Chapter 3: Familiar Faces
The Man laughed.
'He knows who I am. He must be one of the ones after Commander.' - Grimm
"Come to me." - The Man
Grimm started to walk towards the man as he seemingly had no will over his own body.
'What the? How is he doing this?' - Grimm
"Tell me Grimm do you know what happens when you disobey Heaven and Hell?" - The Man
"No?" - Grimm
"You get hunted down like a dog!" - The Man
'This is my last warning, Grimm Break free!' - The 2nd voice of the Grim Reaper
*Engine Roar*
*Crash*
The man was hit by Hal's car.
"Oh shit! Who was that Grimm?" - Hal
Hal hopped out of the car in giddy.
"Commander watch out!" - Grimm
*Slash*
"Woah!" - Hal
Naomi slid past Hal.
"Naomi? - Hal
"Hi Hal." - Naomi
"What happened to you?" - Hal
"I worked out a little. Besides I've literally been dying for another sparring match with my..."
*slash*
Blood splattered off of Hal as Naomi sliced her with her index finger.
"Big sister!" - Naomi
***
-10 years ago-
"Big sister! Big sister!" - A young Naomi
The little girl ran up to someone in a red cloak. The person she ran up to was rather small but as they turned around to the girl their faces filled up with joy.
"Hi little Naomi!" - Hal
Hal patted Naomi on her head.
"Sister Hal, can we go to town again? I saw this new stand shop with like a million apples and they reminded me of your hair!" - Naomi
"I think I might be able to make the time for that but remember you'll start training very, very soon. You should start getting ready for that instead, don't you think?"
"Hallll, please I'm ready, I was born ready. Besides, I'll have you here to keep me up." - Naomi
Hal smiled at Naomi.
"Of course you will Naomi! Now let's go see these apples you want me to see so badly." - Hal
***
-6 years later-
An apple is thrown in the air and is cut in half.
"Begin." - Hal
Hal and a Teenage Naomi are sparring with each other.
*Whack*
"Ow!" - Naomi
Naomi fell back on the ground.
"Get up." - Hal
Hal held a fake blade down at Naomi. Naomi smiled as she hit the blade away with her own standing up immediately. She went on the offensive against Hal. She swung at the ground flicking dirt and rocks up.
'I can show her now! I can show her how much I've learned!' - Naomi
In an instant Naomi switched places with a piece of dirt behind Hal. Hal smiled like a proud mother.
*Clack*
Naomi fell to the ground as Hal had hit her in the head with her blade.
"Get up." - Hal
Naomi shot up lost in thought.
'How did she do that?' - Naomi
"You realize Naomi, your family and the village taught you that ability." - Hal
Naomi then was looking at a stick falling to the ground.
"Who do you think taught them?" - Hal
Naomi then shook Hal by the arm.
"Why didn't you tell me that! Oh my how much do you know? You never thought to teach me that beforehand?" - Naomi
Hal smiled as she brushed Naomi's hair with her hand.
'She's taller than me now that's for sure.' - Hal
"Hal, when can you teach me to drive like you?" - Naomi
"When I can trust you behind the wheel." - Hal
"Naomi!" - A Woman
The sound around them was cut in half as a woman came around the corner calling Naomi's name.
"Yes mother?" - Naomi
"Your father wishes to speak to you. It's urgent." - Naomi's Mother
Naomi made her way over to her mother.
"Hello Hal!" - Naomi's Mother
"Hi Nayata!" - Hal
"How is the training going with Naomi?" - Nayata
"Never better. I promise your daughter is a natural and I've never met a better learner." - Hal
"Well take care Hal!" - Nayata
"You too Nayata and oh yes Naomi!" - Hal
"Yes?" - Naomi
"Next time I see you, maybe I'll take you on your first drive.." - Hal
"You're on!" - Naomi
Hal smiled as Naomi walked away she looked around her, putting her hands in her cloak pockets.
'Now what to do...?' - Hal
***
Naomi and her mother walked in silence as they walked into a place called The Pink Leaves
"Mother?" - Naomi
"Hm?" - Nayata
"Is everything alright?" - Naomi
"Your father will explain it all to you." - Nayata
"Oh, okay?" - Naomi
'Maybe he's finally kicking the bucket.' - Naomi
***
"Naomi...My only child..." - Naomi's Father
A burly man laid in a bed with skin pale as sand.
"Yes father?" - Naomi
"I must tell you my time is coming to its end. Meaning-" - Naomi's Father
*Violent coughs*
"As head of the clan I must assign the next leader of our people." - Naomi's Father
Naomi held her father's lifeless hand.
"I want you to know I will..." - Naomi's Father
'Who?' - NAomi
"...Not be choosing you, for you will be my last jewel in this world of monsters." - Naomi's Father
"Wha-" - Naomi
"Hush child...let me die to nothing but the sound of silence." - Naomi's Father
Naomi looked at her father's smile as her grip got tighter around his hand. Tears started to fall gently as she knew this was the last time she would be with her father.
'I hate you, not even in the end could you tell me you love me or that you're proud of me. You leave me in silence and more expectations. You leave me with a sour taste in my mouth even though you tried to make it sweet. You wanted a boy, no you wanted a warrior and I tried but you never watched me and never saw what I could become.' - Hal
"I was your greatest mistake so don't go calling me your jewel now..." - Hal
Naomi's eyes started to act as a waterfall; it was no longer silent but that didn't matter, it didn't have to be silent any longer.
-2 years later-
¨Naomi...Naomi wake up dear.¨ - Nayata
Naomi woke up to her mother's cold hands shaking her. She sat up as her eyes slowly opened seeing that it was still dark outside.
"Yes mom?" - Naomi
"I have rather unfortunate news..." - Nayata
***
After Naomi's mother told her what was happening she shot up and ran out the front door still in her sweatpants and short sleeve shirt.
'How? There's no way they could do something like this?' - Naomi
She started to sweat as she continued to run down the street. A few dogs barked from their cages as she passed by, she ran as if someone's life was on the line. Someone's life was on the line not literally but metaphorically. It was Naomi's life, her future life with someone. She then stopped as she saw someone leaving town.
"Hal?" - Naomi
Hal turned around silently.
"Naomi?" - Hal
Naomi embraced Hal holding her tightly.
"Please...please don't leave." - Naomi
"Naomi I-I have to." - Hal
"Why?" - Naomi
"I no longer have a place here to stay. Tomorrow your cousin Julius will make an announcement, I want you to take it how you will and hold onto that feeling." - Hal
"Bu-but I don't care what my cousin has to say. I'll leave with you if I must." - Naomi
"No Naomi, your mother would never forgive me and someone needs to take care of her." - Hal
Naomi cried a little holding tightly to Hal as Hal's arms were dead on the sides of her body.
"What did you do, Hal?" - Naomi
"You will find the answer in due time." - Hal
Hal slightly pushed Naomi off of her.
"Goodbye Naomi." - Hal
Naomi fell silent not wanting to let go. She looked up as Hal continued her walk to somewhere.
"What about my first drive?" - Naomi
Hal stopped as the memory surprised itself.
"It's funny how time passes, so much went on after that day that I guess I forgot my promise." - Hal
Hal turned around with her spiky smile.
"How about instead of your first drive being with me you use it to come find me." - Hal
Hal then disappeared into the darkness that laid ahead.
-The Next day-
A couple hundred people stood in front of a stage as a Man walked onto it.
"Today our leader Julius has a very important announcement to share with his fellow civilians. We would like to however like to address our sponsors linxy-" - Announcer
***
"Naomi dear." - Nayata
"Yes mother?" - Naomi
Naomi and Nayata walked through the cold desolate streets of their town going to Julius's announcement.
"Don't do anything outrageous no matter what the announcement is." - Nayata
"I promise mom." - Naomi
"And fitzshop again thank you to all of our sponsors but now what we've all been waiting for. Let me introduce to you...Julius!" - The Announcer
Naomi looked ahead of The Announcer as the crowd fell silent as they watched a young man with curly long dark hair, a face that was stern with a few freckles, and a build that had the ladies swooning over him.
"Hello my name is Julius, excuse me for my tardiness for I had to attend to a smaller matter. Recently I had to make a hard decision for the greater good of our community, how hard you might ask hard enough for when I woke myself in the night I had to seek deep into myself to make sure I was in the right. I had to make sure this was a decision that was right for us for it was a decision that did come from my heart. I do not wish to be selfish but I wished to better you all and by that I chose this path. My selfishness will bring us to safety from the monsters this world holds. I hereby wish that these people come up to the stage. Aki Erbeta, Anya Reice, Ale Vero, Bello hanshield-" - Julius
"Mom, what is he doing?" - Naomi
"I don't know honey." - Nayata
As Julius called the names of many they all went onto the stage until about 50 were present.
"I would also Like to invite my dear cousin...Naomi up to the stage to assist in handing out these once in a lifetime citizen awards." - Julius
Naomi's heart stopped.
'What? What is he getting at? What does this have to do with Hal?' - Naomi
Naomi nuzzled her way through the crowd as a few girls called her lucky.
"I call these before me because they all have a similar trait but before we get to that I would like to reward these things for being great additions to our community. That is where my cousin Naomi comes in." - Julius
Julius turned away from the mic towards his cousin.
"Say a few words of gratitude and give me a cue to bring out the gifts." - Julius
"Wha-what are you doing Julius?" - Naomi
"What your father couldn't." - Julius
Naomi walked up to the mic as she prepared to speak.
*Clicks*
"Naomi do me a favor and stay faced towards the crowd for me." - Julius
"Uh hi my name is Naomi." - Naomi on the Speaker
"I am the cousin of Julius and the daughter of Niko. Both of them have shown to both love and protect their community and I can't wait to see the future of Julius's rule-" Naomi
*Gunshots*
The crowd screamed as the people on the stage started to fall as men with guns stood far behind them. Naomi fell silent as she slowly turned her head to all the bodies on the stage. Julius slowly walked up behind her taking the microphone.
"Remain calm." - Julius
Some of the crowd looked at Julius seeing such an odd calm look on his face.
"Today is a step towards a safer humanity. The people you cry for aren't humans they are demons yes they might look like us but they come from a place humanity can't touch. They are a disease to our people posing threats like no other just due to their existence." - Julius
'Hal...is this why Hal was banished?' - Naomi
"So from this day forward I will pronounce the banishing of any demon that dares to walk on the grounds of Grand fields. Through force or elimination." - Julius
'How does he plan to stop them from approaching the grounds of an entire county? Aren't there other people who are the heads of their cities? Has he gone mad?' - Naomi
"I also have one last announcement, today marks the day that I am no longer the head of our community for the lack of officials in other cities and towns. I now am head over the entirety of Grand fields. Now please if anyone would like to oppose me I'll be glad to use force. If there are any questions you'll see your answers in the coming days." - Julius
The crowd was silent, no one made a noise in fear as they were seeing the rise of something evil.
"Julius?" - Naomi
Naomi looked down at the stage in tears. He looked back and walked up to her slowly.
"Did...Did you banish-" - Naomi
"Yes...I did it for you?" - Julius
"Why?" - Naomi
"No matter what, you are my family Nai, and I didn't want to upset you by killing your best friend..." - Julius
Naomi's tears were tears of anger.
"So I made a deal with her. I told her what I was going to do and planned to do. In return I needed her help." - Julius
"Wha-what do you mean you needed her help?" - Naomi
"It's kind of hard to kill an entire government in one night by yourself." - Julius
Naomi's heart sank to the bottom of the sea as she thought about it for a moment. However she stayed quiet and dried her tears with her right sleeve.
"You should go home Naomi, I think it's best if you sit the rest of this one off. Once you're ready I was thinking about a position to be the head of your hometown." - Julius
Naomi turned away from Julius and walked off the stage as the crowd let her pass as she walked through the crowd didn't make any contact with.
'I wouldn't touch me either after seeing me involved with that. Did Hal really pull through with that deal? She must have if she is still alive and Julius runs the place. Why dad...why Julius?' - Naomi
"Naomi..." - Nayata
Naomi felt the embrace of her mother and it hit her.
'I should at least protect what I have right now.' - Naomi
***
-The Next day-
"Mom, I'm gonna head out for some bread." - Naomi
"Oh I can come with you, I need some extra appliances anyways." - Nayata
"No mom, I'll be fine, I promise." - Naomi
"Oh dear do you promise?" Nayata
"I promise." - Naomi
She grabbed a jacket off a coat hanger and put her shoes on.
"I'll be back as fast as possible." - Naomi
"You better." - Nayata
Naomi walked out the door as the bright colors of her town seemed gray. The leaves were dying and it seemed the sun would never shine as bright again. A weary dread seemed to have been placed over the town that had given birth to a tyrant.
'It feels different, there's not a single child at the playground today nor is anyone out and about.' - Naomi
*Snap*
Naomi swung her head back as Julius stood there.
"Ju-Julius? What are you doing here?" - Naomi
"I wanted to visit with you before I take off. Don't worry, no one is with me, no guards or nonsense, just me." - Julius
"Julius, I want to know why...why did you do what you did yesterday?" - Naomi
Silence was present in between as Julius broke it subtly.
"I could go for something to eat." - Julius
Julius began to walk past Naomi.
***
*Sip*
Julius drank a cup of tea as Naomi sat across from him in the empty restaurant except for the waitresses and the cooks in the back.
"You know Naomi I'm surprised you are not more angry at me." - Julius
"I am but I just don't get a lot of it." - Naomi
"Well, allow me to explain," - Julius
Julius set down his cup as the tink against the table made Naomi concentrate even harder.
"About 2 years ago when your father died before you talked to him he wished to speak to me about something. We all knew your father was sick and his leadership would come to an end sooner than later. Even with that I thought he just wished to say goodbye to me, maybe wish me good luck and respect the new leader and what not. So when I got there I found it odd to see Hal there as well-" - Julius
'What Hal was out of town I thought about until she came to spare me?' - Naomi
"I was unsure what was occurring but as soon as they saw me that's when I was told the news." - Julius
'Here it comes...' - Naomi
"Hal was to be appointed as village leader." - Julius
"What!?" - Naomi
"I was confused but what was even more shocking was Hal was refusing the offer saying things like "I don't deserve it." and "It should be Naomi. or anyone else" But you know your father, he wouldn't change his mind for shit. That's when your Father then spoke to me, he told me to make sure you were protected along with your mother no matter what it took. I in return swore to it saying I would do so he then said "I was more like a son to him than a nephew after all these years" I didn't give it all much thought but as I left Hal asked me to talk to her somewhere private. I said no at first because many girls started to ask me that at the time and it was just weird, but she said she needed to talk to me about her being the new head an-" - Julius
"What would you like to order today?" - Waitress
"Oh I'll take just a bowl of white rice." - Julius
"I uh...just the classic chicken and rice." - Naomi
The waitress walked away as Julius looked at Naomi looking down.
'Hal was supposed to be the new head?' - Naomi
"When me and Hal met each other, she said she had an idea. "A risky one but a good one" were her exact words. Her plan was cynical but beautiful. She found a way where I could respect your father's wishes and carry out Hal's as well but make it better for me. The plan was simple: she would kill every government official within a 100 kilometer radius of us and I could fill the role of the head of all of them. She was so desperate that I didn't bother to ask why or how she came up with such a plan. I agreed with her on one condition that 1 she made it 200 kilometers instead." - Julius
"Why would Hal have thought of such a thing? And why would you ask for more?" - Naomi
"She was desperate but she was the most capable person I knew given the fact she wasn't human. The most powerful demon I've ever met and yet she told stories of stronger ones and was still alive. So I took advantage of those facts about her, knowing I could get more out of her." - Julius
"So is she still killing the government officials as we speak?" - Naomi
"Well that's the thing, we had to wait to enact this plan. I became a leader a week after your fathers death, I was never a fan of becoming or even the thought never came through my mind of becoming a leader but the taste of the power was so addicting. Throughout we waited two years to make sure it would be carefully planned until the time was right. I told her to do it 3 days ago when the time was right." - Julius
'She was banished the other night?' - Naomi
"She came back to me the morning after I figured it was for a break or what not but she told me "It was done" I sat there thinking that was non-sense how? But then I did some research an hour later." - Julius
Naomi was confused.
"She killed over 1,300 people in a single night." - Julius
A drop of sweat went down Naomi's face.
"I was impressed at first but then it hit me. That something that powerful could just exist just right under my nose. I chose to get rid of her. She understood and respected the decision, choosing to leave. After she left that night I was tormented in my sleep, by nightmares I couldn't comprehend. That's when an even more insane idea came to my mind even more than the one that Hal had first approached me with the day of your father's death. My plan was what you saw yesterday. It went smoothly and I regret nothing for I slept peacefully last night." - Julius
"You killed a lot of people and are involved in at least a thousand other murders...Julius you should know that my father would have never wanted any of this." - Naomi
"Your father was a weak man even at his peak he compared to nothing more than a soldier in a time that was ahead of him. I am simply what the world needs with bringing prosperity and the extinction of the monsters that invaded this world in an unholy manner." - Julius
"You sound crazy Julius-" - Naomi
"If you weren't under my protection I'd kill you right now without a second thought. Which brings me to my next point...Naomi your leeway with me being in charge and pledging my life to your fathers will is going to be a lot, but know this if keeping you safe means killing you then I won't hesitate to eliminate you like the pigs who have already tried to go against me." - Julius
'His personality is like a quarter one moment it's like he's the cousin girls would say I'm lucky to be around, and then the next he's just some stone cold killer.' - Naomi
"Here is your food." - Waitress
The waitress smiled and set down the food on the table.
"Don't worry it's on the house." - Waitress
She bowed and then scurried away.
"Naomi..." - Julius
"Yes?" - Naomi
"Good thing this is free because I forgot my wallet." - Julius
He smiled awkwardly as he scratched the back of his head.
"Aw come on Naomi lighten up, besides you better eat fast you need to get that bread for your mother right?" - Julius
"That's a good point..." - Naomi
"Look Naomi I don't care what you decide to do with this village no matter you're in charge of it. I don't even care if you decide to leave it to waste as long as you are safe. I have people watching you in and out so if you try or do anything funny I'll deal with you myself." - Julius
'Such mixed signals.' - Naomi
They both started to eat but neither made an effort to continue conversation or make eye contact. Julius sat up after eating and left in silence.
'He must have lost a screw or something when father died. I barely know what I can say to him without the thought of being killed.' - Naomi
She sat up leaving a tip with a thank you note.
'I'm in charge of the village now...I don't even know what to do with that kind of power. I don't even want it if I become anything remotely close to Julius...I wish I could just escape this life and live a new one. Life became so different within such a short time frame. Would Hal really have done such a thing?' - Naomi
Naomi's eyes glimmered in the sky as she looked down the road.
*Fast footsteps*
She began to run with tears going down her face.
'I'm sorry mom but I won't be coming home. I can't protect you because i'm not strong enough...' - Naomi
While behind her on top of a building Julius watched her run.
'Run all you want Naomi...I'll keep you safe.'
***
-Present day-
"Naomi who did this to you?" - Hal
"I did besides we are on even grounds now. Ever since you left Julius became a corrupted leader of all of the land, because of what you did." - Naomi
Naomi dashed at Hal as she parried the attack with her arm being scratched by the knives.
"Naomi what did he tell you?" - Hal
Naomi started to pushed down on Hal as Hal went down on one knee pushing up.
"The truth!" - Naomi
*Crash*
The man pushed away the car as Grimm, Hal, and Naomi looked at his horrific state.
"All of you fall." - The Man
The 3 proceeded to fall to the ground being helpless to his commands.
"Wha-what the?" - Hal
Naomi then got on one knee.
"Kill the Reaper damnit!" - The Man
Naomi went to kill Grimm but suddenly stopped at her knives met his face.
"Why'd you stop you're under my control?" - The Man
"I must run! I must run!" - Naomi
"Quit talking and kill him already!" - The Man
"I MUST RUN PLEASE I MUST RUN!" - Naomi
Her screams were frightening to any ear around.
'What is going on?' - Hal
Hal then covered her ears in pain.
"Stop screaming!" - The Man
The screaming then stopped.
"Damn, now kill him." - The Man
"It's too late!" - Naomi
The man felt a tap on his shoulder.
"You're on privately owned property." - Unknown
The man turned to see a young man with shaggy dark hair and a beautiful face with freckles.
"Who do you think you are?" - The man
"Tell me what you did to my cousin first?" - Julius
"I killed her the-"
*Plop*
"That's all I needed to hear." - Julius
The man's head hit the floor as Julius stood over him.
"Now now now-" - Julius
Julius looked at the three who were all now standing up and were looking directly at him.
'Who is this guy?' - Grimm
"What a reunion this is...who's the new guy?" - Julius
'Trouble' - The 2nd Voice of The Grim Reaper
Julius smiled at them as they remained quiet with Naomi making the slightest look towards Julius.
'Must...Run!' - Naomi
