#efae

“Madam Lilac.” An old woman walked into her office, using a cane as aid with a slight tremble in her walk. She bowed her head as she moved over to the chair on the opposite side of the desk the woman she addressed was currently sitting at.

“Miss Terian, it’s nice to see you. Do you bear good news, or bad?” Lilac’s mouth rested in its natural state, as it always did. She was always a woman of mystery, a purple veil covering the majority of her face, stopping at just under the nose. She leaned forward to hear the news.

As the frail woman sat down, she caught her breath for a moment before speaking, “Well, as good as can be in this situation. The final piece has entered the game. It will be a while before she can be played, and the chance of failure isn’t slim, but it’s our only hope I’m afraid.” She clutched her cane between her legs, rubbing its hilt in anxiety.

“I’m aware. However, I am willing to sacrifice whatever I need to in order to stop him. If this doesn’t stop him, then our fate may be sealed, but we mustn’t give up until all is lost.” Lilac’s lips pursed as she stood up from her desk, grabbing her umbrella, and walked around to her guest. “Let’s hope the red rain doesn’t befall us today.”

“Let us hope indeed.”

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The rain poured outside as a small child ran through the streets of the slums, a bat in her hand with a few droplets of blood on the business end. Her clothes were also splattered with the red metallic substance. She panted heavily as she ran, her shoes heavily torn and what little clothing she had on her hardly helping her withstand the rain.

“Left, right, right… LEFT!” She yelled out, making the last turn she needed to. She didn’t know why this was all happening, why it fell to her, why she had to…

She didn’t want to finish that thought.

She ran for a tad bit more, before nearly skidding to a stop in front of a fairly nondescript, grey metal door. On it was a few words, hard to make out through the tears and rain filling her eyes, but the symbol on the side of the door convinced her it was the right place.

She knocked aggressively on the door, finally shivering from the cold as she no longer had the warmth of her movements. She was jumpy, moving around agitatedly for a few moments for the opened a crack, and a moment later the full way, a comparatively tall man ushering her inside, and she entered without a second thought.

“So, you’re the one huh.” The man said from behind her.

She jumped as he closed the door, and she turned around to see him properly. He was tall, brown hair swooping over one eye and the other covered in a visor. She tried to take a step back, but upon finally being in a warm environment, realized how exhausted she was. Her feet were glued to the floor, and her hands involuntarily relaxed, her whole body slumping as her bat clanged to the floor.

“You must be exhausted. Here, I’ll take you to the bath, you can soak in there for a while, and when you get out, I’ll have some spare clothes for you.” The man proceeds to lift her up, and slings her over his shoulder, and walks her over to the bathroom, “Say, what’s your name? Considering how long you’ll likely be here, we might as well get to know each other. Mine’s Maybelline, but you can just call me May, k?”

The child struggled a bit before spitting out, “L-lil-ly,” still shivering from the rain.