Air raid sirens are blaring as spotlights streak across the skies. Gunfire sounds followed by screams and terrifying howls bellow.
A black suited man waves us over. "This way! Head towards G wing shelters!"
Leading Toko, we head towards the man.
"What is happening?!" I shout.
"We're not sure at the moment..." The man's words begin to slur. "We- a.re..un.d.er.."
He falls before us, the back of his head cut open, with his brain pinched and pulled apart.
A shimmering sound clicks as a half-invisible figure stands behind the corpse.
As though uncloaking itself, a Strain now stands there with a skeletal mouth and gritted teeth. With squinting eyes, it directs its void-like eyesockets at us.
Pushing Toko away, I call out. "Run! Head towards the shelter." Yanking my pistol out I won't make it in time.
Slowly lifting its bloodied hand the strain begins to reach out.
Three supressed shots are fired, sending the Strains arms flying apart. The strain whips its head around looking towards a nearby rooftop.
Squatting down it prepares to jump.
Three more shots are fired, hitting its knee caps and one in the head.
My eyes dart around as I attempt to locate our savoir.
For a moment, I see a masked figure holding a large rifle, yet her gun looks alive, with blue flames oscillating.
Toko yanks my arm and attention as she attempts to drag me away. "C'mon Coco! they're going to run out of spots in the safezone."
Turning back around the masked sniper is gone.
Nodding my head, we make our way towards the neon sign as it flickers: Bunker 4.
Two masked gaurds wave us in.
Once inside there's a small group of novices huddled around; the metalic walls echo the warzone outside.
In the corner of the room a older women is sitting there cross legged, she has a military tunic on with a skeletal print as though an X-ray of her body. Her long black and purple hair cover her eye as she smirks.
Screams bellow outside, I turn to Toko. "Can you try and see if they have any food here? Im starving."
Her eyes narrow. "Sure, but your not going to go back out there, right?"
"No, I am going to figure out whats going on."
Not droping her suspison she nods and walks away.
Sorry Toko, but this is something I have to do.
Walking over to the exit, the two guards block my exit. "I apologize sir, but you cannot leave."
"What? I cant just stay here knowing people are dying. I need to go help them!"
"Its policy and for your own safety. The more recruits out there, the more people we will ahve to protect. Just let the pros do their job."
"Pros my ass, where were the pros when I was about to lose my head?"
"You there. Come here for a second." The older women from before waves me over; her pearl earring sway as she tilts her head with a warm smile.
Hesitating, I finally walk over in pained defeat.
"Yes, what can I-"
I suddenly feel steel slam into my face as she punches me in the nose; blood begins to trickle down my face.
"Ow! What th- what was that for?!"
She wipes her red mechnaical gloves off with a handkerchief. "For looking at me with perverse eyes."
"Wha-? I wasnt even."
"Well then, that's for not."
Pinching the bridge of my nose my voice becomes naisly. "That seems a little rigged."
After a few seconds my core activates, reversing the injury causing the bleeding to stop.
"So, why did you lie to that guard back there?"
"Lie? I didnt, I really do want to help people."
"And now you lie to me?" She wags her finger. "Has no one ever told you its wrong to lie to adults?"
"What are you saying? I didnt lie!"
Her netural expresion turns into a smirk, "You dont even see it, do you?" Her eyes narrow, "...No, you do, but you choose to hide from it."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"You want to get back out there to kill. That must make you a highroller; if thats the case, Somnia has done a wonderful job creating such a gluton of sins."
"How did you kno- Wait, you know Somia? Shes in trouble."
"Tell me boy, in this moment you want more than anything, to feel their blood run down your hands, their tears to stain your clothes. You want to consume their purpose in a futile attempt to satisfy the ravenousness void that is your own... isnt... that... right?"
I want to say shes wrong, but I can feel my stomach grumbling for that very meal she just seductivly described. "No, I jus-"
Her x shaped pupil spins to life as her pink eyes glow, the core on her chest glows an iridecent array as a smirk widens on her face.
"Now, hop for me."
Raising my eyebrow I tilt my head. "Im sorry, I think I mishea-"
"Hop...for...me. Youre going to be my new blood bunny."
Theres another pause, standing there I try not to let my jaw drop to the ground. "Like...hop to it? You want me to go get you somethi-"
"God, youre a stupid bunny, arnt you?"
The women vansihes, I feel two arms embrace me from behind. For a moment my body feels safe, she gives me the type of hug I'd assume a mother would give, like a fur blanket wrapping around you after a long day.
But in the next its as though Im sitting in that bathtube filled with ice, disemboweled bodies suround me as the sound of tearing and shrieking echos around me. The air is stifling as my happiness is incarcerated, leaving me with only despair.
Looking down I see my stomach is cut open with my organs missing.
Crying out, my eyes open, I'm now lying on the floor and tears run down my face. Yet the tears dont feel like my own, as though they were bestowed to me.
The women is sitting back in her original spot with a smirk.
Did she just kill me?!
She taps on her phone before holding the screen up at me. "Here, take notes." she shows me a video of a bunch of baby bunnies hopping around as they stumble over one another. "Cute, right?"
"Uh...yeah."
"If you get it, then why arnt you hopping?"
This... has to be a dream, right?
"May I ask who yo-"
The women begins to get up.
My body jolts back as I put my hands up. "Ok,ok." for some reason I fear her, as though not even consiously...
so...
I crouch down...
Am I really about to do this?
I would rather fight another hundred Strain than do this.
Looking up at her, she gives a confident smirk.
My face burns red as I...
Begin to hop around.
She happily watches resting her cheek on her hand.
Fearing what she might do, I continue, despite my knees screamining out.
Between her hair intakes, a crown like hairband reflects the minimal bunker light. Slowly picking herself up she walks over a pats me on the head. "Good bunny."
My ears burn as this women crushes every part of my manhood.
This is what I get for belittling Hallow.
At least its over. Picking myself up, the women drops her smile.
"When did I say you could stop?"
"Uh-..." ducking back down she towers over me.
"Much better."
Looking up at her, I sigh. "Can you at least tell me who you are?"
"I suppose a bunny should know its owners name. My name is Bastard."
I mumble under my breath. "Fitting."
In the next moment my body is on the ground.
She killed me again!?
"And what is my bunny's name?"
I hesitate, deciding whether I should lie, but she doesnt seem the type I could gas light. "Coffin."
"Aw, Coffin. So your the wonder boy the boss is after. Well then, you'll be my little grave bunny."
This is so demoralizing.
Bastard places her hand on her chest. "You asked who I am? I am the head of the Avant-garde."
My eyes widen as I now ensure my bunny stance is flawless.
"The...Avant-garde?"
Leaning down with a smirk she holds my face as she babies her voice. "Thats right. It looks like my little bunny finally sees its place."
I may have lived under a rock my whole life but its hard to not know about the Avant-garde, they are the special force of Pioneers.
Simialr to the Tear Stalkers, none of them have been publicly noticed due to the nature of their missions. "Then, why would you tell me such secret information?"
She tosses a collar before me. "In exchange for becoming my bunny you cannot share any of my secrets."
"What?! I dont gain anything from that exhcahnge. Plus, bunnies dont even wear collars!"
Bastard smirks as she tilts her head down.
Without needing to say anything, I get the message. With a defeated sigh, I put on the collar.
"Now what do you say when someone does something for you?"
My face burns as my ego has crumbled to dust; this is her merely blowing away the ashes.
"...Thank you."
With a closed eyed smile she pats my head. "Good boy."
Toko walks over raising an eyebrow as she looks down at me while I squat down. "Coco? I know you had some parental issues, but clinging to the first older women you see isnt the best idea."
Bastard smirks. "Coco, I like that."
"Hey, grandma! keep your hands off that nicknam-"
Grabbing her, I cover Toko's mouth. "She didnt mean that, she meant... beautiful mature women."
Toko trahses around, in her fit, she ends up hitting me in the chest, knocking the wind out of me.
She stomps at me. "What was that about Coco?!"
Coughing for air I gasp through each word. "Toko, dont mess with her she is a part of the...medical team that is helping the survivors."
My eyes widen as I hold my mouth.
Thats not what I was going to say.
Whipping my head towards Bastard she smirks. Tapping the red collar around her own neck she puts her finger over her mouth as she shushes.
"Coco, youre simping for a doctor? I guess health care is getting pretty expensive, so I dont blame you."
The women gets up as she stands before us.
Grabbing Toko I position myself between the two in a defensive position.
She smiles down at us. "So, you're Coroner's girl scout."
Raising my eyebrow, I point to myself. "Me?"
Despite the words being directed at me, based on previous events, they didnt seem to be intended for me as she looks past.
Turnning away, she pulls out the large sword from her back sheath.
She slices an x shape in the air. As though reality itself were sliced, it folds like cloth, causing a pathway to be created before her. on the other side is an unnerving landscape, a mix of night and day. With a wave she walks away through.
"It seems coincidence really is God's way of remaining anonymous." Tilting her head back the women smirks. "Bye bye for now... my grave bunny."
"Grave bunny?"
"Dont, even ask."
Rattling noises sound behind me followed by a steady dripping.
Turning around I see Sputnik, his LED screan has wide eyes, yet not one of fear, instead he has a maniacal grin plastered on his face.
His body is cracked and crushed as it creeks forward with every step. A glowing green blood trickles down his body as it covers the radioactive night core implanted in his chest.
In his hands is what appears to be an seratted arm, with a bloody splat he drops it to the ground.
Sputnik giggles to himself as he stumbles forward. "Win...win...win...win... I will win."
Rushing over to him I help him stand. "Sputnik? Are you alright? What happened?" A part of me feels guilty, I inadvertently abandoned him.
Theres a pause before he slowly side eyes me. "Coffin... I have done it, I have been reborn, I have created the folder."
"Folder?"
Clenching his fist he continues giggling, "I will fill my entire 7.2 million yottabyte being with initialized victory."
"What are yo-"
"The folder will be filled with videos of every win, every kill, every expression of terror as my enemeies plead the reaper for a redo. Yet, they will find themselves with only silence to mourn their grave."
"I see... well, good for you I guess. How about we get you to a medi- a mechanic?"
"Coffin... the boundries been moved."
"The boundry?"
Patting my shoulder he stumbles past me down the corrdor. His core activates as it begins to slowly repair his body, until hes standing straight once more.
Nightmare: a terrifying or very unpleasant experience or prospect.