Albion93

A convoy of Atlas soldiers, led by two of Beacon's professors, came through the town gates; however, there was no greeting for them. In fact, there wasn't any sort of noise at all, just silence that was as heavy as the stillness that settles over a funeral.

A man might have called it peace if he did not know better.

But in this town, there was no peace, just the aftermath of something horrifying.

Doors hung crooked on broken hinges, some splintered inward as if something had tried to claw its way through. Long scars marked the wood and climbed the walls of nearby houses, they were savage and deep, yet there were arrows buried in beams and shutters, sword-cuts etched into timber and stone, as well as bullet holes along some walls.

Blood had been spilled as well, as what remained of the people now were only dark stains that were baked into the earth and walls.

Man and beast had done this... Or something that wore the shape of both.

"By the Brothers..." Oobleck muttered as he stepped out of an Atlas transport truck. 

Walking out just a few feet behind him was Professor Port, and he, too, was shocked by the sight before them. "Not a body," Port muttered, frowning. "Not one."

Oobleck gave a slow nod. "Yes, that troubles me more than if there were a hundred," he said. The doctor then turned and looked at the Atlas soldiers as they began filing out of their own vehicles. "Search every house, find me survivors if you can or something that tells us what happened here."

One by one, the soldiers began fanning out into the dead town, doing as Oobleck had ordered them to.

While the soldiers began prying open doors and vanishing into darkened households, Port lingered beside Oobleck at the edge of the town's square, where the wind whispered through broken shutters. They kept their distance from the rest so as not to let any of the other men overhear their conversation.

"You read the reports?" Port asked, his voice low.

Oobleck nodded his head, slow and measured. "I did."

"And you believe them?"

For a time, Oobleck said nothing, but his gaze wandered to the splintered door of a nearby house, tracing the deep, ragged gouges carved into the wood. He studied them like any mystery a Huntsmen came across.

Finally, he turned back to Port and shook his head. "No," he said. "I do not... You?"

Port's brow knotted, and he gave his friend a small shrug. "I've known frontier folk to see what they wish to, and swear that they saw it before gods and men alike," Port began. "You and I both know that fear makes people report the strangest things, so there must be some sense to it."

Oobleck's brow arched. "So you say, yet I know you, Peter, and that look upon your face," he began, gesturing at Port's face, "That is not the look of a man comforted by reason. What is it?"

Port drew a long breath through his nose, as if the air itself might steady him, then let it out slowly. "The marks, I've hunted many wild animals and Grimm alike. I've seen what teeth and claw can do, but these... The marks resemble Grimm and Human. Plus, there are arrows sticking out of the buildings, along with markings from bladed weapons and bullet holes from guns."

"Townsfolk defend themselves or maybe a group of bandits raiding the town during the attack." Oobleck said.

Port shook his head slowly. "The townsfolk were definitely defending themselves, but I don't think bandits attacked during the Grimm attack; neither side would survive... Also, there is something that is bothering me just like it bothered you.

Oobleck's brow rose again. "Hm?"

"Grimm don't eat everything, they at least leave things, such as bones, scraps, something... They do not carry off every corpse, not cleanly, not all at once... Here, there's but blood. no body or a single bone! That is what doesn't sit well with me," Port finished as his eyes swept the town again, as if hoping to prove himself wrong.

Oobleck nodded slowly, and understood and trusted Port's instincts. If Port said something was off with the scene, then something was. The Doctor had known the big man had spent half his life in the wilds, hunting both animal and Grimm before ever becoming a Huntsman.

He may be a teacher now, but the hunter had never quite left him.

"Professors!"

When they heard the shout, both men turned as one.

A young soldier came running up the street, a bundle clutched tight in one hand, and as he ran toward them, his boots slipped once on the dust and dried blood before he found his footing again. When he reached them, he bent over, dragging air into his lungs like a drowning man pulled from the river.

The soldier then straightened and looked at the two huntsmen. "We found this near the southern gate. There was a hand attached to it as well, severed and clutching it," He said, swallowing.

In his hand was a small book, most likely a journal. It was covered in dirt and had a few droplets of blood on its cover.

"Give it here," said Oobleck, holding his hand out.

The soldier passed it over quickly, as if glad to be rid of the thing, and once it was in Oobleck's hands, he opened it at once, eyes moving swiftly across the first page.

Port then looked at the young soldier. "Keep searching, please, young man," he told him. 

"Aye, sir." The soldier nodded and hurried off, eager for distance.

When he was gone, Port looked back to his companion, one thick brow lifting. "Well?" he asked. "What does it say, Bart?"

Oobleck did not look up from the page. "It's a journal, from some of the details written down here, it belonged to one of the town guards."

Port shifted closer, curiosity gnawing at him as he looked over Oobleck's shoulder. "What does it say? He must've written something down that can help us."

Oobleck then suddenly began walking away from Port, but the larger man followed, and as Oobleck walked, he began to read aloud, loud enough for just each other to hear.

"No one is allowed into the forest anymore," Oobleck read. "We are all too afraid. Even the hunters won't go. 'Better to starve than face what waits beneath those trees.' one said after a bad hunt. When night falls, we see them. Yellow eyes in the dark. Watching. Always watching. Hungry. They don't look any Grimm eye's I've seen before."

Hearing that, both men's brow rose in confusion, wondering just what the guard mean when he wrote that down.

"We cannot see their shapes, they don't even have white bones masks like most Grimm... We only see the eyes staring back at us. They Move... They move like shadows given life."

The wind stirred as Oobleck turned the page and began reading the next one.

"The hunters said the woods were too quiet. No birds, no crickets, no sounds at all. Something has taken the forest. People are vanishing whenever they enter the forest, but no one sees how. They're simply gone."

Another page, and Oobleck's mouth tightened as his eyes moved faster now.

"Brothers preserve us, I saw them! I SAW THEM! I thought they were fairy tales to scare children, but they are real! Brothers! Seven! Any Gods that can hear me, have mercy! Please send as many huntsmen as you can! Seven Hells, call the Atlas Military! Let them see what's in the woods... Please... Let them come before it is too late!"

The words seemed to linger in the air long after he spoke them, as if the dead man's fear had weight enough to hang there.

Then, Oobleck turned toward the next page, and only a few words remained, scrawled in a hurried, trembling hand. The next passage sent a chill through his body, but he read it aloud, low and steady.

"Send Help! Ten went missing last night! Thirty of us left! Dead things in the woods! Dead things watching! SEND HELP!"

Once Oobleck had finished reading it, he closed the book with care, as though it might bite him if shut to fast, and then he stood there for a good long moment, rigid as a pole in the ground.

When Port saw him turn around to face him the larger man noticed there was something in his eyes that had not been there before.

Fear.

A chill crept through both men, and the hairs on their arms rose, and just a second later, they both felt it, that prickle at the back of the neck. It was that old and ancient warning that whispered into the very souls of men that someone... Or something was watching.

"This goes straight to Ozpin and James," Oobleck finally spoke. "Call the men back, we're leaving at once."

"Now?" Port frowned, glancing toward the scattered houses, the doors still yawning open like broken mouths. "What about-?"

"Peter... There are no survivors." Oobleck told him, his tone flat and true. "None."

Port looked at him for a bit, then gave a curt nod in response. Port yelled out that they were leaving, and the soldiers all quickly returned in twos and threes, some of their faces pale and some grim.

It wasn't long before they got back into their vehicles and drove back out of that place, not daring to even glance back. As they left, Oobleck had the little book clutched tight against his chest, like a mother would hold her baby, though what he carried was no innocent life...

Oscar: Anyways, u said you and your mom visited your dad for the first and only time....

Oscar: How was that like if u don't mind me asking

Whitley: It was a tense start, but it gradually became less nerve-wracking the more I spoke out my mind to him

Whitley: Ranting about how terrible of a father he was and that he's an actual disgrace to the Schnee's family name and legacy or whatnot.

Oscar: Brutal but accurate, at least from what I heard.

Oscar: Even Ruby's calling him a colossal douchebag right now

Whitley: That's another way to describe him lol

Whitley: Mother didn't quite fare better in comparison...

Whitley: She tried her absolute hardest to contain her anger, but the bad memories she shared with him al those years prior, was far too painful for her to bear alone. So she excused herself out of the cemetery in tears.

Oscar: Oh man.....

Oscar: I'm sorry she had to go through all of that

Whitley: I was too

Whitley: But on the bright side, our movie night together is helping her a lot better right now

Whitley: I figured it because of the movie itself, but....she told me that she always feel better when I'm with her.....And I couldn't be any happier to hear that really.

.........................................................................................

Oscar/Ruby: (Starts Gushing at the Latest Message Whitley Sent on Oscar's Phone) AWWWWWWWWWWWW!~

Ruby: He really is a Momma's Boi, like you, honey!~

Oscar: (Starts Snickering a Bit) Yeah, I knew that all along. But we should probably not make fun of it for too much.

Ruby: (Forms a Cheeky, Seductive Smirk on her Face Towards Oscar) I will if let me snuggle with you all night~

Oscar: (Chuckles Lightly) You've been doing that already since I got here. (Casually Shrugs) But sure, go right ahead.

Ruby happily snuggles onto her precious farm boi as he resumes back to texting Whitley.

...................................................................................

Oscar: Whitley, that was the one of the most sweetest, heartfelt text messages Rube n' I've seen yet

Oscar: And we're really glad your mom is feeling better too

Whitley: Pretty sure there's other messages you two made thar are far sweeter, but I believe a thanks is still in order

Whitley: My mother wants to thank you too for your concerns over her btw

Oscar: No problems on both fronts!

Oscar: I'm just glad the visit didn't bummed you out completely tonight.

Whitley: Yes, I'm glad for that as well

Whitley: It's been a long time coming as well considering my somewhat crippling fears I have over the possibility of becoming the kind of man Jaques was down the line

Whitley: Doesn't help when I've witnessed a few individuals assumed that I'm just like him already almost everywhere I go and it annoys me to no end! 😠

Oscar: Then don't be like him. then

Whitley: Really?

Whitley: Just like that?

Oscar: Yep.

Oscar: Whitley, if there is one thing I've learned the most throughout my crazy adventures in the past, is that no matter what anyone or destiny would say, you're still your own person at the end of the day.

Oscar: Just because Jacque is your father, that doesn't mean you have to follow into his exact footsteps or anyone else for that matter

Oscar: Become the person you want to shape yourself up to be for many years to come.

RubytheCutestHuntressRose🌹⚘️ Joins the Chat

Ruby: My baby's right, u know?

Oscar: Lol hey, Ruby~

Ruby: 😘 😘 😘 😘 😘

Whitley: Rose?

Whitley: I thought your phone was charging

Ruby: It was, but I figured it was charged up fine enough

Ruby: 'Sides, I don't wanna be left out in this now blossomed group cha for any longer~

Oscar: Hey the more the merrier 🤷‍♂️

Whitley: We could've done it without you on board, but welcome I suppose 😒

Ruby: Blatant rudeness aside 😠😠

Ruby: Like I said, Oscar's right, u're better becoming your own man from here on out

Ruby: Now, sure, u're a smart mouth, rude like I said, and way too uppity & pushy than ur own sister, Weiss, of all people

Whitley: Thank you for bringing out my worst traits out of like that, Rose

Whitley: Truly. 😒

Ruby: U're very welcome!~ 😉

Whitley: Do either of you love pests know the difference between sincerity and sarcasm anymore!?

Ruby: Of course we do! Its the equivalent to apples and oranges

Ruby: Now let me finish textin please & thank uuuuu!~ 😁

Whitley: 🤦‍♂️ 🤦‍♂️

Ruby: Anywhoooo

Ruby: Sure, u have those traits I mentioned, to a straight Tee and it's gonna be a long road ahead of u to do so going forward, but I honestly believe u have what it takes become quadruple the old dirtbag of useless corpses, Jaque, thinks he was!

Oscar: Crimeny on a stick, Rubes....

Whitley: You truly hated my father that much, do you?

Ruby: He slapped Weiss across the face once

Ruby: He should thank his lucky star that hes not anymore for me to pulverize him personally 😡 😡 😡

Whitley: Honestly, after everything

Whitley: My mother would try to do the same

Ruby: Right? RIGHT!?

Oscar: Well he's gone now. So there's really no need to fuss over him any longer

Ruby: Yeah, but imma still do it cuz Screw Him to hell! 😡

Oscar: Fair enough

Oscar: But you do get what we're saying right now, right Whit?

Whitley: Yes. I understand it all bold and clearly

Whitley: Thank you both

.....................................................................................

Whitley is seen in his living room, smiling a little at the text messages sent to him on his scroll.

??????: They're right, you know?

Whitley: (Immediately Gets Startled by his Mother Next to Him) Ah! ('Sigh') Mother, you surprised me... (Pouts at Willow) Wait, have you been looking qt my text messages the whole time!?

Willow: The screen of your scroll was white and bright, it really wasn't hard for me to ignore! (Starts Giving Whitley a Light Motherly Pout) That being said, you really shouldn't be having it close to your face like that, young man. Those beautiful eyes of yours are very important than you think.

Whitley: ('Sighs in a Bit of Defeat') Of course, mother. I'll be more careful next time- (Suddenly Felt His Mother Giving Him a Loving Hug) Hm?

Willow: And one more thing, sweetie, I've heard all the people say about you behind yours and mines back. It bothered me greatly too- ('Sniff') And it breaks my heart to know that you've been having this kind of fear for some time now above that.....

Willow takes a deep breath before wiping a few tears off her eyes with a More determined look om her face.

Willow: But even still, we can't let any of it get the better of us any longer, because you, Whitley Schnee, are not your father, Jaque, and you never will be. And no matter what the future may hold for both of us and the rest of our love ones- (Smiles Softly) I will always hope, pray, and believe that you'll grow up as a fine young man, venturing through the much better route in life.

Whitley: (Stares at Willow For a Brief Second Before Smiling and Hugging her Back) Thank you so much, mother. I promise, I won't ever let you or my sisters down.

Willow: (Happily Snuggles onto her Son's Embrace) Oh my sweet Baby Flake!~ You could never let us down~ There will be mistakes made down the line, but the girls and I know you have what it takes to fix them no problem. (Starts Kissing Whitley on the Cheek Five Times) We love you so much~

Whitley: (Starts Blushing a Bit) T-Thank you. I love you all too, mother. But could you let me be excuse to my lab for now?

Willow: (Starts Pouting at Whitley Again) And why on earth should I do that? Don't tell me you're getting bored of your poor mother already!

Whitley; No, no, nothing of the sort, I assure you. There just....Something really important I need to work on for now.

Willow: (Notices the Serious Look in her Baby Snowflake's Eyes Before Sighing in Defeat) Oh alright. You can go. Please don't work too hard. (Pouts a Bit) And you owe a proper day out first thing tomorrow too, mister! Don't forget!

Whitley: (Chuckles Lightly) I won't, mother. (Gets Up From his Seat and Gives Willow a Big Kiss on the Cheek) That and more I can promise you all at once.

Willow: (Smiles Brightly) Thank you, honey~ I love you so much~

Whitley: I love you too. Again.

After he tells his mother goodbye, Whitley begins to walk over the mansion's laboratory. Believe it or not to him, it was of the very few good things his father left behind for him after his death and he took every opportunity to try and build things to his greatest abilities ever since.

But upon going into the room however, he starts to remember the one last thing Pietro Polendina, a renowned scientist back in Atlas and the one who took Whitley under his wing during their time a Vauco, told him after his passing on video.

Pietro: Whitley.....This is my final gift to you as well as my last request. The blueprint, it's now yours to work on. You have been such a brilliant and resource young man since the day I've met you and I fully believe you have what it takes to complete something I never could. All I ask is that you do ypur very best and grow to be the man I know you could be. Thank you for everything, my boy...and goodbye.

Whitley: (Stips Right in Front of the Laboratory Door Before Taking a Deep Breath) Professor.....I will fulfill your last wish. Regardless of how long it'll take.

Whitley turns on the small green button to automatically open the metal door and walks inside aa he continues to work on the one project he was trusted with, the one thing his late professor treasures the most in this world, his one and only beloved daughter, Penny Polendina.

To Be Continued

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