[ Keystone Police Station ]
"I believe I have said all that I know, monsieur."
The Keystone Chief of Police, Perry Welter, hums. Looking up from the report written up by officer Ray Tornell, he takes in the French woman, Morgan, and her thin-lipped associate, Luna.
"I'll admit, this sounds troubling. Still, thank you for reporting this to us. Mary Lin is a well-known artist within our city. I only hope we'll find her and figure out what happened."
Luna silently glances at Morgan, who closes her eyes to a smile.
"Yes, I wish you all the best," she offers, then sighs. "It must be terrible timing, though, especially when you're already under pressure to find Lecia Bowden."
"So even tourists catch the news." Perry snorts. "Not every day of our job is ideal. There's at least better evidence we can use here."
He stands and offers his hand. "Regardless, you two are cleared. I'm only sorry that your visit of our city had to involve such disturbances."
"Oh, monsieur, it really is not a problem," Morgan insists, shaking his hand. Her eyes open, smiling softly. "Please, there's nothing more important than making sure we all are safe, don't you agree?"
"Of course."
The chief looks on as the two women lower their head before leaving his office. Once they're outside the station, Luna breathes out shakily. She holds a hand to her chest, heart beating as the city lights fill the parking lot.
'I can't believe that worked out as well as it did.' Her eyes shift warily to the ho-hum French boss to her side. 'How did Nico deal with her? She's fucking insane! Do we really need to involve the police now?'
"C-council, ahem...I mean, Morgan," Luna corrects. She swallows carefully. "I understand you tampered with that officer so he was made to believe there were bloodstains, but won't this make it overall more difficult for us?"
"Difficult?" Morgan clicks her tongue, shaking her head. "Luna, things have already become difficult. Lecia's disappearance has garnered unending attention by the media. Now, we have Nico's death after that. Even if it's limited, there's more awareness about us than ever before. With a likely remnant among us, we can't afford to slow down."
"Right, but... an actual bloodstain is needed. Once they revisit the studio, they'll find out there is none."
"So?"
"Huh?!"
Morgan snickers at Luna's bulging eyes. "Don't get me wrong, it would be easy for us to take our fallen brother's blood, then plant it where he would have died. Except, there's no need to get our hands dirty. We simply had to give the police suspicion something was up. I believe the camera footage of Nico entering, but never leaving, should warrant an investigation."
"Wha..." Luna frowns, catching herself. "But, they'll try to identify Nico. Won't that be a problem for us?"
"Not at all!" Morgan chirps. Arriving at Luna's car, she opens the passenger side door before continuing. "They'll have a hard time matching. Nico was an abandoned child, so even if they find information, there's not much to be gained from Italian records."
Luna takes the driver seat with a sigh. "So, this is simply to put pressure on Marlin and his niece. They'll use their resources to track them, and we just have to wait."
"Exactly." However, Morgan leans back, closing her eyes. "Still, what a mess and opportunity we have to work with. I'm ashamed Nico became so greedy at a time like this."
"..." Luna stares at the steering wheel, then her lips creases. "Morgan, are you... not more sad? He was someone even the council valued, and yet... it just seems you..."
"I helped raise him, Luna," Morgan cuts, her voice leveling. She looks past her window, narrowing her eyes. "Of course I'm sad but... am I angry? Do I want revenge? I don't know. He's not the first I've lost."
Luna raises her brows.
"The way I've lived, helping shaped this Order, maybe your great-great-grandfather, probably... it came at the cost of just...living." Morgan leans against the window, sighing. "Of course, my condition helps me to lead a greater good for our goddess, so I can't be too bitter. Still, it's a fact that people blur around me, and Nico is one of many I've taken under whom I peered into, and gave purpose. If anything, it's only to selfishly give myself some meaning."
"Meaning..." The blonde repeats, then swallows carefully. "Forgive me, but... are you really human?"
The French woman blinks before her lips rise crookedly. "Pfft...Bahahahaha!"
As her superior breaks forward in a fit, Luna jerks and quickly lowers her head. She fumbles her hands together, figuring she must've said something stupid. "S-sorry, that was silly of me. I didn't mean—"
"No, haha... no, it's okay!" The French woman assures, patting the girl's lap as her laughter staggers to a halt. Lifting her head, her eyes shine so fondly toward this bartender she's taken a liking to. "Yes... yes, Luna, I'm human."
She straightens. "Although, if you're curious as to why I've lived long..." Her eyes slim as she wags a finger. "That's a French secret~"
"Oh... Is it related to the snails?"
"Ha, funny. So you know, I've always disliked escargot." Morgan waves a hand. "But, I digress. Once you come to bear witness the Flood, you'll come to understand I'm nothing special. Life and death shall hold less meaning for all of us, then our wills and memories be forever eternal... always shared... always understood."
Luna twists her lips as she starts the car. "I understand that as far as I read our records, but... hearing you, it feels it might be more chaotic than I always imagined."
Morgan stifles a chuckle, watching the stars glimmer above. "No more chaotic than our universe, demoiselle." She places a hand against the window, her eyes wide. "Life breathes from chaos, after all."
══════════ ∴ ══════════
[ ??? ]
Beep...
Daniel breathes.
His eyes snap open from a gooey chaos, only to be met with a hallway of doors and troffers instead. At this point, he shouldn't be surprised, but that doesn't stop his head spinning. Looking closely at the walls, each wooden door along is marked by a plate number. In between his clean and white surroundings, background murmurs and muffled beeps also arrive to him in no particular density.
Beep...beep...
"A...hospital?" he observes, steadying himself.
Brows furrowing, his heart beats to what sounds like electrocardiogram monitor mounted within each room. A chill creeps down his spine as he looks to the particular set of numbers he's around.
His pupils contract. "No..."
As recollection follow through, his legs musters a step forward subconsciously.
Then another.
Soon, air escapes his lungs faster as he's running through the hallway, hope, and dread filling him while the numbers blur past.
Only one number matters.
"278... 278... 278..."
He follows the ascending numbers while repeating, the chimes of the heart monitors growing louder and piercing. It seeks to overwhelm until finally, his feet plants itself with a large thud, echoing across the unending hallway.
The beeps stop.
Standing in front of the door, 278, Daniel stares, his eyes quivering. Just as he's about to reach for the knob, a hand strikes out from his right, gripping him.
"Wha...!" Daniel blinks before turning to the side. Instantly, all the tension he held melts away as his eyes reflects a similar pair of silver.
"Mother..."
His mind clears.
Viviane stares back, her aching silver eyes a much-needed grounding away from his hurry. Glancing down, Daniel notices she's dressed in a nurse's scrubs, the same one she stole when they were at the clinic.
"Daniel, it's okay," his slime mother assures softly. She smiles bitterly, pulling his hand away from the door. "I know what you're thinking. While I'm not exactly sure what's going on, you don't need to force yourself to through this door again."
Daniel blinks a few times before frowning. "Is that... medical advice?"
Viviane twists her lips. She glances down at her attire before returning his gaze with a huff. "That's my motherly advice, child. Also, I just found myself in this uniform, thank you very much."
Her son snorts. "Okay, but is that entirely your own or... from my real mother?"
The elder slime's eyes widen before they lower.
The hallway buzzes in their silence.
"Both," she admits after a while.
Silence fills the hallway for a few more moments until Daniel sighs. He turns and wraps his arms around her. She hitches, but squeezes back, raising her gaze to him. "Child?"
"I love you."
"Ah."
"But you, Anne, and Mary are..."
"...not replacements," she finishes, shutting her eyes. "I know."
"And yet, you're my reality now. That doesn't mean I can ignore the past."
Viviane's hands tighten around her son's back. "I'm sorry, I... I know how important Amy is to you... How influential she is to us, but I just... I didn't want you to experience the pain."
"Pain? That's funny coming from you." Daniel chuckles lightly. He pulls close, cupping her cool, pale cheek. "You need to stop treating me like a child. Nothing ever good comes out of running away."
Viviane stares blankly. "Then, what were we doing leaving the city?"
"A cult coming after us is different, okay?"
The elder slime titters, and slides away from his hand. Her eyes shine weakly. "Alright, just remember we're dealing with memories here... or maybe something more. Either way, let's be careful. So far, every new joining has somehow stimulated what has been hidden."
"Was it your idea to drag me into it?"
Viviane glances away. "I think we were just a little overwhelmed."
"A little?"
She coughs. "If we're able to find Mary and Anne, I'm sure we can make sure you're not part of us. Although, the whole point of this merge was to see whether we could all visit my dream realm to meet my mother together."
"Well, this certainly isn't the place, and as far as mothers go..."
Daniel returns his attention to the door in front of him.
278 — a number he can't forget.
His mouth clenches for a second before relaxing. Stretching a hand out, he takes some time to feel the sensation of the door's frame on his fingertips. The fact that he's able to perceive such sensations means they're not experiencing the usual exchange of memories.
It would have honestly been better if it had been the same.
Inhaling slowly, he slides his hand down to the doorknob, and opens it.
[IMAGE]
As the door creaks open, light flashes through. Viviane and Daniel's eyes adjust, mellowing against a soft evening haze that fills a standard hospital room. More notably, Daniel holds his breath by the familiar folds that adorn a woman's dark hair within. Seated upright among an adjustable bed, and her face hidden, she looks past the rays spilling through the window, all while the heart rate monitor silently draws a flat line.
Daniel swallows carefully, then forces a smile as he steps in.
"Hey there, mom."