To Find: Season 1 (Shadow Bullet Tape)

Story Tape #25

The tape starts with the dark figure and Just looking at each other, clenching his bat tightly as it slowly walks to the other side of the trees. I was concerned as I raised my bat. Great, gotta worry about them and another Entity? Fantastic. Can I still summon those orbs from my bat? I looked at my bat as I saw a few creatures roaming around near the cave, slamming my bat down against the floor. No orbs created, nothing. Do I even have any energy left? I sighed to myself. Guess I have to go back to how I was for now, just me and this bat. Holy shit I forgot that I had the knife the Merchant gave me, summoning it into my hand. I took a deep breath as I relaxed my body, sneaking up on one of the creatures; before I could stab it an eye was opened on its back. Fear instilled in my heart, I backed away from it as the creature turned around covered in eyes with its hands wrapped in bandages, screeching at me as it drew attention to us. A huge eye on its chest spat a weird liquid on my mask, catching me off guard as I was stunned for a bit. What the hell did it just spit at me? I ran up to the creature and plunged my knife into its eye, screeching in pain as I heard footsteps heading towards me from behind. I looked back to see a creature reaching out for me, kicking it back with one leg as I pulled the knife out; throwing it at the creature's forehead. Sophismae's voice called out to me.

"Sweetie, keep fighting. Survive a bit longer, please." 

I nodded my head as I was getting exhausted from the lack of energy, summoning the knife as I jammed it underneath the creature's chin; getting it down on the floor as I punctured its face multiple times caused it to look even more deformed than it was before. I winced in pain as I felt a slimy, burning projectile hitting the back of my shoulder; turning around quickly as I used the dead creature body to protect me from four projectiles shooting at me. I took cover behind the body, hearing the sizzling noise of its flesh heating up as I yelled out loud. 

"Come on! Sophismae!!"

I breathed heavily as I was powerless, keeping the body in front of me as I felt the slime burning through my gloves. I clenched my teeth tightly, the slime burning through the creature's body as it melted off from my grip. I looked around to see where else I could hide, seeing a large rock as I quickly ran and jumped over it; leaning my back against it as I looked down at my cross. What do I do God? What can I do? I can't do anything. I hear the sounds of leaves crunching near me, holding my bat tightly as I peaked over the rock to a few of them coming this way. I took a deep breath, trying to prepare myself in case this is how I am taken down. Just yelled out loudly as he came out from behind the rock, both him and the three creatures screaming out as they were about to attack each other. Time is slowing down. Blood splattered on Just face, standing still in shock as bullets were penetrating the three creatures' skulls.  

"H-Huh...?" 

Time went back to normal, the creatures falling dead on the ground as I looked to see where the bullets were coming from. My eyes widen, seeing the white, reddish color piercing through the darkness. The song (Who Is She? By, I Monster) starts to play as the figure walks out from the darkness to reveal itself, its body having a feminine type to it. Its outfit was a mask with X's for eyes, a barbed-wire smile for a month. The color of the hoodie I couldn't tell, everything about the design was dark and depressing. It was carrying a gun, the type of gun I'm not sure about. All I know is that it was an automatic rifle with a custom design. A... A Star? Is... Is that? One of the members of the Enlightened Pearls? I thought it was just a club. The figure called out to me, a distorted deep but feminine walkie-talkie type of effect. 

"Just, the Wanderer, Cherry sent me to look over you. Report back to her at Enlightened Pearls, I'll handle the rest of them." 

I was in a trance looking at her, but I shook my head to regain focus. Turning around as I start to run towards the town, hearing the masked woman firing at the screeching creatures. I kept running and running till I was cut off by tall, lengthy creatures almost the height of a tree. I looked up at two of them, closing my eyes. 

"Sophismae... I need you."

The sound of Sophismae giggling echoes in my ear, she spoke to me teasingly.

"Try not to wear yourself off too much love, okay? Remember to use our powers sparingly."

I nodded my head understanding, summoning the Staff of Rotten Deceived as I prepared myself. The tall creature performs a low, sweeping attack as I jumped over it; attacking its leg three times before it kneeled down. The other creature smacked Just against the tree, grunting in pain as it went to step on him. I shook my head as I threw myself to my right to avoid getting stepped on, coughing out dirt. I then heard a beeping sound, seeing a small circular object near the tall creature that was about to step on me; even me and the creature were confused. I heard the masked woman calling out to me. 

"JUST!! MOVE!!"

... What...? I froze for a second, then realized that it was about to explode. Crawling away from the bomb as I ran away from it, a loud explosion blew me a bit farther as I fell to the ground; grunting a bit as I looked back to see the two creatures burnt up, dead on the floor. I slowly got up from the ground, breathing heavily. That's definitely going to draw some attention, including the creatures from the cave. I didn't waste time, running away from the forest and towards the town. The town was occupied with a small group of masked soldiers, standing near them while looking at the forest. The Entity hovering over the city was looking at me, my heart dropping as I was in fear. It just looks at me, smiling. It didn't do anything but watch. I see the masked woman jumping from tree to tree, landing near the closed-gated town. 

"Alright now, we've got some enemies heading this way. Squad Ceses, ready?"

Squad Ceses replied saying "Yes!" The masked woman walked up to me, looking up and down on my bloody, ripped, burnt up suit. 

"Are you sure you can fight?" 

The fuck is this Call of Duty Zombies shit? I nodded my head, I felt beat up but I can still fight until I need to use a cartridge. I want to endure the pain that I'm feeling, get used to it. 

"Yeah, yeah. I can fight. Trust me."

She stared at me before nodding her head, reloading her gun as trees in the distance were shaking. The masked group took out their guns, getting into position. I readied myself, holding onto the Staff tightly as a swarm of creatures of different proportions, different movements as they made a croaking sound. Without hesitation the group begins to fire at the creatures, swiping the Staff across one of the creatures faces; bashing its head into mush. The woman transversed up to a nearby building, shooting them from a faraway. While everybody was fighting to defend the town I couldn't help but look at the large Entity, It looked at me with a wide smile. I felt my vision becoming blurry and dark, my breathing getting heavier and heavier; feeling as if It was speaking to me.

"Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock."

Just was frozen in place, the group dealing with their own creatures as one notices him; snarling as it crawls up to Just, Bēlua calling out to him. 

"JUST!! YOU DUMB FUCK LOOK OUT!!"

I snapped myself out of being frozen, quickly turning around as I impaled the bladed Staff into its neck; gargling in its own blood as it started coughing out blood on my mask. Holy shit... Holy shit... Holy shit. I was panicking at first, pulling the Staff out and slicing its jaw off. It took me a while to control myself, sighing a bit as the creatures were cleared out. The group checks around the town, making sure there are no other creatures. The masked woman walked up to me, examining my body.

"Are you okay Just?" 

I nodded my head, wiping the sweat off my forehead; chuckling a bit.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for the backup. I didn't think that y'all had an actual little army in your town."

She tilted her head, confused. 

"Why would you think we'd not have an army over here while D.E.F.E.A.T has his own in his city?"

I rubbed the back of my neck, embarrassed.

"Yeah... Fair point. Sorry."

She chuckled, patting my shoulder.

"You did ok, well, decent. Actually, you need some work. Go see Cherry, she would like to see you."

I nodded my head as I put the Staff away, I sighed in relief as I was exhausted. Slowly walking into the town, the people cheering for the soldiers as I smile at them. I walked into the Enlightened Pearls building, doing the same processor as before; showing the guard as they granted me access inside. I cut the club noises out of my mind, making my way up the stairs as I leaned against the wall. Feeling the pain of the injuries I've gotten going into effect, my adrenaline fading away as I exhaustedly make my way towards her room. I waved at the bodyguard as he chuckled a bit, seeing my injuries as he opened the door for me.

"Heh, seems like you need a bandaid with that booboo you got." 

I shook my head, entering the room as the door shut behind me. I took off my suit jacket as I groaned a bit from the pain of moving my body, hanging it up on the wall which has a hook out. I sat down on the couch, I was in pain but I didn't want to use the cartridge. I took my mask off, wiping the sweat, blood and tears off of my face; placing the mask next to me. I closed my eyes, sitting in silence...

...

...

Why do I feel like something bad is going to happen? I feel like something isn't going to go right... The black goo... It can't be... Can it? That thing that I saw at Dolls Delight, what I found in my dream or whatever the hell it was. I'm losing touch with myself, little by little. I wonder... Will I die here or will I be able to free Soren? What the hell is going on in the cave? What the fuck do I do? I don't want to make the wrong decisions in my life but I still end up making bad decisions. Should I have killed that Shadow-Walker that tortured Soren? I froze. I'm sorry. I promise, I'll come back. I'll free you when it's the right time. Even if I did free you, where the hell am I going to take you? Shh. It's Cherry. She's here. I opened my eyes as I saw Cherry standing near the door, smiling at me.

"Well that's a face I haven't seen in a while. How are you feeling?"

I nodded my head, her smile always gave me comfort even during times where Ara wasn't around much. 

"I'm uhh.. Doing fine. Feeling some pain, but it's nothing I haven't felt before." 

Cherry sat down next to me, taking off my suit vest as I blushed a bit. Her soft hands unbuttoned my dress shirt, looking up at me as she glided her fingertips against the dried-up blood on my skin. 

"So... This is what you've been doing while I've been doing my own thing..."

I looked at her, nodding my head.

"There's a lot that happened, Cherry. How... How are you even here?"

Cherry placed her hand on my left cheek, breathing softly as I began to tear up.

"I've always been here... Ever since you were created, Just. To help you finish this nightmare, once and for all. I'll do whatever I can, I'll send you my soldiers if you need any. I'll find Soren's whereabouts whenever they move him to another location. I am here for you, okay? You stupid Goose..."

I closed my eyes as tears flowed down my cheeks, running down between her front two fingers as she kissed my forehead.

"I'm scared, Cherry. I'm so scared. You don't know what I've been through... You don't Cherry, you don't. You haven't checked up on me in so long... I've always enjoyed talking to you."

Cherry replied, reassuring my heart.

"I enjoy talking to you too. Whenever you want to talk, talk to me. I don't mind at all. You need to talk more to people, I bet there are people out there that'll make you feel like you're at home." 

Cherry held my hand, interlocking her fingers with mine.

"Get some rest, okay? We'll talk about what you've found at the cave later."

I nodded my head as she got up off the couch, slowly pulling away from me as she walked to her bedroom; calling out to her.

"Cherry.."

She turned around, looking at me.

"Yeah? What's up?"

I stayed quiet for a bit, then had the courage to continue.

"Are you still with your Master...?"

She smiled at me, closing her bedroom door.

"Rest easy Just."

She closed the door.

"Yeah..."

I looked down at my once-held hand, sniffling to myself as a tear fell on the palm of my leather gloves, clenching my fist as I got up off the couch. Walking into the bathroom as I closed the door, looking at myself in the mirror. My face was covered in smeared, dried blood. I took off my gloves before turning the sink on, splashing and rubbing water on my face to clean to mixed blood and tears. Moments later after cleaning I was watching my hands, the blood and dirt being drained as I felt sad and empty. I did the procedures needed to disinfect the wounds on my body, wincing from the stinging sensation as I bit down on a rag. The tape ends with Just walking out of the bathroom, looking at the large Entity from the balcony as he closes his eyes. Quietly expressing his emotions in silence, tears running down his cheeks.~

-End of Story Tape #25-