fact he randomly seemed to tilt his head and flex his fingers. As far back as Rena could think she knew one constant in her life and that had been Angel. She remembered very little of her family but that never really bothered her, Angel had raised her and she knew how much the man had sacrificed. There was a time Rena remembered her brother as a mountain, unrelenting and invincible but she was not so naive as to continue believing that. She had known the truth for some time and perhaps Rin had known it even longer.

"You should have left immediately, instead of thinking about your body's frailty you attempted to shield us from the alchemic poison.....fool Rin thought, her personality ushered awake from Rena's dishevelment.

Angel suddenly appeared to shift his gaze towards the Chrono, a smile greeting Rin. "I see you are awake," he spoke with his usual candor, the palm of his hand gently brushing the child's head. Rin merely locked her mismatched eyes to her partner and nodded.

Ever so smart Angel mused, surprised he could even hear his own thoughts in the bombardment of noise. Thousands of thoughts flooded his mind from thousand different people, non discernible....just chaos....noise....pollution. This was one of the reasons Angel despised reading minds, people may appear composed and in control but if you opened them up you would realize what a mess they were. It took someone with immense skill to filter a human mind and extract the things of importance and Angel over qualified. But if the ability to filter was disrupted then one would become a receiver, all the chaos flooding into you at once.

It will end....it never lasts for long, Angel muttered softly, thinking to himself, convincing himself and then just as suddenly as the voices began they ended, a blissful mental silence following. Now if only I was on solid ground, Angel muttered once more, grimacing at the thought of a piece of metal floating. The Reaper slowly shook his head in weary resignation, the edge of his vision catching a glimpse of a miracle. Rin smiling, but it flashed away so quick even Angel wondered if it was a hallucination from the alchemic poisoning.

"We have arrived," Rin spoke, her voice mechanical and cold, not a hint of emotion or life in it. Her discolored eyes scanning the group of Asylums, almost looking past them for such was their worth in terms of her interest, non existent.

"Let the lessons begin!" With that Angel stomped the door open and walked in, his gaze falling on the class of nearly thirty students, each regarding him wearily and his partner, even more so. Most likely someone had already told the students that Ante Mortem would be one of their teachers and from their expressions it was also easily discernible they were no strangers to the rumors surrounding Ante Mortem.

"I am assuming all of you have already been briefed over your situation. You are all receiving new teachers for the next month and we will be over seeing your entire course. I suppose I don't need to introduce my partner and me, we are legends after all. Instead here is one of my favorite rumors about Ante Mortem. The secret behind our strength is that we feast on other alchemists and then bathe in their blood."

The awkward silence continued until one brave student slowly rose from his seat to face the Ante Mortem, a team of a thousand rumors.

"What about the Pyramid of Giza?" The boy asked, a hint of interest glinting in his eyes.

"How do you kno-" Before Angel could complete, other questions suddenly surfaced and then chaos.

"What about when you broke the torch from the statue of Liberty?"

"What about when she slapped the Queen of England?"

"What about when you stole Elton John's glasses?"

"What about when she shattered the statue of Jesus in Rio de Janeiro?"

"What about the elephant uprising?"

"What about the top of Mount Everest missing?"

By now Angel's face had become comically blank, a bead of sweat rolling down his temple. How did they find out about all these thing? The rumors were bad enough, now this...."

"We shall discuss this after your lessons, today we will be learning about seduction and who better to teach you than Olivia and Cade, the real experts in this field. They say Cade is such a master of the art that husbands are forced to lock their wives. And Olivia? She is so renowned in her techniques of seduction that even the gay community fears her. They guard their secrets closely but if you prod them enough I am sure they will reveal it to you!" With those lies Angel successfully managed to divert the attention of the students towards new victims and then he observed the group of thirty students swarming Olivia and Cade.

"Ah I missed messing with them...."

~Chrono Asylum: Devil's Plague

Post is up!!!

~Chrono Asylum: Devil's Plague

Before Angel could even address Lawrence's astute question regarding their unnecessarily long period in the tanks it seemed he would have to face a most irksome adversary, 'the pissed off viking banshee bitch' as some secretly called the Asylum who was prone to breaking things and limbs. The Silver Reaper however simply settled for 'The Annoying One'.

"No, actually. No ice cream. Lets start with answers, instead. Like, why the fuck did you murder the Ourosboros management? Why the fuck was that Chimera going for specifically you? And what the fuck is the plan for making sure we don't get put at the top of everyone's 'too murder' list?"

The weary Lost Number slowly tilted his face towards the heavens as he remained seated while nurturing his pounding head, yet no absolution came, clearly when he thought this day couldn't get worse some entity out there decided, 'hmm why not'. This was not the first time Angel contemplated why was he the source of the 'Annoying One's' ire? True enough, usually he was the reason behind almost having the two Celtic ladies killed in a horrible fashion, but such things never came to pass.

"I didn't kill the management," Angel replied in weary resignation, knowing if he wouldn't explain the 'Annoying One' would simply continue nagging him. "What would I gain from it? I have enough hounds chasing me, adding others to that list is not wise now is it? Especially when it includes Ourosboros, A.M.R.O and all the Crests." As he spoke, the Lost Number made sure to fix his gaze upon the Celtic Asylum, his tinted spectacles shimmering an eerie silver.

"There was more than one party at Ourosboros. There was us, the Asylums tasked with locating Anya." As soon as Angel finished his sentence his index finger gestured the number one.

"Then there were those that were tasked with disposing the evidence, which was Anya." With that his middle finger joined his index to gesture the number two.

"And finally there was the person who somehow knew we would be in Ourosboros and devised the means to capitalize on the chaos and have me blamed for the deaths of the management, you all were bystander caught amidst a vendetta someone has against me." Once Angel finished, his gaze had shifted to the three fingers raised before him. "Now while it is unfortunate that eventually you maybe hunted to oblivion, such is not the case...presently. Live today and...maybe die tomorrow."

"Big Brother you forgot to answer the question why the Big Rhino thing was focusing on you? Did you do something bad?" Rena, realizing her moment to shine suddenly entered the fray, jumping between Maeve and Angel, twirling between them.

"I didn't forget little one," Angel replied while gently patting the Little Chrono, the kind smile on his face slowly warping to something more sinister as his gaze switched from his partner to the lot of Asylums in front of him. "And yes we did spend a considerable time in the tank." By this point Angel decided it would be most prudent to pretend Maeve was just a part of the wall or furniture and ignore her.

"Shouldn't have stayed that long in the blast radius you bunch a sillies!" Rena suddenly chirped while raising an admonishing finger towards Angel and his cohorts. Her expression a mimicry of Maeve's 'angry face' however Rena could only manage a comically adorable version of it.

"I agree it was not the most wisest of actions to delay our exit, but luckily the Alchemic Poisoning was not as serious as I thought it would be, I apologize for making you worry none the less." Angel's tone had taken a more sober touch despite the slight twitch of his lips that betrayed his submissive act, but then again the Lost Number always enjoyed spoiling the princess.

Rena on the other hand beamed with satisfaction as she continued to 'huff' and place her fists to her hips followed by a nod signifying her scolding would be enough to teach the rowdy bunch of Asylums a lesson.

"We may still experience the affects of Alchemic poisoning, you know the usual. Claustrophobia, Hallucinations, migraines, link disturbances. Oh and since none of us have used Alchemy at all for over a month, you may all also experience extreme Alchemic withdrawal. So you know, the usual. Claustrophobia, hallucinations, migraines and alchemy surges. Now if you all don't mind, I am taking my partner to get some ice-cr.."

"Oh good you all are up!" A stranger's voice casually interrupted the Silver Reaper as a rather tall fellow slowly made his way towards the crowd of re-awakening Asylums. From his stride and general body language it was quite obvious the man considered himself important and the way the others showed him respect also quite possibly signified the man has rank, perhaps a Lost Number. His appearance was all quite standard, traditional A.M.R.O attire, all aside from one oddity.

"What a weirdo..." Rena whispered while standing next to her partner, her eyes staring at the large twelve foot metal ladder strapped to the man's back.

"Yeah.." Angel nods in agreement while strapping his metal coffin onto his back. "Who would use a ladder as a weapon?"

"All of you are officially inducted as A.M.R.O instructors for the next month, your classes start," in that brief pause the man raised his arm to glimpse at his watch. "Now."

As if on que a deafening ring echoed across Innocence signifying the next round of classes.

"The art of seduction," with those final words the Ladder carrying fellow withdrew leaving the Silver Reaper just staring at his back in a strange silence.

"Seduction?" Rena finally broke the awkward silence, confusion showing on her face.

"A ladder?" Angel replied, equally confused.