Better Left Forgotten

E"I can't tell you all to risk your lives for people who...well, I can't tell you to risk your lives again. All I know is that I'm going to stay with Lilith until she gets through this."

*She looks over at the bus stop sign & traces down it with her finger as Lilith removes the phone from her ear.*

E"Next bus comes in 5 minutes."

L"He's not answering."

"You don't think...?" Gabe trailed off, "No, but he doesn't have anything to do with this."

"Sab and Aroma didn't either," Mortal said, "And besides, he said he was being followed recently."

Sab looked from Gabe and Mortal to Lilith, who, with her sister already in danger, probably didn't need to hear speculation over whether or not Senthose was getting ganked. Sab looked back at Mortal and Gabe, and 'shh'ed them.

Cameron:<Weren't Sab and Aroma around Roatha when they got attacked?>

Azuma: "He's involved because someone amongst us got him involved."

L"Not to interrupt your period of self-flagellation, but Senthose doesn't even talk to you people. IF he's being attacked, which we still don't know, it's because whoever is behind all of this wanted to."

E"But why would they want to do that?"

L"Why were you targeted in the first place? Why don't these things stalk everyone in Pforzheim? More importantly, who cares? We have something else to focus on."

*Aroma watches the argument intensely. Her face cycles from hope, followed immediately by guilt, then eventually dawning comprehension & shock.*

E"You're right...well, do you at least remember if there's a back door?"

L"Yeah, at least one."

*Finally, Aroma gulps & purses her lips. She shuffles herself & Sab over to place a quivering hand on Lilith's shoulder. Lilith looks back at her, curiously.*

A"I--I'llgowithyoutoo."

Eve:<I will accompany you if I won't be a burden.>

Astarte and Eduj said nothing, Eduj finally taking a moment to see how much his shoulder had bled.

Mortal looked at Aroma, a bit shocked by what she said. No more shocked than Sab, though. She gulped, then asked, "Are-are you sure, Aroma?"

*He's not a doctor, so all he knows is that his sleeve is soaked. Aroma tries not to tear up.*

A"I can't...can't let...."

L"No offense, but I don't want you to come. You look like you're about to have a nervous breakdown. Not helpful."

*Euryale shrugs.*

E"Sorry, but she has a point."

L"I'm going, we're wasting time standing around here!"

*Euryale steps aside as she starts to stalk off.*

E"You could try calling her, you know."

L"O--oh yeah."

*Lilith stops & starts dialing. Meanwhile, they can see the bus driving up. Euryale covers her arm wound & turns away from it.*

Taiyo: "Who's all going?"

"I'll stay with Lilith, she'll probably need all the help she can get," Mortal said, "Gabe, stay with Sab and Aroma and try to keep them safe."

"What about Noctis?" Gabe asked, "Isn't she better--"

Mortal pointed to Noct, who had Astarte wrapped up in her arms, and seemed to be focusing on little else, "She can't focus on all three of them."

Gabe nodded, and took a few steps towards the bus, "But where should we go?"

E"We should probably go to the hospital once this is all over, so you could meet us there. We can say we were attacked by a masked man with a knife. It's not a total lie."

L"Thiera! Are you there?! I mean--where are you?!"

T"I-I don't...ink we're in the baseme...know how long we've...othing leads where it's supposed to go!"

L"I can barely hear you over the static! What's happening?"

T"I don't know...still around or not."

Cameron:<I'm staying.>

Eve:<Euryale, will I be a bother if I stay?>

Taiyo: "I um...err-"

Mimiru puts a hand on Taiyo's shoulder.

Mimiru: "If you don't want to go, don't force yourself."

Eduj stood still near Noct and Astarte, clearly not intending to go back.

L"Thiera? Thiera, are you still there?!"

A"Well...if you're sure...."

*Aroma starts to get on the bus, looking back at them sadly. Euryale casts a glance to Lilith, as the latter's phone goes to a flat tone. The driver, a slightly overweight man with a gray sweater & a black ski cap, eyes them suspiciously.*

E"To be honest, I don't want too many people involved. I want to get in & out as quickly as possible."

Driver<Hey, you kids aren't in any trouble, are you? Or thinking of causing trouble?>

Eve:<Alright. Stay safe.>

*Eve gets on the bus, and sits near Aroma, but leaves a spot for Sab*

Sab sat next to Aroma, visibly relieved that they didn't have to go back.

"No, we've just had an accident, nothing to worry about," Gabe said as she got on the bus, sitting across from Sab and Aroma, and presumably Eve as well.

Noct loosened her hold on Astarte so that they could hop on the bus as well. "The hospital actually sounds like a good idea..." She said, throwing Eduj a glance.

Mortal wished she had some aloe, due to the fact that as things calmed down slightly, she became distinctly aware of how much her neck, and leg hurt. "Alright, lets get this done as quickly as possible," Mortal said.

"Let's go, then," Eduj climbed onto the bus and sat behind the others. Astarte would sit with Noct, hugging her arm and staring at her feet.

Taiyo: "Please come back safe."

Taiyo gives Euryale a kiss on the cheek and boards the bus with Azuma & Mimiru.

<That everyone?>

*Euryale nods.*

E"Yes."

*And so the driver closes the doors & drives off.*

E"Alright, so we cut around the outskirts of the forest, then head inward to find this back door. Lead the way, Lilith."

*And so Lilith takes off running.*
===================================
*Aroma just sits in silence, wringing her hands.*

Sab puts a hand on Aroma's lap, "They're going to be fine."

"Yeah," Gabe said, "Besides, if we went along they would just be distracted worrying about keeping more people safe."

Noct let out a small sigh, only allowing herself to lower her guard once the bus had shut its doors, and was in motion.

--

Mortal follows after Lilith.

*As does Cameron*
---
*Eve sits in silence, staring out of a window*

Astarte suddenly took a sharp breath and seemed to hold it, keeping her eyes locked on the floor as they clouded up. Her shoulders and lips quivered as they drove away.
Eduj whispered 'I'm sorry' behind them, to nobody in particular.

L"(...Do you see the Shadow anywhere?)"

E"(No. Where are we going?)"

*Lilith points to the building.*

L"(There's an unmarked steel door at the back. I don't know where it goes. So, fire hurts this thing?)"

E"(No, we tried that. But I guess that was on the big Shadow. Maybe it's weaker when it splits apart. The others can be hurt like anything else, they're just really hard to kill. And I think I saw the shadow heal the big white bat thing.)"

L"(Why? Are they like its pets, or something?)"

*Euryale shrugs.*

L"(Dead cat. Go around it.)"

*Lilith walks around the deflated animal, its abdomen ripped apart, yet oddly clean. Judging from the disturbed leaves & traces of blood, the animal had been dragged from the direction of the road. There are no signs of its organs, including its eyes.*
=================================
"I hope you're right...."

*Someone at the back of the bus snaps a picture, & then Gabe's phone buzzes or rings or whatever.*