Chapter 1: Nightmare of the past

6 months after the Sanctuary incident , all members that survived from the other world agreed to lived separately to avoid suspicion of their sudden appearance.

In the neighborhood of Nagabusamachi , Hachioji , Tokyo prefecture , Varmoth come out from her house to go to the local bakery in her area. Few moments later;

Bakery cashier: "Thank you for your purchased. Please come again."

Varmoth: "I will."

After she goes out from the bakery shop , she is planning to go back to her home but on her way there , she accidentally bump into a girl from opposite direction. The girl's handbag slip from her arm and land on the ground causing her stuff to fall out of the handbag.

Varmoth: "Oh I'm sorry. I didn't see you were there."

The girl: "I'm sorry too. It's my fault for not looking my surrounding."

Varmoth help collecting the girl's belongings back to her handbag. After she collected her stuff , she pick up the handbag and give it to her.

The girl: "Thank you."

Varmoth: "You're welcome."

The girl pause for a brief moment. Then , she recognize something and ask;

The girl: "Varmoth-chan.....is that you ?"

Varmoth: "Hmm ?"

She look at the girl for a moment. Then;

Varmoth: "Kaori...?"

Kaori: "Oh my goodness , it is you !"

Kaori proceed to hug Varmoth so sudden it surprise her. Soon after , Kaori begin to sobbing.

Varmoth: "Eh !?. Kaori-chan , what's wrong ?"

Kaori: "I thought...I thought you were dead..."

Varmoth understand that she were gone for a long time. So she gently pats her head to comfort her.

Varmoth: "It's okay. I'm here now."

Few minutes later , Kaori wipe off her tears after she was calm.

Varmoth: "By the way , what's bring you here ?. I'm pretty sure you're not from this neighborhood."

Kaori: "Well , I'm on my way to meet someone I know in this area to exchange some info."

Varmoth: "I see , well goodluck with your job then."

Kaori: "Wait Varmoth-chan. I have a favor to ask from you."

Varmoth: "Hmm ? , what is it ?"

Kaori: "Well , I have another exhanging info at the Hachioji Police Station. Would you like to accompany me there tomorrow ?"

Varmoth: "Sure , I don't have any plan tomorrow so , I'll accompany you."

Few moments later after the discussion , Kaori goes to her work while waving at Varmoth. Varmoth also wave her back then walk back to her home.

On the next day at the Hachioji Police Station ,

Varmoth and Kaori just finish the information exchange meeting.

Varmoth: "Well , I guess I'll go back home now."

Kaori: "Wait , why don't we visit our base."

Varmoth: "The base ? , It still exist ?"

Kaori: "Yeah , ever since you were gone we're keep on investigating that crime syndicate."

Varmoth: "I...I see..."

23 minutes later , they arrive in front of a 4 storey building. They proceed to go toward the entrance then enter the elevator which lift them up to third floor. When they reach to the front door , they open it and goes inside that brings them to the office room. In the office room , it is the only operational room used as a base of Varmoth's former job. Varmoth look around the office with the nostalgic feeling.

Varmoth: "It's really been a while. I haven't came here for 4 years."

Glasses girl: "It truly is , Varmoth-chan."

Varmoth turn around to see another girl wearing glasses.

Varmoth: "Tomoe-chan..."

Tomoe: "Long time no see , how are you ?"

Varmoth: "I'm great , it's really nice to see you."

Tomoe: "Would you mind to have a tea with me ?"

Varmoth: "Oh , yes please."

8 minutes has passed after they had a long chat. Then , Tomoe begin to discuss with her seriously.

Tomoe: "Have you heard anything about the 'Black Head' lately ?"

Varmoth: "...No , I haven't. That group should be disbanded and forgotten a long time ago."

Tomoe: "That is what I thought actually. But 2 weeks ago , there are many of cases of grotesque murders and the police couldn't find the culprit behind these cases. Could it be that they operate in the shadow ? or just a dangerous person became a copycat killer ?"

Tomoe begin to grasp both of Varmoth's hands.

Tomoe: "Whatever they are , I want you to be careful and come home safely.....because Kao-chan and I don't want to lose you again."

Varmoth understand the concern both Tomoe and Kaori had toward her. So , she respond to Tomoe with confidence;

Varmoth: "I'll be fine , Tomoe-chan. I reassure you that I'll stay safe wherever I go."

Tomoe: "Thank you. Then , I am glad that you're alright."

Thus they continue to enjoy their time together.

5 days later at early night , Varmoth left her home on her way to the local ramen shop to meet up with her friends. Once she arrive , she enter the shop to see Minami and Mizuki sitting and waiting for her. She walk to them;

Varmoth: "Hey you two. Am I late ?"

Minami: "No , you're right on time."

Mizuki: "Come have a seat with me."

Varmoth: "Sure."

The three of them are having a good time chatting together while enjoy their ramen. 37 minutes later , her phone begin to buzzing of a call. So , she pick up the phone and answer it.

Varmoth: "Hello ?"

Kaori

(on the phone) : "Varmoth-chan ? , where are you ?"

Varmoth: "I'm eating at the local ramen shop now. What's wrong ?"

Kaori

(on the phone) : "Can we talk now ?. There's an information I would like to tell you."

Varmoth: "Um...yeah sure. Where do we meet ?"

Kaori

(on the phone) : "Meet me at the rooftop of our base. We can talk there."

Varmoth: "Understood."

She put off the phone call as Mizuki and Minami look at her.

Mizuki: "Is something came up ?"

Varmoth: "Well..."

15 minutes later , Varmoth arrive at her former base building with Minami and Mizuki. She turn around and look at them;

Varmoth: "Ok , both of you stay here and look out for any suspicious person that try to enter the building."

Minami: "What about you ?. Are you sure of going in there alone ?"

Varmoth: "Yeah , I'll be fine."

Mizuki: "Be sure to yell out for us if things goes wrong."

Varmoth: "Got it."

With no time to waste , Varmoth begin to go in the building and use the staircase that lead her toward the rooftop. Once she reach to the rooftop , she look around to see that Kaori wasn't here but she didn't realize that the roof platform at the top of the staircase , Kaori is standing there behind her. She begin to jump on Varmoth as soon as she take a few steps forward then tackle her. Now that Kaori is able to pin her down , she proceed to take out a switch knife and attempt to stab Varmoth with it. Luckily , Varmoth manage to grab and hold Kaori's hand before the knife reach her chest.

Varmoth: "Kaori-chan....stop it....."

Kaori: "Kgh!!!"

Kaori begin to use her entire body weight to push the knife down while Varmoth trying to defend herself but she manage to use her strength pushing the knife and Kaori to the side and able to escape from that. Both of them are now start to stand then Varmoth question her;

Varmoth: "Why are you doing this ?"

Kaori: "I have to..."

Kaori grip her switch knife tightly then dash toward Varmoth while thrusting the knife at her. Varmoth dodge the incoming attack and instantly take out her handgun from her back pocket then point it to Kaori's right thigh. Without hesitation , Varmoth shoot her thigh making her losing her balance and the grip of her weapon. Now that Kaori is sit on the ground in pain with bleeding leg , Varmoth walk closer to her and put her gun back to her pocket then put a pressure on Kaori's wound to stop the bleeding. Kaori look at her in tears;

Kaori: "You should have kill me!!.....why...why are you helping me ?"

Varmoth: "Because I know you wouldn't do that. You were hesitate on attacking me just now so , I don't see that as a threat. Now tell me , why are you doing this ?"

Kaori: "I actually don't want to do this but I don't have a choice."

Varmoth: "Then you should have talk to me before now."

Kaori: "No , you don't understand..."

Varmoth: "What do you mean ?..."

Kaori: "Our base...we were ambushed and all of us were abducted. I was separated from the rest and next thing I know , I were in the office , tied up in ropes alone with a group of bad people wearing black mannequin mask. One of them wearing the black mannequin helmet instead of the mask so I assume he could be the one who lead the ambush. He said that all of our family and relatives were kidnapped and held hostage in a warehouse. He then showed me a TV screen and I saw Tomoe and the others are also held hostage at an unknown forest. So , I had given a choice , trying to escape and they will kill all of the hostages or find you and kill you instead to set them free."

Varmoth: "And you choose me huh ?"

Kaori nods in tears leaving Varmoth speechless by the situation she's in.

Varmoth: "C'mon stand up. I have to bring you to the hospital."

Kaori: "No..."

Varmoth: "...What ?"

Meanwhile Minami and Mizuki are waiting but they soon notice a person in office dress wearing a black mannequin helmet with the symbol of Heart from poker card , appear alone from their right.

Minami: "(What the hell...?)"

The Heart mannequin proceed to show them a bomb detonator which surprise Minami and tell Mizuki;

Minami: "Run !!!"

The Heart mannequin push the trigger of the bomb detonator. At the same time;

Kaori: "Listen Varmoth-chan , you have to get ou-"

Suddenly , Varmoth were blown away by one of the bombs that located inside Kaori's shirt. She end up crashing on top of the car below and roll to side of the car while the building collapse into ashes.

On the next day , many police force are set out to investigate around Hachioji city regarding the crime activities happen yesterday. At the explosion site , they are able to recover few remains of Kaori while all her family and other relatives are able to be rescued in the abandoned condominium complex at the neighboring town of Sandamachi. Meanwhile , in the forest near the town of Yanomachi , Hachioji , they discover many dismembered bodies with their head place on top of their torso and Tomoe unfortunately is among these victims. Varmoth who hear the news after she is discharge from hospital were devastated. Thus she vow for revenge to find and eliminate all members of the crime syndicate.

Now that she only have Minami and Mizuki by her side , she couldn't find a clue to start the investigation. Then she receive a message in her phone from an unknown sender. As she read the message;

Varmoth: "If you want to find them , come to Tachikawa."

Minami: "It could be fake , you know."

Mizuki: "But we don't have any lead right now."

Varmoth: "Well , it's our only choice left."

Thus they begin to set out to Tachikawa to find their answer of the crime syndicate whereabout.

(End of Chapter 1)