Chapter 4: Undead Heart
Alone in her room, Cassandra thought about so many people in her life. However, she is given a mission which is about hearts being ripped out literally out of chests, blood thirsty people, monsters, a zombie girl with a beating heart, and blood thicker than water while ink is the thickest than blood. She is reminded of her out of heart experienced creature and she learns the actual story. Long ago; A seer name Gullveig had her heart ripped out of her chest by the Aesir. It was quite tragic however other seers told of a vision that Gullveig will have her revenge. Meanwhile; People think Blanchette is just like any other girl. but she knows she’s something special. She’s tired of being dissmissed as something not unique or special. Blanchette is a girl, but she often doesn’t act the way girls are expected to act. In fact, she can even seem a little violent at times. She’s more than capable of being raunchy and blood thirsty. Blanchette can be sexy and gritty, a personality which are especially frowned upon when exhibited by a girl. Being unladylike comes naturally to Blanchette, because her thoughts aren’t ladylike. Blanchette doesn’t think this is a particularly bad thing; she says “bloody” and “guts” so casually, one would think she was being somewhat sarcastic. Most girls are so concerned about their weight and how they look, They can have their fake food, but Lynette’s going to enjoy the real thing. Girls are never encouraged to fight for things they want, or “let themselves go”.
However, Blanchette isn’t going to be a perfect girl. Blanchette doesn’t care about her weight or anything like that, and it bores her when girls obsess over their appearances because Blanchette doesn’t even bother thinking about it. The things they say don’t interest Blanchette and so she tends to tune them out or she responds back with sarcasm and rudeness, “So, you eat a lot of calories. Who cares? I’m falling asleep here from how boring you are, can’t you talk about something more interesting?” Of course, the other girls are likely unappreciative of this attitude, and don’t try to talk to Blanchette again. Mean girls are constantly get picked at by others, because of their appearance and actions. Making fun of “superior and rich" women makes self-conscious girls feel better about themselves. Society tells girls that they should be soft and polite, and not be capable of “fighting dirty” or breaking the rules. Blanchette doesn’t want to go along with what society is telling her to be. Because she doesn’t make an effort to fit in with the other girls, she is mocked and ridiculed. She believes the reason these girls gossip about her is to hide their own insecurities. The things they’re saying aren’t true anyways. Society wants Blanchette to be a typical girl and conform to its ideas of what a girl should be like, and for a while she even went along with it. But now, Blanchette’s going to laugh and do what she wants. She wants drama and carnage. But mostly carange. She wears everything red! A mini skirt, a bandana bra, and high heels. She wore a retro, wiggle dress. Tight skinny jeans. And a floral doily collar and keyhole accent on the back.
Just then while walking around; the creatures attacked, puncturing Arachne's chest and her heart was out again. The raging parasite awakens and her no heart body rises as she was determined to take them out. The commotion started to attract the attention of Cassandra, who heard this. Curious, she walked over there to see what was going on. When Cassandra got closer, she were shocked to see no heart Arachne losing control on the monsters. Then, seeing Cassandra and stares her, Arachne bites into Cassandra's flesh and she can see her memories: "All right! It's time to announce the winners of this year's Prom King and Queen." He had a small envelope in his hand and rips it up. "And the winners are....REUBEN MATTHEWS AND JUDY DAVIS!" Everyone broke into an applause, Reuben and Judy went to the stage to accept their crowns as Judy is given a bouquet of roses. Just then, unexpected visitors crashed the party with loaded guns and started a massacre. They shot at other people who fell to the floor. Panic filled everyone else, they try to flee but some were shot in the process. Cassandra watched in horror as her friends were being shot at. She noticed that Reuben was panting of the wound bleeding from there as he cries out, "Ohhh, the pain." Judy noticed Cassandra there and calls out, "Get away from here Cass!" "Save yourself Cass!" Asher called out, "Get away from here!" However they were all shot at as Cassandra screamed with terror.
Cassandra was getting prepared for a job interview, she had a resume prepared with her. She took a shower motionless, she slowly clean her hair and body. Then, she got dressed and put on lip gloss. As she went to the interview; it doesn't go smoothly. The sounds of a loud boom set off Cassandra as she screamed while remembering the tragic incident. The employer then said after Cassandra calmed down, "I cannot hire someone who cannot get her act together. Go get some therapy and come back as a sane lady!" Cassandra was humiliated of this, she walked out with tears in her eyes and drove away. As she got back home; Cassandra takes a bubble bath. As her feet were at the foot of the tub, she rested her eyelids and slid underwater. This where she can daydream in this state. She had done it many times. This time, it was different. Today, she was swimming in the Caribbean sea and saw the animals hiding behind the rocks. She went under the sea as she sees fishes swim as they move their lips, 'Swim' and 'Talk to me.' With her feet in the air and her head on the ground; She begin to spin around however her head inside has collapsed and there's nothing. She begins to wonder, "Way in this water, I swim....Where my mind is? Where is it? Where is my mind? Where is my....Mind?" The word 'mind' begins to echo over and over again. Cassandra opened her eyes and emerged from the water of the bath, gasping for breath. Then, Cassandra could not look at her mother when she got out of the bath and hurried to her room. Later on, Cassandra woke up, lying the grassy fields and gets up from the ground. She begins to look around however she looks around but almost lost her footing. She looked down, horrified that this mass of earth is floating in the sky! "Am I in Heaven?" wondered Cassandra, she begins to walk around.
"Well if this Heaven, then why don't I feel dead?" thought Cassandra. She looked around to see perfect blue skies, white puffy clouds, tall buildings, and trees. She was curious so much that she didn't watch where she was going, Cassandra slammed into someone! "Oh hey--" She started to say but she saw that it was a thick, burgundy haired boy who has light skin and leaned muscular figure built. He wore a crimson glory colored T shirt, sweat pants, and sneakers. "Hi." Cassandra said, surprised. "I'm sorry, I didn't know where I was going, I apologize!" Although the guy looked cool-headed, he smiled kindly. "It's fine." He answered. Cassandra is touched by his smile, he sure was nice. Cute too. But she begins to hear his thoughts in her mind. "Are you OK?" asked the guy. "Uh, yeah." said Cassandra quickly. "What's your name?" asked the young man. "My name is Cassandra." answered Cassandra. "I'm Samson, Samson Diaz." said the young man. Cassandra nodded, "Yes...Do tell, Samson. Are you what they call a swordsman?" She asked. Samson looked at her with surprise, "How--How did you know?" He asked. Cassandra looked over at him and said with a smile, "I don't know. I guess my mind can read your mind." She replied. Samson looked at her with dazed amazement, "OK. Let's find out where we are." He finally said. Cassandra seemed intrigued, "'We'? As in us? Together?" She asked. "I like to get to know you, Samson. I really do." Samson smiled back and they both journeyed into the unknown.
Cassandra stared at everyone fighting and rolled her eyes up to the ceiling, then she flexed out her hand and yelled, "SHUT UP!!!" The others were lifted from the ground, Cassandra couldn't believe that she was the only doing this. Then she drops them down safely, she sighed and smiled. "Now, tell me....who's a misfit?" asked Cassandra with a witty look on her face. The others stared up in amazement, "Ohhhh...." They chorused. One minute later; Samson, Justice, Echo, Proteus, Kamaitachi, Christopher, Lleu, Hanuman and Zaden were standing up like soldiers. Cassandra paced left and right from them. "Listen up!" She said to them. "We come from different places of our homes, and brought here for an unknown reason. So, If we're going to find some answers, we need to ventured to the unknown and find this person responsible for this; we must put our colors--our personalities aside--and become one....Any questions?" Borvo raised his hand, "Ma'm, I have one." He said. Cassandra turned to him, "Yes Borvo?" She asked. Borvo then talked normally, "Um...Exactly where do we start?" Cassandra nodded, thinking about that. "Ah, that's a very good question my friend." She turned to the horizon of the city, pointing over to a building. "You see that building over there? This building stands out than the rest of them, it has stained glass windows. I'm curious to know what's in there."
Just then; the creatures attacked, puncturing Cassandra's body abdomen. Cassandra felt anger, the wounds on her body begin to vanish from her skin. Samson, Proteus, Zaden, Lleu, Christopher, Hanuman, Justice, Echo, Kamaitachi, and Borvo are shocked to see this. Cassandra had tears in her eyes; thinking about her dead friends and their dreams which were gone forever. Now she was pissed, the creatures looked scared so they try to leave but Cassandra held them against their will and then killed them one by one with her telekinetic powers. The commotion started to attract the attention of others: Eulalie, Deirdre, Turan, Norna, Ariadne, & Juana and their new friends heard this. Curious, they walked over there to see what was going on. When they got closer, they were shocked to see Cassandra losing control on the monsters who had killed innocent lives. Once it was over, Cassandra finally calmed down and looked around the deceased of others, she saw that there was a child's body lying there motionlessly. She had tears in her eyes and she looked at the citizens who were watching her lose control. "Does anybody have anything to make a cremation? I want to make a proper funeral for the lives that are lost." said Cassandra. The others looked at each other, not sure what to do. Samson turned to them and said, "Listen, I know that was scary for all of you to see but this girl saved all of you from those beasts and she had a heart for the people that were killed." A bartender came forth with a bottle of liquor. A guy who was a smoker had a lighter. And someone who had fireproof materials & a proper funeral was made for them.
Captain Krieger realized Cassandra was not using her powers, so he walked over to her and stares down. Cassandra didn't meet his eyes but he spoke to her: "He who is impulsive can be murdered. As a result, though we have heard of foolish urgency in battle, inventive has never been seen associated with far-off hindrances. To accomplish centenary fights is not of the cardinal merit. Conquer one's enemy past combating is the climax of power. You can't show fear, you are stronger than this." Krieger went behind her, speaking softly to her. "Allow your expedition be that of the tempest, your density that of the woods. In maraud and liberation be like the pyre, in stability like the peaks. Allow your strategies be crepuscular yet substantial as night, and when you run, drop like a drum fire." Then he spoke up, "Let's try it again." said Siegfried. He moved away, Cassandra took his words to heart and she concentrated. However she can hear something, she looked around but no one was speaking but she can hear in their thoughts. A song, it sounded strange. Like a chorus of an army. The song goes like this: “Art of war….” and Cassandra could hear a thought singing, “Quick as the cyclone air.” The chorus of thoughts belted into her mind, “Art of war….” The main thought crooned, “Of the calming as the woods.” The chorus of thoughts intoned in Cassandra’s head, “Art of war…” The main thought serenaded, “Be brutal as the flaring flames, adequate as the great peaks of the mountain.” The singing in her head, it gave her courage. She concentrated and then she managed to telekinetically break apart all of the objects of the training. All the dummies but she manages to control her emotions. Once she was finished; there was an applause from the others. She was embraced by someone from behind.
While taking a walk in the forest, Cassandra saw Jack training but then Cassandra watched in horror as Jack turned into a Revenant creature, “Oh dear Lord! He’s a Revenant?” She thought. Revenant Jack begin to do all sorts of combat moves in order to take down these savage, killer monsters. Cassandra hide behind a tree, watching him work hard at his skills. Once Jack was done, he changed back to normal but he fell unconscious. This is it, this was her chance to see inside his head and she rushed over there. Cassandra kneel down at the unconscious Jack, she placed her hands on the side of his face and begins to read his mind: In a flash; she saw it. His memories. "Jack...I don't want to hurt you, I just want to understand you. To feel better, to feel like I'm not the only one." Cassandra thought, talking to him in his thoughts. Suddenly, she felt a burst of pain through her. "What's happening? I feel--Augh! It hurts!" She said, gasping. Jack regained consciousness, he was shocked to see what was happening. "Oh no!" He thought. Cassandra begin to change into a Revenant, she was unaware of what is going on but for the first time, she wanted to fight. She saw other Revenants and she went after them fiercely. She lunged at them as she rescues lives like the other soldiers and kills them. As soon as she is done; the soldiers stared at her in fear. Revenant Cassandra approached them and placed her claw-hand on Lieutenant Reiten. A few moments later; she was in astonishment. “Cassandra…Endymion? Is that you?” asked Margaret. Cassandra transformed back to normal. She gasps as she fell unconscious to the ground.
"Dad!?" Cassandra cried. The man turned as he released Jack, he smiled at her, "Cassandra, my daughter." "What the hell are you doing here? How did you find me?" demanded Cassandra. Boreas's smile faded, "Do not talk to your father that way!" He admonished. "I'm an adult now, Father. Now tell me what you want." Cassandra said. "I want you back." Boreas begged. He walked one step closer, "Father." Cassandra started to say nervously. "It could be like it was before, Daughter." Boreas said, pleadingly. This horrified Cassandra, "No, Dad!" She said. Never, she never want to go back to the way it was. Being abused by him. No, no. "You were the only one I ever loved, worthy. Especially your mother. I know you're every thought, I can't live without you." He said. "Father, Stop this now! I want you to be flat out honest and answer me--" Cassandra admonished. But did not Boreas ceased one bit, "They tell you things They just want to brainwash ... They are demons, do not stay here." Cassandra spoke back, "Too late, Father. I've already made my decision." Boreas looked at her, "Cassandra, you get your ass out there right now!" "Shut up!" Cassandra screamed, her telekinesis caused the furniture to raise and drop as Boreas was terrified. He fell down on the ground and looked up in shock. "Good God." He whispered. Cassandra stared down at him blankly. "Dad, stand up." she commanded. Boreas shook his head, I was trembling. Cassandra gritted her teeth. "FATHER, STAND UP NOW!" She exclaimed, flexing her hand out as she lifts him telekinetically. Boreas shouted as everyone was in shock of what they are seeing. "I belong here, Father. Things are going to change around here." Cassandra said sternly.
"Renounce That power! You must surrender it! You must never use it!" Boreas cried with the edge of hysteria in his voice. "No!!! I am not going to listen to this anymore!" Cassandra said loudly. Boreas then begin to say a prayer while weeping: "Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make veils for the heads of persons of every state to hunt to life ..." Cassandra continued to talk, "I am nothing like you...And I'll never be like you." Boreas snubbed her and prayed desperately. Cassandra spoke again, "You can wallow, pray, and cry all you want but I'm staying here." "... I will not allow a witch to live ...." muttered Boreas but he was dropped to the floor and was weeping pathetically. Cassandra stares down at him sternly, "Not you or anyone else can stop me...And I don't want to talk about it anymore." And with that; she walked away. Cassandra sighed, she turned to her father. "I'm going, OK? You wait here." Cassandra ordered but Boreas slapped her so hard that she fell to the ground. She tried to get back up however she was pinned down by her father. "Stupid brat, why do deliberately defy me? Is it me? You love to get hit? You love it, right? Do you love it when I beat you to a pulp?!" yelled Boreas, wrestling her to the ground. "Get away from me!" cried Cassandra. "What happened to my sweet girl? Huh What happened to my beloved daughter Where's my angel?" argued Boreas. Cassandra clenched her teeth and shouted out, "Gone, father! She's gone, and she's not coming back!"
Her telekinesis broke Boreas's hand who cried out in pain. Cassandra moved away from him but then Boreas seized her, "You're not going anywhere!" screamed Boreas. Cassandra pushed his hand away, "Get off me!" She exclaimed, Cass turns away from him. "You cannot handle this!" Cassandra turned back to him, "Oh, I can't? I'm the one messed up and trying to atone for my sins. You're The one who is in denial!" She bellowed, and stormed off. "CASSANDRA!" Her father shouted, charging after her but Cassandra hold him back with her powers. In a strained voice she said, "I warn you, Father. Stay there and you do not say a word until I'm gone." Cassandra lets him go and then she softens up as she said, "I'll come back later. I love you." "Oh, look at this! Ain't it touching?" mocked Ector, pretending to cry but was smirking. "I love celebrations, I really do." Cassandra’s eyes bulged in horror. "Our great heroes are honored at long last but you won't be honored when I play...This!" A large TV image plays of someone entering a movie cinema. Cassandra couldn’t believe it, "It can't be!" She gasped. Next was gunshots, people screaming. It shows images of Cassandra’s friends and other people being shot at. "Oh my..." Mimir gasped. "Oh no...!" Trygve cursed. Everyone was horrified by these images however Ector and his friends laughed. They was in hysterics of this.
They thought this was all so funny? How dare they…Cassandra’s body tremble but felt a rough hand on her back, "Bitch, are you gonna cry--" Ector said. Cassandra turned to him fiercely with her telekinesis. Ector flew back into a column. "Ohhh!" The crowd gasped. "Uh oh." Lleu said softly. "Cass." Samson muttered. Jack was furious at Ector, he ran over at him and cried, "You will pay for that!!!!!!" "Jack!" Bellerphon cried. Too late, Ector pulled out a gun and fired at Jack. Jack fell to the ground, "Nooooo! Jack..." Cassandra screamed. She rushed over to him. Cassandra felt hot tears running down her face, she turned to Ector. Her veins pulsed with anger. A turning point where her powers are activating. She looked up and spread out her arms, where her powers bend the lights from above. Just then, someone followed her and came up to her, putting a hand on her. Cassandra whirled around, gasping. "Cass, it's me!" Jack said with a small smile. Cassandra let out a sigh and embraced him. "Jack, you're all right." She said. Cassandra buried her face, there was heaving of sobs. Jack hugged her back, "I'm sorry that happened." He said, patting her back tenderly. Cassandra sniffed. "Oh, Jack! It was awful. He was so mean to me..." She blubbered. Jack could only pat her back, soothing her: "It's OK, Cass. It's OK.." But he looked up and his eyes widened with terror. "LOOK OUT, CASS!" He cried.
Ector laughed more malicious, "End of the line, you damn ass." He exclaimed. Cassandra held her friends close, she glared at Ector, who lunged at them. "DIE!!!" He cried. "No!" She exclaimed. Cassandra telekinetically seized him by the throat and pulls him toward her but she did it too far. Cassandra, Jack, and Trygve watched as Ector fell down to his death. Cassandra couldn’t believe what she had done. "I killed him...I....AAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" She screamed hysterically, waving her hands frantically. Jack took her hands and speaking to her, "Cass, Cass." When Cassandra didn’t answered; Jack slapped her. Cassandra stopped screaming, she slowly placed a hand on her cheek where she had been slapped. Cassandra looked at him, "Jack..." She whispered. Jack sighed, "Sorry. Are you OK?" He asked. Cassandra feebly shake her head. "I don't know, I can't live like…" She admitted. She went to the ledge and spread her arms out. She was about to take a step until Trygve reached for her. "Cass, nooo!" He cried. Jack and Trygve seized her, Cassandra struggled against them as she tried to push him away. "Let go of me! Let go! Lemme--" She ranted. "Don't even try, I am not letting go no matter what you say." Jack said. After many struggles; Cassandra gives up and embraces her friends. "Oh, you guys." She sobbed and begin crying until she fell asleep. Jack carried her, she felt light weighted in his arms.
Cassandra faced Brother 10 and gives out her speech: “This is it, this is war. It may be hard but we have to deal with it.We are facing war, and going all out to deliver! I know all the evils that come along with it are right around the corner, but I'm ready to face it head on. Why don’t we shake shit up with the baddies? I don’t follow the trends, save that for the newspapers. I put in twice as much effort to be liked but who cares? Some nights we do well and is able to collect the reward, other times we just gives up. Through struggle, we wish for a way to provide a sense of security or protection for ourselves and others from more worldly problems. But some nights, we wish we didn’t have to deal with everything that comes in this war. It is unbearably stressful at times; wishing we didn’t have to deal with all of that. Fate is waiting for us, opportunities in the future that we want to chase without being dragged down by the past. Our dreams are approved by and aligned with the belief of a place of happiness. Even though we will always remember the good and bad memories that we had made throughout moments of our life, we keeps on going. We live in the moment and always looks forward!" Cassandra's dream was interrupted by Grendel, who made a psychic link to her mind. He then felt her skin against her and then darkness enveloped them. The next morning, Cassandra woke up with a gasp as she thought she had some sort of dream. But she realized what happened in her mind.
Carefully not to disturb anyone, Cassandra got out of bed and hurry to the shower. Where she let the steamy warm water sprayed on her bare skin. "I can't believe I did that! Did I seriously do that? Crying like---No, this feels weird. This doesn't feel right, why do I feel this way? Have I felt this way?" She thought. It seems that the emotional numbness has melted and some sort of intimacy healing her. It 'cured' her somehow and she never felt more human as she did before. But it was in her mind. No physical contact and it felt weird for her that this happen. On a mission; Cassandra and Vahagn teamed up as Cassandra grows curious about him. When they are confronted by Wendigos; Vahagn uses a kitana to take down them all with a single blow. Cassandra couldn't believe her eyes when she saw this! "Whoa, he just took down the Wendigos with such power! Just who is he?" thought Cassandra. Vahagn continued to fight, Cassandra lunged after the Wendigos but was thrown off the ledge of a cliff. "Auuugghh!" screamed Cassandra, she was going to use her flight but someone's arms wrapped around her. "I gotcha, hold onto me Cass!"
Vahagn told her. They were falling out of the sky as Cassandra use flight, surprising Vahagn. They got to the ground where they managed to get to a safe place. While resting in a cave; they decided to stay in there for the night to get away from the Wendigos, Cass wonders if she is thrown off by the sleep effect as her powers were delaying at the time. She didn't want to lose her powers now. While lying on the ground next to each other, about a few inches away. It was quiet, dark but the silence didn't last. "There's something I want to ask you." Cassandra said. "What is it?" Vahagn inquired. Cassandra sat up, "Why me? Why did you save me?" She asked. Vahagn thought for a moment, then he said, "Because--I didn't want anyone to die alone. Or better yet, I didn't want them to die at all." Cassandra stared at him with amazement, "Wow....Amazing. You really are a nice guy." She said with a smile. She laid back down, it was quiet for a moment before Cassandra spoke up again: "Hey Vahagn, can I ask you a favor?" asked Cassandra. "Anything." replied Vahagn. "Take my hand?" Cassandra asked. Vahagn looked at her with surprise, Cassandra looked at him still. "There's a world I wish to know about." She said. Vahagn stared at her. "OK." He finally said. Then he reached over and took her hand. Cassandra held onto it, "Wow, so warm." She muttered. Then, they both fell asleep. The next day, Cassadra was testing her powers as Vahagn could see. Cass was relived to see they were still inact, still working. "Is that telekinesis?" Vahagn asked. Cassandra looked at his facial expression which was astoundment. "...Yes." replied Cassandra, nervously. "Mimir Sofus told me about you. And your powers." explained Vahagn. Cassandra looked at him with an amused grin, "Uh oh." She said. "Don't worry, nothing bad but he said you have a way to redeem people. So, Ms. Redeemer, how does it feel to have helped so many people?" Vahagn asked.
Cass smiled, "Ha, funny." She said. "Come on, you atoned...A thousand?" Vahagn guessed. "Seventy or more but I might have lost count." Cassandra admitted. "Can you demonstrate your powers? For me?" asked Vahagn. Cassandra looked at him with surprise, then she smiled. The next minute, Vahagn lays down on the ground, usually with the arms crossed over his chest. Cassandra sit around him and attempt to lift his body using nothing but their index and middle fingers. Then begins the chant: "Light as a feather, stiff as a board. Light as a feather, stiff as a board....." Vahagn was lifted but he was amazed by how gifted she is. While back at HQ; Cassandra learn from her mother about her father, where his comments had been like a double edge sword. The first was the oppression comments: "The pressure of being an agent was one of the things I worried about when she was part of Silver Branch. It's in her genes with her parents. Just like her mom. Someone had to take care of her and that would be me." But then, he had said something that sounded so saccharine, "Cass won't even talk to me. I don't blame Silver Branch; I never said that. I was misquoted. Silver Branch has been wonderful to my daughter. Now they are warning me not to say anything else. I would never blame Annis. She is a wonderful mother. I love Cassandra. I think about her all the time and I pray she is OK and safe."
The final straw came when Boreas return old stuff he had kept from his wife and daughter. Then, left a voice mail on Annis's cellphone: "I hate all of you....This is my last communication with you and you two can go to hell for all I care! Goodbye!" It was bitter and hilarious, but it hurt. Hurt so bad. How could Cassandra do this? She was ashamed to think that this guy was really her father. Arachne stopped as Cassandra passed out. Arachne caught her in time but witnessed the bite mark on her shoulder was left on her healed on its own. Arachne wonders who this girl might be as she is amazed as she wonders if she and her are somewhat similar to one another. When Cass woke up, Arachne became her friend and comrade of Silver Branch. The same with Blanchette when she encounters Turan. In the meantime, Elia begin to write her book about Truth Rosario cult. She had escaped and lives with Hanna, who is her roommate. She calls her book, "Behind the Rosary's Candor".
The first lines went like this, "Hello, my name is Elia. I am a prophetess. I am Yehweh's Daughter. I'm not perfect and I am nothing like the cult of Truth Rosario. I was cut off from the outside world, I finally fled with Hanna my friend, once the cult began advocating our sentences for 'sinning' and 'brainwashing' so we had to flee...."
Cassandra was getting prepared for a job interview, she had a resume prepared with her. She took a shower motionless, she slowly clean her hair and body. Then, she got dressed and put on lip gloss. As she went to the interview; it doesn't go smoothly. The sounds of a loud boom set off Cassandra as she screamed while remembering the tragic incident. The employer then said after Cassandra calmed down, "I cannot hire someone who cannot get her act together. Go get some therapy and come back as a sane lady!" Cassandra was humiliated of this, she walked out with tears in her eyes and drove away. As she got back home; Cassandra takes a bubble bath. As her feet were at the foot of the tub, she rested her eyelids and slid underwater. This where she can daydream in this state. She had done it many times. This time, it was different. Today, she was swimming in the Caribbean sea and saw the animals hiding behind the rocks. She went under the sea as she sees fishes swim as they move their lips, 'Swim' and 'Talk to me.' With her feet in the air and her head on the ground; She begin to spin around however her head inside has collapsed and there's nothing. She begins to wonder, "Way in this water, I swim....Where my mind is? Where is it? Where is my mind? Where is my....Mind?" The word 'mind' begins to echo over and over again. Cassandra opened her eyes and emerged from the water of the bath, gasping for breath. Then, Cassandra could not look at her mother when she got out of the bath and hurried to her room. Later on, Cassandra woke up, lying the grassy fields and gets up from the ground. She begins to look around however she looks around but almost lost her footing. She looked down, horrified that this mass of earth is floating in the sky! "Am I in Heaven?" wondered Cassandra, she begins to walk around.
"Well if this Heaven, then why don't I feel dead?" thought Cassandra. She looked around to see perfect blue skies, white puffy clouds, tall buildings, and trees. She was curious so much that she didn't watch where she was going, Cassandra slammed into someone! "Oh hey--" She started to say but she saw that it was a thick, burgundy haired boy who has light skin and leaned muscular figure built. He wore a crimson glory colored T shirt, sweat pants, and sneakers. "Hi." Cassandra said, surprised. "I'm sorry, I didn't know where I was going, I apologize!" Although the guy looked cool-headed, he smiled kindly. "It's fine." He answered. Cassandra is touched by his smile, he sure was nice. Cute too. But she begins to hear his thoughts in her mind. "Are you OK?" asked the guy. "Uh, yeah." said Cassandra quickly. "What's your name?" asked the young man. "My name is Cassandra." answered Cassandra. "I'm Samson, Samson Diaz." said the young man. Cassandra nodded, "Yes...Do tell, Samson. Are you what they call a swordsman?" She asked. Samson looked at her with surprise, "How--How did you know?" He asked. Cassandra looked over at him and said with a smile, "I don't know. I guess my mind can read your mind." She replied. Samson looked at her with dazed amazement, "OK. Let's find out where we are." He finally said. Cassandra seemed intrigued, "'We'? As in us? Together?" She asked. "I like to get to know you, Samson. I really do." Samson smiled back and they both journeyed into the unknown.
Cassandra stared at everyone fighting and rolled her eyes up to the ceiling, then she flexed out her hand and yelled, "SHUT UP!!!" The others were lifted from the ground, Cassandra couldn't believe that she was the only doing this. Then she drops them down safely, she sighed and smiled. "Now, tell me....who's a misfit?" asked Cassandra with a witty look on her face. The others stared up in amazement, "Ohhhh...." They chorused. One minute later; Samson, Justice, Echo, Proteus, Kamaitachi, Christopher, Lleu, Hanuman and Zaden were standing up like soldiers. Cassandra paced left and right from them. "Listen up!" She said to them. "We come from different places of our homes, and brought here for an unknown reason. So, If we're going to find some answers, we need to ventured to the unknown and find this person responsible for this; we must put our colors--our personalities aside--and become one....Any questions?" Borvo raised his hand, "Ma'm, I have one." He said. Cassandra turned to him, "Yes Borvo?" She asked. Borvo then talked normally, "Um...Exactly where do we start?" Cassandra nodded, thinking about that. "Ah, that's a very good question my friend." She turned to the horizon of the city, pointing over to a building. "You see that building over there? This building stands out than the rest of them, it has stained glass windows. I'm curious to know what's in there."
Just then; the creatures attacked, puncturing Cassandra's body abdomen. Cassandra felt anger, the wounds on her body begin to vanish from her skin. Samson, Proteus, Zaden, Lleu, Christopher, Hanuman, Justice, Echo, Kamaitachi, and Borvo are shocked to see this. Cassandra had tears in her eyes; thinking about her dead friends and their dreams which were gone forever. Now she was pissed, the creatures looked scared so they try to leave but Cassandra held them against their will and then killed them one by one with her telekinetic powers. The commotion started to attract the attention of others: Eulalie, Deirdre, Turan, Norna, Ariadne, & Juana and their new friends heard this. Curious, they walked over there to see what was going on. When they got closer, they were shocked to see Cassandra losing control on the monsters who had killed innocent lives. Once it was over, Cassandra finally calmed down and looked around the deceased of others, she saw that there was a child's body lying there motionlessly. She had tears in her eyes and she looked at the citizens who were watching her lose control. "Does anybody have anything to make a cremation? I want to make a proper funeral for the lives that are lost." said Cassandra. The others looked at each other, not sure what to do. Samson turned to them and said, "Listen, I know that was scary for all of you to see but this girl saved all of you from those beasts and she had a heart for the people that were killed." A bartender came forth with a bottle of liquor. A guy who was a smoker had a lighter. And someone who had fireproof materials & a proper funeral was made for them.
Captain Krieger realized Cassandra was not using her powers, so he walked over to her and stares down. Cassandra didn't meet his eyes but he spoke to her: "He who is impulsive can be murdered. As a result, though we have heard of foolish urgency in battle, inventive has never been seen associated with far-off hindrances. To accomplish centenary fights is not of the cardinal merit. Conquer one's enemy past combating is the climax of power. You can't show fear, you are stronger than this." Krieger went behind her, speaking softly to her. "Allow your expedition be that of the tempest, your density that of the woods. In maraud and liberation be like the pyre, in stability like the peaks. Allow your strategies be crepuscular yet substantial as night, and when you run, drop like a drum fire." Then he spoke up, "Let's try it again." said Siegfried. He moved away, Cassandra took his words to heart and she concentrated. However she can hear something, she looked around but no one was speaking but she can hear in their thoughts. A song, it sounded strange. Like a chorus of an army. The song goes like this: “Art of war….” and Cassandra could hear a thought singing, “Quick as the cyclone air.” The chorus of thoughts belted into her mind, “Art of war….” The main thought crooned, “Of the calming as the woods.” The chorus of thoughts intoned in Cassandra’s head, “Art of war…” The main thought serenaded, “Be brutal as the flaring flames, adequate as the great peaks of the mountain.” The singing in her head, it gave her courage. She concentrated and then she managed to telekinetically break apart all of the objects of the training. All the dummies but she manages to control her emotions. Once she was finished; there was an applause from the others. She was embraced by someone from behind.
While taking a walk in the forest, Cassandra saw Jack training but then Cassandra watched in horror as Jack turned into a Revenant creature, “Oh dear Lord! He’s a Revenant?” She thought. Revenant Jack begin to do all sorts of combat moves in order to take down these savage, killer monsters. Cassandra hide behind a tree, watching him work hard at his skills. Once Jack was done, he changed back to normal but he fell unconscious. This is it, this was her chance to see inside his head and she rushed over there. Cassandra kneel down at the unconscious Jack, she placed her hands on the side of his face and begins to read his mind: In a flash; she saw it. His memories. "Jack...I don't want to hurt you, I just want to understand you. To feel better, to feel like I'm not the only one." Cassandra thought, talking to him in his thoughts. Suddenly, she felt a burst of pain through her. "What's happening? I feel--Augh! It hurts!" She said, gasping. Jack regained consciousness, he was shocked to see what was happening. "Oh no!" He thought. Cassandra begin to change into a Revenant, she was unaware of what is going on but for the first time, she wanted to fight. She saw other Revenants and she went after them fiercely. She lunged at them as she rescues lives like the other soldiers and kills them. As soon as she is done; the soldiers stared at her in fear. Revenant Cassandra approached them and placed her claw-hand on Lieutenant Reiten. A few moments later; she was in astonishment. “Cassandra…Endymion? Is that you?” asked Margaret. Cassandra transformed back to normal. She gasps as she fell unconscious to the ground.
"Dad!?" Cassandra cried. The man turned as he released Jack, he smiled at her, "Cassandra, my daughter." "What the hell are you doing here? How did you find me?" demanded Cassandra. Boreas's smile faded, "Do not talk to your father that way!" He admonished. "I'm an adult now, Father. Now tell me what you want." Cassandra said. "I want you back." Boreas begged. He walked one step closer, "Father." Cassandra started to say nervously. "It could be like it was before, Daughter." Boreas said, pleadingly. This horrified Cassandra, "No, Dad!" She said. Never, she never want to go back to the way it was. Being abused by him. No, no. "You were the only one I ever loved, worthy. Especially your mother. I know you're every thought, I can't live without you." He said. "Father, Stop this now! I want you to be flat out honest and answer me--" Cassandra admonished. But did not Boreas ceased one bit, "They tell you things They just want to brainwash ... They are demons, do not stay here." Cassandra spoke back, "Too late, Father. I've already made my decision." Boreas looked at her, "Cassandra, you get your ass out there right now!" "Shut up!" Cassandra screamed, her telekinesis caused the furniture to raise and drop as Boreas was terrified. He fell down on the ground and looked up in shock. "Good God." He whispered. Cassandra stared down at him blankly. "Dad, stand up." she commanded. Boreas shook his head, I was trembling. Cassandra gritted her teeth. "FATHER, STAND UP NOW!" She exclaimed, flexing her hand out as she lifts him telekinetically. Boreas shouted as everyone was in shock of what they are seeing. "I belong here, Father. Things are going to change around here." Cassandra said sternly.
"Renounce That power! You must surrender it! You must never use it!" Boreas cried with the edge of hysteria in his voice. "No!!! I am not going to listen to this anymore!" Cassandra said loudly. Boreas then begin to say a prayer while weeping: "Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make veils for the heads of persons of every state to hunt to life ..." Cassandra continued to talk, "I am nothing like you...And I'll never be like you." Boreas snubbed her and prayed desperately. Cassandra spoke again, "You can wallow, pray, and cry all you want but I'm staying here." "... I will not allow a witch to live ...." muttered Boreas but he was dropped to the floor and was weeping pathetically. Cassandra stares down at him sternly, "Not you or anyone else can stop me...And I don't want to talk about it anymore." And with that; she walked away. Cassandra sighed, she turned to her father. "I'm going, OK? You wait here." Cassandra ordered but Boreas slapped her so hard that she fell to the ground. She tried to get back up however she was pinned down by her father. "Stupid brat, why do deliberately defy me? Is it me? You love to get hit? You love it, right? Do you love it when I beat you to a pulp?!" yelled Boreas, wrestling her to the ground. "Get away from me!" cried Cassandra. "What happened to my sweet girl? Huh What happened to my beloved daughter Where's my angel?" argued Boreas. Cassandra clenched her teeth and shouted out, "Gone, father! She's gone, and she's not coming back!"
Her telekinesis broke Boreas's hand who cried out in pain. Cassandra moved away from him but then Boreas seized her, "You're not going anywhere!" screamed Boreas. Cassandra pushed his hand away, "Get off me!" She exclaimed, Cass turns away from him. "You cannot handle this!" Cassandra turned back to him, "Oh, I can't? I'm the one messed up and trying to atone for my sins. You're The one who is in denial!" She bellowed, and stormed off. "CASSANDRA!" Her father shouted, charging after her but Cassandra hold him back with her powers. In a strained voice she said, "I warn you, Father. Stay there and you do not say a word until I'm gone." Cassandra lets him go and then she softens up as she said, "I'll come back later. I love you." "Oh, look at this! Ain't it touching?" mocked Ector, pretending to cry but was smirking. "I love celebrations, I really do." Cassandra’s eyes bulged in horror. "Our great heroes are honored at long last but you won't be honored when I play...This!" A large TV image plays of someone entering a movie cinema. Cassandra couldn’t believe it, "It can't be!" She gasped. Next was gunshots, people screaming. It shows images of Cassandra’s friends and other people being shot at. "Oh my..." Mimir gasped. "Oh no...!" Trygve cursed. Everyone was horrified by these images however Ector and his friends laughed. They was in hysterics of this.
They thought this was all so funny? How dare they…Cassandra’s body tremble but felt a rough hand on her back, "Bitch, are you gonna cry--" Ector said. Cassandra turned to him fiercely with her telekinesis. Ector flew back into a column. "Ohhh!" The crowd gasped. "Uh oh." Lleu said softly. "Cass." Samson muttered. Jack was furious at Ector, he ran over at him and cried, "You will pay for that!!!!!!" "Jack!" Bellerphon cried. Too late, Ector pulled out a gun and fired at Jack. Jack fell to the ground, "Nooooo! Jack..." Cassandra screamed. She rushed over to him. Cassandra felt hot tears running down her face, she turned to Ector. Her veins pulsed with anger. A turning point where her powers are activating. She looked up and spread out her arms, where her powers bend the lights from above. Just then, someone followed her and came up to her, putting a hand on her. Cassandra whirled around, gasping. "Cass, it's me!" Jack said with a small smile. Cassandra let out a sigh and embraced him. "Jack, you're all right." She said. Cassandra buried her face, there was heaving of sobs. Jack hugged her back, "I'm sorry that happened." He said, patting her back tenderly. Cassandra sniffed. "Oh, Jack! It was awful. He was so mean to me..." She blubbered. Jack could only pat her back, soothing her: "It's OK, Cass. It's OK.." But he looked up and his eyes widened with terror. "LOOK OUT, CASS!" He cried.
Ector laughed more malicious, "End of the line, you damn ass." He exclaimed. Cassandra held her friends close, she glared at Ector, who lunged at them. "DIE!!!" He cried. "No!" She exclaimed. Cassandra telekinetically seized him by the throat and pulls him toward her but she did it too far. Cassandra, Jack, and Trygve watched as Ector fell down to his death. Cassandra couldn’t believe what she had done. "I killed him...I....AAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" She screamed hysterically, waving her hands frantically. Jack took her hands and speaking to her, "Cass, Cass." When Cassandra didn’t answered; Jack slapped her. Cassandra stopped screaming, she slowly placed a hand on her cheek where she had been slapped. Cassandra looked at him, "Jack..." She whispered. Jack sighed, "Sorry. Are you OK?" He asked. Cassandra feebly shake her head. "I don't know, I can't live like…" She admitted. She went to the ledge and spread her arms out. She was about to take a step until Trygve reached for her. "Cass, nooo!" He cried. Jack and Trygve seized her, Cassandra struggled against them as she tried to push him away. "Let go of me! Let go! Lemme--" She ranted. "Don't even try, I am not letting go no matter what you say." Jack said. After many struggles; Cassandra gives up and embraces her friends. "Oh, you guys." She sobbed and begin crying until she fell asleep. Jack carried her, she felt light weighted in his arms.
Cassandra faced Brother 10 and gives out her speech: “This is it, this is war. It may be hard but we have to deal with it.We are facing war, and going all out to deliver! I know all the evils that come along with it are right around the corner, but I'm ready to face it head on. Why don’t we shake shit up with the baddies? I don’t follow the trends, save that for the newspapers. I put in twice as much effort to be liked but who cares? Some nights we do well and is able to collect the reward, other times we just gives up. Through struggle, we wish for a way to provide a sense of security or protection for ourselves and others from more worldly problems. But some nights, we wish we didn’t have to deal with everything that comes in this war. It is unbearably stressful at times; wishing we didn’t have to deal with all of that. Fate is waiting for us, opportunities in the future that we want to chase without being dragged down by the past. Our dreams are approved by and aligned with the belief of a place of happiness. Even though we will always remember the good and bad memories that we had made throughout moments of our life, we keeps on going. We live in the moment and always looks forward!" Cassandra's dream was interrupted by Grendel, who made a psychic link to her mind. He then felt her skin against her and then darkness enveloped them. The next morning, Cassandra woke up with a gasp as she thought she had some sort of dream. But she realized what happened in her mind.
Carefully not to disturb anyone, Cassandra got out of bed and hurry to the shower. Where she let the steamy warm water sprayed on her bare skin. "I can't believe I did that! Did I seriously do that? Crying like---No, this feels weird. This doesn't feel right, why do I feel this way? Have I felt this way?" She thought. It seems that the emotional numbness has melted and some sort of intimacy healing her. It 'cured' her somehow and she never felt more human as she did before. But it was in her mind. No physical contact and it felt weird for her that this happen. On a mission; Cassandra and Vahagn teamed up as Cassandra grows curious about him. When they are confronted by Wendigos; Vahagn uses a kitana to take down them all with a single blow. Cassandra couldn't believe her eyes when she saw this! "Whoa, he just took down the Wendigos with such power! Just who is he?" thought Cassandra. Vahagn continued to fight, Cassandra lunged after the Wendigos but was thrown off the ledge of a cliff. "Auuugghh!" screamed Cassandra, she was going to use her flight but someone's arms wrapped around her. "I gotcha, hold onto me Cass!"
Vahagn told her. They were falling out of the sky as Cassandra use flight, surprising Vahagn. They got to the ground where they managed to get to a safe place. While resting in a cave; they decided to stay in there for the night to get away from the Wendigos, Cass wonders if she is thrown off by the sleep effect as her powers were delaying at the time. She didn't want to lose her powers now. While lying on the ground next to each other, about a few inches away. It was quiet, dark but the silence didn't last. "There's something I want to ask you." Cassandra said. "What is it?" Vahagn inquired. Cassandra sat up, "Why me? Why did you save me?" She asked. Vahagn thought for a moment, then he said, "Because--I didn't want anyone to die alone. Or better yet, I didn't want them to die at all." Cassandra stared at him with amazement, "Wow....Amazing. You really are a nice guy." She said with a smile. She laid back down, it was quiet for a moment before Cassandra spoke up again: "Hey Vahagn, can I ask you a favor?" asked Cassandra. "Anything." replied Vahagn. "Take my hand?" Cassandra asked. Vahagn looked at her with surprise, Cassandra looked at him still. "There's a world I wish to know about." She said. Vahagn stared at her. "OK." He finally said. Then he reached over and took her hand. Cassandra held onto it, "Wow, so warm." She muttered. Then, they both fell asleep. The next day, Cassadra was testing her powers as Vahagn could see. Cass was relived to see they were still inact, still working. "Is that telekinesis?" Vahagn asked. Cassandra looked at his facial expression which was astoundment. "...Yes." replied Cassandra, nervously. "Mimir Sofus told me about you. And your powers." explained Vahagn. Cassandra looked at him with an amused grin, "Uh oh." She said. "Don't worry, nothing bad but he said you have a way to redeem people. So, Ms. Redeemer, how does it feel to have helped so many people?" Vahagn asked.
Cass smiled, "Ha, funny." She said. "Come on, you atoned...A thousand?" Vahagn guessed. "Seventy or more but I might have lost count." Cassandra admitted. "Can you demonstrate your powers? For me?" asked Vahagn. Cassandra looked at him with surprise, then she smiled. The next minute, Vahagn lays down on the ground, usually with the arms crossed over his chest. Cassandra sit around him and attempt to lift his body using nothing but their index and middle fingers. Then begins the chant: "Light as a feather, stiff as a board. Light as a feather, stiff as a board....." Vahagn was lifted but he was amazed by how gifted she is. While back at HQ; Cassandra learn from her mother about her father, where his comments had been like a double edge sword. The first was the oppression comments: "The pressure of being an agent was one of the things I worried about when she was part of Silver Branch. It's in her genes with her parents. Just like her mom. Someone had to take care of her and that would be me." But then, he had said something that sounded so saccharine, "Cass won't even talk to me. I don't blame Silver Branch; I never said that. I was misquoted. Silver Branch has been wonderful to my daughter. Now they are warning me not to say anything else. I would never blame Annis. She is a wonderful mother. I love Cassandra. I think about her all the time and I pray she is OK and safe."
The final straw came when Boreas return old stuff he had kept from his wife and daughter. Then, left a voice mail on Annis's cellphone: "I hate all of you....This is my last communication with you and you two can go to hell for all I care! Goodbye!" It was bitter and hilarious, but it hurt. Hurt so bad. How could Cassandra do this? She was ashamed to think that this guy was really her father. Arachne stopped as Cassandra passed out. Arachne caught her in time but witnessed the bite mark on her shoulder was left on her healed on its own. Arachne wonders who this girl might be as she is amazed as she wonders if she and her are somewhat similar to one another. When Cass woke up, Arachne became her friend and comrade of Silver Branch. The same with Blanchette when she encounters Turan. In the meantime, Elia begin to write her book about Truth Rosario cult. She had escaped and lives with Hanna, who is her roommate. She calls her book, "Behind the Rosary's Candor".
The first lines went like this, "Hello, my name is Elia. I am a prophetess. I am Yehweh's Daughter. I'm not perfect and I am nothing like the cult of Truth Rosario. I was cut off from the outside world, I finally fled with Hanna my friend, once the cult began advocating our sentences for 'sinning' and 'brainwashing' so we had to flee...."
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