#extended version

“There’s a clearing in the deep woods behind Mortkranken. It’s about a thirty minute walk. There’s no path, but keep the Academy on your right, and you should stumble across it. There should also be a stone bridge halfway. Once you arrive at the clearing, the Bandana from Vagastrom should be there with his bike to pick you up.”

Jin paused.

“Understood?”

“…Yes.”

To be honest, she was scared. Terrified. But it was infinitely better to be out of Darkwick than to be held in a cell to be prodded and studied, maybe even killed.

“Tohma will be right after you, taking care of any agents who might be going after you.”

“Do not worry, Ms. Inspector,” a small smile graced Tohma’s face. “We’ll protect you.”

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

She crossed the stone bridge, entering the woods beyond. The trees seemed to whisper as she made her way through the brush, getting nicks and scratches on her legs. Looking above the trees to her right, she saw smoke coming from the direction of the Academy’s main building. Romeo and Ritsu were in charge of setting small fires throughout the building to ensure that 1) it would cause a distraction and 2) MC could go through the woods.

Suddenly gun shots rang out, and she ducked, shielding her head. A shadow dropped from overhead, and her heart nearly stopped.

“Stay down, kitty,” Taiga muttered to her as he picked off the agents one by one. “Now go. You ain’t dying. Not this time.”

He met her eyes. She nodded, then resumed sprinting. Taiga exhaled, then ran in the other direction, reloading as he muttered under his breath.

“Now where the fuck is that muscle monocle?”

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

MC was finding it harder to breathe with every single step. Fortunately, she could see a light ahead, most likely the clearing that Jin mentioned. She walked faster, her steps encouraged by her near freedom, until she heard shouts nearby.

Shouts, metal clanging, gun shots, flute sounds, and—

“Argeas!”

“Bahnti!”

“Tiris!”

“Fall back, it’s the Reaper!”

“Iggnaim!”

She broke into a sprint, ignoring the sensation of leaves unfurling in her lungs. She burst into the clearing.

She squinted.

Scanned the area.

There was no sign of Sho and Bonnie.

Heart beating erratically, she rushed to the center and looked around again.

She couldn’t believe it.

There was only her.

Her breathing became shallower.

Her vision faded to black, and she collapsed on the warm grass.

tHey’Re aLl TrYing to kILl yOu…

fAilUrEs… aLl oF tHeM… lEt mE iN…

NO! GET OUT OF ME!

tOo lAtE…

A tear appeared from the corner of MC’s eye as she futilely battled the Kyklos within her mind.

No… I just wanted… to live… to eat… to laugh… to make… memories… to… live…

She knew now, at the doorstep of death, that she had only lived, truly lived, the last year of her life, with the ghouls. And that wasn’t enough for her. She wanted more.

She felt vines wrapping around her ankles, her arms, her torso. She felt flowers bloom across her skin, each one eliciting a ragged breath from her.

But in her mind, one clear thought arose, shutting down the din of the Kyklos.

I want to live.

Suddenly, the ground in the clearing splits, and a giant being not from this realm soars up from the deep. The demon extends a clawed hand towards her, and furls of red and black smoke swirl around her body before entering her body.

She feels a foreign substance entering her body, going into her bloodstreams, traveling to every corner of her body. It feels addictive, yet poisonous.

Until it starts burning.

Searing pain erupts from within her body, a level of intenseness she had never experienced before.

She wants to cry out for the ghouls, wants to scream, please, anyone, make it stop—

But all she can do is hold on tightly to her wish.

I want to live.

The red and black smoke dissipates, revealing a girl lying on the grass, seemingly dead with numerous scratches and a torn and bloodied uniform but no flowers and vines. The demon sinks into the ground, his job complete.

MC opens her eyes.

The first thing she notices is the peacefulness in her head.

No Kyklos and its mad ramblings.

Next she notices the uncomfortableness gone from her throat.

She sits up and looks at her hands and feet.

No vines, no flowers.

Then she hears footsteps. Not one, but multiple. Along with footsteps, she hears grunts and sounds of somebody, no, multiple people scuffling.

She stands up.

And sees Institute agents, each of them holding a gun, creeping towards her.

They freeze when they see her on her feet.

MC also sees the ghouls, each subdued by two or three agents, some with restraints on their legs and arms, some gagged, some with bullet shot wounds, all of them struggling to break free. Her eyes narrow and her fists clench at seeing them in this state.

The ghouls notice her standing and their eyes go wide, then alarmed, trying to tell her to run, to go—

The agents who had been approaching her slowly point their guns towards her.

She slowly raises her hands, not to show surrender, but to cover her eyes.

The agents creep closer, thinking she’s just afraid of death.

She lets her hands fall to her sides and looks at the agents pointing their guns at her.

Her eyes are now a brilliant, poisonous green.

“Kyklos.”

The word rings loud and clear across the clearing, her voice commanding.

And before them, vines sprout from the agents’ eyes, ears, mouth, curling into their bodies. One by one, they let out a strangled cry, dropping to their knees, turning into a terrifying yet beautiful sculpture  of mangled flesh, bone, and blood-stained flowers.

anyway, this is the extended version!! hope y'all like it^^

BUT! this is not the end. there will be two endings. (will add link when they're done)

edit: aaaaaaand they're done!!

-> End 1 (happy ending)