Hey guys,

Welcome to the next chapter of Inseparable Souls and, indeed, the next chapter of TheBrokenBottle. I'm genuinely happy and excited to be back. Unfortunately this is now a solo-project but hopefully that doesn't mean a drop in quality. From now on the story will be more in-depth with new powers and key characters introduced.

Also, if you haven't already read it earlier today, I will now be taking over Navyrant's story "The Rose Thief" and have started a reboot. Keep an eye out for that!

Read, review, follow, favourite and most importantly enjoy!

Ruby was laying at the foot of the bed, keeping a constant vigil over Weiss. Said young girl was deep in the throes of slumber and soon the morning would bring another new day. It was rare for Ruby to pause and reflect: her style being much more to run headlong into things and deal with the consequences as they came, but as she watched the gentle rise and fall of Weiss' chest and listened to the faint murmurings as the white-haired girl was immersed in dream, she couldn't help but do so.

It had been four months since the fateful events of Weiss' 9th birthday, and an element of normality had begun to settle on their otherwise chaotic lives. Yang and Blake had finally managed to adopt Weiss; the adoption papers going through a mere week ago. The two scientists had barged into her room like a stampede of wild elephants, startling her and Ruby from their game of chess. Weiss barely had time to register her shock when the papers were thrust in front of her. Instantly she found herself scanning the sheets eagerly until she saw the words she had wanted to see for many months now: 'adoption' and 'successful'.

Despite this, Ruby knew all was not well. Blake and Yang were good at hiding it from Weiss but she could tell they were worried. Very worried. It had all begun a few months ago when they'd received a letter. Initially she had no idea who it was from, but every few days more and more of these letters were arriving, and it was having a noticeable effect on Blake. Each time she shakily opened the letters her normally beautiful became etched with fear, the angst getting worse and worse every time.

One time, however, she'd accidentally overheard the two scientists talking in great length about this. It seemed that whoever was writing the letters was threatening to visit the VPAC.

Ruby didn't know why this was such an issue but she was hesitant to raise it with Weiss lest the young girl suffer. Everything would be fine, she was sure of it. It didn't matter what this "Ironwood" was, things would be okay.

June 13th, 2015, 11:34 PM, VPAC

"Mrs. Xiao Long you're being unreasonable," a deep and commanding voice filled the air. It was a voice that hinted at years of authority, a voice that spoke of unquestionable rule. "You must understand that this is for her own good."

"With all due respect, General, I think we know what's best for Weiss a lot more than you do." Yang shot back. She would do anything in her power to keep her daughter safe, but even Yang could do nothing against the might of General Ironwood.

Evidently her defiance had an effect on the aged man as his sharp and defined features relaxed slightly, a sigh escaping his lips and he looked sympathetically towards the young woman stood in front of him, her hand entwined with that of her her wife, Blake standing right by her side.

"I know how much the girl means to you. And it's because of that I want to help. Her entity is dangerous, even if she seems benign at the moment. I've seen many good people pay the ultimate price for not respecting what these things are capable of, and every single time it pains me to see innocent people die. Please; entrust her to my care. My facility is designed to help people like Weiss understand and control the power that they wield. She can learn more about who and what she is, and that there are people here who want to applaud her for her gifts, not shun her. And as I am the head of the facility I can have you both transferred there to help oversee her. To give you piece of mind."

This time the General's words were soft and gentle, like a gradual summer breeze. He seemed caring and genuine, and Yang found her resolve starting to fade. Maybe Ironwood was right after all? Maybe he truly did want to help?

"No," Blake's voice cut through the silence, "We're not letting you take our daughter away. Not now, not ever."

Instantly all pretenses of caring were dropped, and Ironwood turned dismissively to leave, "So be it. But know that what happens is your own doing now." His footsteps echoed long after he was gone, and neither scientist dared speak until they were certain he had gone.

"Blake we can't let him take her." Yang spoke urgently, panic clinging to the words she spoke.

"I know Yang, I know. All we can do is keep her safe."

June 28th, 2015 7:02 AM, VPAC

"Weiss, wake up!" Blake's frantic voice dragged the exhausted girl from her dreams and into the world of the waking. It was an unusually cold morning for that time of year, and the warmth of her quilt seemed particularly enticing.

"Huh? What's going on?" She struggled out through a yawn, her mind still not fully awake.

"Please Weiss, we have to go. Just trust me." Blake's voice warbled slightly, and as Weiss' eyes focused properly she could see the unmistakable red eyes and tear streaks down the scientist's fair face.

Morning everyone! Ruby exclaimed from Weiss' side, her high spirits in stark contrast to the foreboding and menace that seemed to pervade the early hours of the day. It was as if a crushing weight were bearing down on them all; choking them and forcing the air from their lungs. Certainly, Weiss could feel her chest constricting with each laboured breath, and the panic evident within Blake was beginning to affect her.

"Ruby what's going on outside?" Weiss asked, a rising dread filling her frail body.

Woah! There's, like, a million guys out there! Ruby exclaimed with a mixture of awe and fear. She turned to Weiss but the harsh tone of a loudspeaker cut her off entirely.

"Attention citizens of the Vale Paranormal Activity Centre. Effective as of now this facility is under the command of General Ironwood. All medical personnel are to report to the front gates. All subjects are to remain where they are to await further processing. Any resistance will be met with the necessary force."

"Ironwood…." Blake whispered, almost to herself. Her body seemed immobilised with shock, and it took Yang barging through the door, various pieces of equipment held tightly in her arms to bring her back to reality.

Weiss what's happening?

"I don't know Ruby, I don't know." She answered as she quickly slipped on a pair of shoes before following Yang and Blake out of her room and towards the car park.

"Mommy I'm scared." Weiss whimpered as she held Blake's hand as tight as she could.

"Don't worry dear, your mother and I will be here. We'll keep you safe, I promise."

Even as they hurried towards Blake's car they could hear the regimented footsteps of troops hurrying through the corridors and the frightened cries of those they apprehended. Weiss knew her way around the VPAC like the back of her hand, having spent much of her time in the past few months traipsing from one office to another, but as they thundered through the building, desperately headed for safety, she felt like she hardly knew the place.

"Okay, everyone quickly inside!" Blake whispered as loud as she dared, opening the door for Weiss whilst Yang hurriedly filled the boot with all their equipment and rushed around to the passenger side door.

"Don't even bother."

With a horrible sense of inevitability, Weiss watched on as a tall figure strode out of the shadows. Everything about Ironwood spoke of the unquestionable dictatorial power this man held. Vaguely she was aware of echoed foot-falls signalling the approach of Ironwood's men, but she found herself transfixed by the General. Never before had she seen someone who radiated authority and presence quite like him.

"I like to think of myself as someone who thinks of the bigger picture," he began, a calm and serene look on his face that belied his reputation, "Someone who knows when they have to make difficult decisions. It isn't easy, but every single time I remind myself that what I'm doing is for the greater good."

"General, please!" Blake pleaded, but he cut her off with a wave of his hand.

"Save your breath. I'm here to help young Weiss and you're merely an obstacle in my way. An insignificant obstacle at that. My facility is a place where she can be free to interact with others like herself, a place where she no longer needs to fear the power of her entity. And you would deny her that?"

NO!

Ruby's scream reverberated through Weiss' head, causing the young girl to wince in pain, and the entity threw herself towards Ironwood. Instantly, two of the soldiers who had been lurking in the shadows trained their guns on Ruby.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Ironwood's words were laced with venom, and even the rampaging Ruby skidded to a halt.

Blake and Yang shared a terrified glance: how had Ironwood's men been able to see Ruby?

"We need this equipment to keep track of our patients," he nonchalantly answered their unasked question, "It's just one of the many ways in which we are better able to care for both Weiss and her entity than you were here."

Ironwood was cut off by the roar of air being ripped asunder by the blades of a helicopter moving nearby, the noise echoing around the empty confines of the car-park. A billowing gust of wind heralded its arrival and all present were forced to shield their eyes from the dust and debris that was sent hurtling their way, and Weiss found herself wincing further as a bright light cut through the early morning gloom, illuminating all present.

"For what it's worth, I'm sorry," Ironwood shouted over the noise of the rotor, "Take the girl away."

Weiss screamed in panic as two soldiers moved to grab her, only for Yang to throw herself at them, a deep red fury burning within her brilliant lilac eyes. All skill was thrown to the wind as Yang threw punch after punch at the infantrymen with lightning speed, each one connecting with an audible thud, the sound seeming louder than it really was as the helicopter had landed and the rotor ceased spinning. Even through their body armour the soldiers were reeling from the assault and before anyone could react one already lay in a crumpled heap on the concrete.

"Restrain her!" the General ordered, and more troops moved up in support, one taking aim at Yang. Two barbs, each trailing a wire, dug into her arm and with a screech and a spasm, Yang collapsed too. As she lay there, helpless, the fierce red tint that had dominated her irises but a second ago faded and a soldier dragged her limp body away from the General.

"Yang!" Blake wailed, torn between her wife and her child. More soldiers closed in on them and one of them pointed something that was distinctly different from the regular guns at Ruby. Instantly a wave nausea enveloped Weiss. She could feel Ruby's presence getting fainter and fainter as her entity suddenly became weaker and weaker. It was as if some force were subduing Ruby, preventing her from even moving.

Weiss… Ruby trailed, her voice barely an echo in the young girl's head.

"Ruby…" She murmured back as the soldiers closed in on her. One grabbed Weiss' arms and another her legs and she was powerless to stop them carrying her towards a waiting truck.

"Weiss!" Blake cried in pure terror, tears streaking down her face. She tried to reach out to her daughter, but she couldn't. Her muscles tensed and she was smacked down against the concrete, one of Ironwood's men standing behind her with the same gun used on Yang, pointed at her.

"Don't move or I will shoot again!" He commanded.

"Mommy!" Weiss cried out in grief, a piercing echo sounding throughout the parking lot. She was tired, she was powerless without Ruby and her struggling to fight her way out of the soldiers arms was therefore in vain. They overpowered her without performing a big deal of effort.

"Your entity will be just fine Miss Schnee," Ironwood stated as he headed towards the helicopter and motioned for the pilot to start it up again, "As long as you are willing to give me exactly what I want."

Weiss was thrown carelessly into the back of the truck, her ribs jolting in pain as she collided hard with the metal sides. A whirring noise filled her ears as Ironwood's helicopter began it's ascent and the doors of the truck were slammed shut, plunging her into darkness.

The rumbling of engines called into life was akin to a death knell for Weiss. The heavily armed truck drove away from the parking lot and into the imposing shadows of the mountain forest.

Away from Yang and Blake.