12 A Dark Night in Baterilla

Baterilla was especially dark tonight a blanket of clouds blocked out the moonlight, engulfing the town in black. The streets sparsely lit by flame-bearing lanterns, creating separated sections of dimly lit areas. Shadows moved sporadically on the roads and on walls.

The air was hot and humid a suffocating feeling pervading the island.

Marines heavily patrolling the streets devoid of pedestrians, the occasional scream or gunshot would echo through the air. Military occupation was in full effect, to the dismay of the populace.

Alva moved atop the buildings headed for the closest voice screaming out in his head.

He could feel all of their emotions, the anger, sadness, fear. He could feel them all mixing in his mind. The negative feelings were pushing his mind further away from himself.

"Ah I can't take this I'm going to go insane..."

Alva stopped on a roof over a dark alley between two tall buildings.

A woman was struggling below, surrounded by three marines.

The first was holding her down while stifling her screams, a second was trying to r**e her. Another younger marine was keeping watch near the road.

Seeing this was the last straw Alva lost it, his human mind let go giving way for something—primal.

Alva stepped forward.

A hollow thud came from the end of the alley. The marine holding the woman down had a bad feeling he looked down the alley but couldn't see anything It was wholly too dammed dark.

Not hearing any noise other than the struggle of their new prey he turned his attention back onto what he was doing.

Suddenly a shwick sound was made; the man violently thrusting his hips stopped abruptly.

Blood sprayed all over the woman and the marine pinning her arms.

His head rolled backward off of his shoulders.

The woman's heart seemed to stop, she almost lost consciousness.

The last marine froze all he could see is two red orbs shining in the darkness before he could stand a hand grabbed his head thrusting it sideways.

When a knee harder than stone collided with his right temple launching his skull followed by his body into a brick wall. Blood burst from his fractured skull in two places from his ruptured eye socket and his split crown. The marine instantly blacked out, narrowly avoiding instant death.

The young woman stared into the red eyes thinking the angel of death had come to take her from this cruel world finally.

She attempted to speak, but nothing came out.

She sat on the ground shaking. She held her head down preparing her heart for death.

When a red headkerchief floated onto he lap bearing a black eagle and a blade.

When the frightened woman finally looked up all she could see was the legs of the downed marines being drug around the corner.

The alley was left occupied by herself and a headless corpse.

She held the headkerchief tightly as she bawled uncontrollably vowing in her heart never to forget the monster that saved her.

Alva moved with his two and a head prisoners through the streets, stealthily avoiding the light and the Marine patrol's, until he reached deep into the forest.

The marines regained consciousness when cold water washed over their faces.

When the rays of the rising sun were temporarily blinding them both.

When their vision finally cleared they were able to make out their situation.

The younger one saw a short man clad in all black standing in front of them both.

The only part of him visible was a pair of perfectly calm blue eyes the rest of his head covered by a black mask.

When his vision left the figure in black, he noticed the head of Petty Officer York strung up on a rope tied to a tree branch slowly turning in front of him.

He tried to scream but his mouth was stuffed with a cloth, he then tried to move. It was a useless effort.

His hands were bound together, and his arms tied to the trunk of the tree—above his head. His feet were likewise bound together, and tied to the tree, lastly a rope wrapped around his waist tightly secured his body to the tree.

He was suspended off the ground, the tight ropes cut into his skin.

Looking to his right, he saw fellow Seaman First Class Hopps in an identical position bound to the tree next to him. SFC.Hopps was in a much worse condition than himself blood poured from his head and face.

Alva walked up to the confused young man and removed the gag while holding his index finger to his lips under the mask "Shhhh" Alva tried to signal to the man to be quiet.

As soon as the gag was removed.

"AHHHHHHHHH HELP SOMEONE HELP!!!" The young marine tried with all of his heart to attract attention in the thick forest.

Alva stared at the man disappointed, he apparently didn't understand who was in charge.

Massaging the bridge of his nose Alva looked at the young marine in annoyance, but let him scream for an entire minute.

Alva then punched his face, busting his nose. The marine had never been hit so hard he could no longer breathe through his nostrils.

"Scream all you want no one can hear you, now shut the fuck up until I tell you to speak," Alva said.

Fear filled his eyes.

"Name and rank?" Alva unsheathed Gilgamesh pointing it toward his throat.

"Ahh... uh, Ellis Dellia...Seaman First Class," the marine said.

Alva promptly punched him in the mouth, sending a spatter of blood into the air.

"You will address me as sir," Alva said, in a low tone.

"...yes sir," Ellis said.

Ellis was bewildered and uncomfortable calling someone so short they had to stand on a bucket to match his height sir, and his voice was so high pitched. His captor was clearly a child. When he looked into Alva's eyes he did not hesitate to comply, this kid hit so damn hard.

"Ellis, do you know where you are?" Alva retracted his long knife.

"No sir," Ellis said.

Alva lightly cut his leg.

"Ahhhh," Ellis began to scream.

"That was a lie, don't fucking lie to me. Where are you?" Alva moved closer.

"Ah ugh dammit I don't know" Ellis began to sweat.

Alva cut his leg again this time lower than the first.

"You better think about your answers," Alva said.

Alva then placed the gag into his mouth once more. Moving his bucket in front of the other marine he placed his hand on this one's gag.

"You gonna scream like a bitch too?"

He shook his head.

"Good you don't want to piss me off."

Alva removed the gag, and the marine started gasping for air, his nose was already broken, he could hardly breathe through the cloth.

"Name and rank?"

The older marine said nothing.

Alva stabbed his leg, then cut his chest it was shallow but painful.

"What did I say?"

The older marine was less cooperative than his accomplice.

The marine just stared at Alva. Seeing this Alva brought out a roll of cloth from his bag. Unrolling it revealed an assortment of tools and a few small blades.

Alva swapped his black gloves for a pair of smooth red leather ones, that fit tightly to his hands. Alva picked the pair of pliers and returned to the older marine.

The man began to sweat as a bad omen washed over him.

Alva began to pull out all of his fingernails repeating his question after each one.

"NAME AND RANK," Alva said.

"VMMMAHHH...Sam Hopps...Seaman First Class," SFC Hopps said.

"What day is it Sam?" Alva said while slapping his face.

"I..I don't know," Sam said.

Alva broke one of his fingers then stuffed the gag back into his mouth.

"Think about your answer," Alva said then brought his bucket back in front of Ellis.

He removed Ellis gag.

"Where are you?"

"In a forest on the island of Baterilla, in the South Blue," Ellis said. His voice was shaking, he had never seen anything so vicious done to another human before.

"Why are you here," Alva said, a cold glint in his eye.

"My unit was ordered to come to this island sir," Ellis said.

Alva then punched his stomach.

"Wrong answer," Alva said, "why are you here?"

"Because you brought us here..."

"—AND?"

Ellis thought very hard about his next answer scared of the pain if he got it wrong.

"Sir, I'm here because of what I did?"

"Yes that's right Ellis now confess," Alva said. Walking over to his tolls he grabbed a curved skinning knife.

"Confess?"

Alva then slid the thin blade along Ellis' arm removing a patch of skin.

Among his screams, Ellis wet himself.

"Confess what happened last night," Alva said in a low tone.

"I..I didn't want to I swear, PO.York grabbed the girl after we left the bar. He ordered me to look for anyone on the street, I—I didn't know what was gonna happen!"

Ellis began to cry drivel. Alva gaged him again.

"That's right Ellis you helped them r**e her, and you did nothing. You are a coward and scum...probably waiting your turn," Alva said.

"The only way scum like you deserves to live is if you're useful scum. Tell me what I want to know, and you go home. If you don't then you can join this scum!"

Alva thrust Yorks head in front of Ellis who began to have a mental breakdown.

Seeing Ellis was currently useless Alva moved in front of Sam.

"You ready to talk?" Alva raised the bloody knife in his hand, slowly rubbing it against Sams' face.

With wide eyes, Sam looked at the blade.

Alva could feel their fear.