Executioners

Late at night, the sound of laughter and music still echoed in the streets of the Cathedral Ward. Karla managed to eclipse herself from the crowd and went out for a walk. The streets were peaceful, unlike what she experienced before when she was looking for Francis. She knew the streets very well. She had jumped from one roof to another, in search of the old coward.

She smiled as she remembered that Francis became a hunter as well. 'I feel like I've been stuck in Yharnam for years. Those people drink and laugh, oblivious to the tragic end they're all bound to experience. I just don't know when the city completely fell to the scourge.' Karla reached the bridge that led from Oedon Chapel to the Cathedral Ward. From there, she had a very good view of the city.

She was forced to drink some of the blood with the other hunters who celebrated her victory. She felt light headed. 'Everything in this city is related to blood. That skinny hunter spoke about a curse. Perhaps this blood is a wolf in sheep's clothing. You get healing, but you're cursed and become a beast.'

Karla witnessed the transformation of the skinny hunter. Her theory about the cursed blood was proven right. 'I have to get out of here before things go really bad.' She sighed and walked toward the tower. She had no idea where the woods where she was discovered were. Moreover, she wasn't sure if the key to going back to her version of Yharnam was the chair.

"Tired of the fraternizing with fellow hunters?" a melodious voice reached Karla's ears. She looked up and saw Lady Maria watching her from a balcony in the hunters' tower. Lady Maria was on the floor above Karla. For some reason, meeting Lady Maria at that moment gave Karla a bad premonition.

The tall, beautiful woman jumped from the balcony then landed next to Karla. She was as graceful as a feline. Her landing barely made any sound. She slowly walked toward Karla. "Your accomplishments may have something to do with your background. But I don't believe the story you've told me." Lady Maria's tone changed drastically. Her melodious voice was now cold, her gentle smile disappeared.

Karla didn't utter a word. She had a feeling that whatever she said would be used against her. She stared at the lady and waited for her to speak. "When are you from?" That question sent shivers down Karla's spine. "I'm afraid I don't have time for this. Otherwise I would have played your little game and extracted information from you differently." Lady Maria closed in on Karla and squeezed her shoulder. Her smile returned then she said "why don't we talk somewhere else? Prying ears are plentiful in Yharnam."

Karla nodded and walked with the lady. They went towards the Great Cathedral. Karla opened her mouth to talk but was silenced by her boss. "We are just taking a walk through the city. You are a foreigner, and a famous one at that. There is no harm if the student of master Gehrman showed you around. Now, let's enjoy the wonders of Yharnam in meditative silence."

Karla followed behind, unsure of her future. 'She asked me "when"! She knows about the chair. She just doesn't know who I am…' Karla pondered while the lady pushed the door of the Great Cathedral open and dragged Karla in. "In this city, I'm the only friend you've got. If you cooperate, I'll help you get out of here. If you don't, I'll get my answers then send you to the forbidden woods."

Karla and Maria didn't stop at the Great Cathedral. They went through the nave then reached the altar. The altar was beautifully decorated with the statue of a headless woman, pouring some kind of nectar from a jar. Even though the nature of the sculpture was grim, the execution of the piece was beautiful.

Karla didn't have time to admire all of that. Her mind was in shambles. The woman in front of her was a legend in Yharnam. People dreamed of working under her wing. Karla was blessed enough to be chosen to work directly with her. People regarded that as a blessing, Karla wasn't so sure anymore. 'This curse disguised as a blessing thing is really getting annoying.' Karla thought as Maria activated a hidden contraption.

The whole sculpture trembled and started moving. Soon it disappeared as chains rattled as the altar sank underground. Karla looked above and saw another platform descending towards them. When the chains stopped moving, another sculpture displayed itself in front of them.

On top of a rectangular platform were different marble statues. A patient lay on a bench while three church doctors stood around it. The church doctors seemed to be experimenting on the patient who was just bones at that moment. The face of the patient was covered by a cloth. Under the bench, a beast resembling a werewolf peeked behind the cover.

Maria jumped on the altar and pulled Karla next to her. She took an item from her pocket and inserted it on the patient's skull. The platform shook then the whole altar started moving upwards. When it reached a complete full stop, they were at a completely different building. Karla could never have imagined that such a place existed on top of the cathedral.

It looked like a large medical establishment. Maria led Karla through some stairs then through a big wooden door. "This is my study. We'll be discussing your matter here." Wails, crazy laughter, painful cries, all of them reached Karla at once. "What is this place?" Karla asked. Lady Maria smiled. Karla saw the devilish smile on Lady Maria's face then shuddered. "The dark side of the moon.

"This is the place where the church works tirelessly to find a cure to the disease that threatens us all. No one would hear your screams here. If you wish to fight for your life, be my guest." Lady Maria move like lightning and positioned herself behind Karla. Stupefied, Karla remembered how Gavril moved behind Surgit and Francis to reach her. Fear filled her heart and her knees grew weak. "Will you tell me what I need to know? Or must I extract it from you?"

***

In Central Yharnam, a different kind of meeting took place. "Ladies and gentlemen, something had caused old man Gehrman to make a move during the upcoming hunt. The city will be on high alert before and during the hunt. This is our best bet at launching an attack against the castle." Dumb Jack gathered many people in a secret chamber.

What he planned had nothing to do with the church or the hunters' agenda. It was something only he cared about. With his charisma and charming words, he managed to rally a lot of people to his cause. "Lady Maria, our nemesis, will join Gehrman and Laurence in their hunt. This will be our greatest chance. Once the hunt begins, we will meet at the entrance of Hemwick. We'll slaughter our way through and end those vile bloods once and for all!"

People clicked their fingers. They couldn't clap or cheer lest they attracted unwanted attention. "Master, how are we to get the gates to open?" asked a frail young man in the back of the room. "I have help from our brethren at the Oto workshop. We have enough explosives to destroy the main gate and the bridge leading to that wretched place." Hate filled Jack's heart. Every time he spoke of Cainhurst, his blood would boil. "Master Willem was right. We should never have used the Old Blood. But those vile bloods partook in forbidden blood, given to them by our own scholars. It is our mistake. So it is up to us to correct it."

The frail man raised his hands again. "Master, those vile bloods deserve to die. But their knights are as deadly as any other experienced hunter." Jack shot a cold look at the frail man. "Logarius, do not misunderstand my eagerness. I've spent months planning this attack. We will definitely succeed. We are executioners. When we strike, we leave a trail of blood behind us to warn our enemies. Once this is over, the executioners will be a recognized faction within the Hunters' Order. Even the old man will be forced to recognize our merit."