Disclaimer: I do not own Chrono Crusade, but I own this story line! So don't go taking it, you got that? . Thank you.
Chapter 5: Shadow
Rosette's POV
As I sat there in the hallway, I could tell I wasn't alone, but who was there with me, I couldn't tell. I kept my eyes glued to the floor as I stumbled to my feet. A light breeze lapped at my face and suddenly I lifted my head up to glare down the corridor into the shadows.
"What was that…" I whispered. I had felt like there was a hand being placed on my shoulder, but there was nothing behind or in front of me. 'Chrono…is he alright?' I finally thought. Was he feeling all of this? If he wasn't…why wasn't I telling him?
Rosette…
"Huh…w-who's there…" I spluttered taking a few steps away from the dimness. I suddenly heard footsteps approaching me slowly, but from which side I couldn't point out. I turned my head from left to right while my body faced a wall. "Show yourself!" I shouted tightening my grip on the gun I had dropped earlier.
The footsteps sounded like metal hitting the wooden floor. Who could have been approaching me like this? What had I done to the spirits in the house to have them haunt me?
I next heard what sounded like a buzzing noise. It grew louder as the footsteps drew nearer. I began to quiver again and I wrapped my arms around myself while I fell back to the floor. I let go of my gun and covered my ears with my palms and closed my eyes tightly. 'Go away…just go away….' I begged mentally.
And after that…everything stopped.
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Chrono's POV
My worry over Rosette continued to grow with every step I took. 'I shouldn't have left her back there…Something's going to happen and I know it,' I thought narrowing my eyes. My footsteps were slow – one every few seconds. There was an unfamiliar presence in the mansion that I had been feeling ever since we'd entered, but it hadn't shown itself…or had it?
"Rosette…please tell me you're alright…I don't know what I'd do if…if you…" I mumbled to myself before a loud bang from downstairs caught my attention. My head snapped to attention and I spun around to stare down to the end of the corridor. It had grown darker than it was before, but perhaps that was because the Sun was setting.
The candles lit one by one down the hall and I watched them curiously. I had never seen such a happening before. Then, a door at the end of the hall opened slowly and my curiosity grew, so I approached the room and sauntered inside. It was a cozy little room with a queen sized bed and a dresser with a mirror on it like any of the other rooms. But, this one was different. There was a piano inside of the room, and on top of the piano was a photograph of a girl and a boy. Each looked so pleasant, like nothing in the world could disturb them.
"Who are they…?" I questioned myself as I lifted up the picture to examine it. I set my eyes on the boy for a moment. It was the same boy I had seen in that other picture Rosette had been holding the first night we were here. His resemblance to Joshua was uncanny, but who was he?
I lowered my gaze to the girl and I gasped nearly letting the picture slip through my fingers. "It…c-can't be…" I whispered feeling my eyes lower to it again. It was Rosette…
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Rosette's POV
I felt a few tears trickle down my cheeks as I sat there in the hall. The candles on either side had lit like magic, and everything had fallen silent. What was happening here? Who was doing all of this to me? I lowered my head and my eyes widened at what I saw. I suddenly wanted to scream but covered my mouth.
The tears I had cried had turned to blood – bright, deep, red blood. I ran a slender digit down my cheek and then stared at it in disbelief. I had cried tears of blood, but how? I leaned against the wall and panted heavily. I wanted to run…run far away and never come back. I knew why those children died here. They couldn't escape in time. I had to flee before the same happened to me as well.
I leapt to my feet and darted down the hall heading towards the front door. "Don't let them take me! I don't want to die here like this!" I screamed shaking my head still panting as I ran. My fear grew as the door came into sight. I reached out my hand to grasp the handle when I felt something fall. The floor had collapsed from under me and I gasped flinging my arm backwards to grab the edge of the floor. I looked down watching the floor crumble and fall into a black abyss.
"What was that?" I asked myself and then lifted my body back up to the solid ground. I held my chest with my hand closing my eyes. Someone or something did not want me to leave.
Rosette…
"Stop! Stop! Just leave me alone!" I hollered slamming my fists into the ground. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a bit of movement in the shadows and sat up straight while staring in that direction. "Wha –?" I then stood and leisurely began to advance on it.
Closer my child…
For some reason, I couldn't disobey the voice I heard. I continued to walk feeling eyes on the back of my head. Unknown to me, someone was watching from close behind. A crimson gaze followed my every move, and raspy breathing tickled my ear. I took a step, and then another, until I was finally walking without even thinking of what to do next. It was like my mind had come under the control of another, but whom?
I need a body…I need to escape…You will take my place…
That voice…it was so familiar. I listened to its words and paused in my marching. The better half of me ordered me to turn and run away, but I didn't move. My eyes were locked on something in the distance. There was a light flickering ahead of me, but I didn't know what it was, and so I did what any normal human with my IQ would do – I walked towards it.
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Chrono's POV
I covered my mouth with my hand and felt my legs weakening. I had to find Rosette. Something was about to happen to her, and I could feel the spirit of the mansion calling to her. It's like I was right there watching her, but she couldn't see me at all. 'Rosette…listen to me! Stop this!' I heard my mind screaming. I needed to reach out to her! I needed to save her!
I slammed my eyes shut and struggled to regain my strength to move, but I collapsed to my knees on the floor and opened my eyes to see the picture in front of me. The boy was gone!
"H-How…" I whispered through clenched teeth. I noticed the girl was still there, and I lifted the photo up into my hand again. Her eyes were pleading, as if she were trying to send me a message through them.
Help her…He will kill her…
It was a soft voice with a feminine touch. Was it the girls? My eyes widened and I grasped the picture with both hands. "Tell me what is happening…tell me how this house became haunted! Who is doing all of this!?" I shouted to the girl in the picture hoping she would answer. I knew she could hear me.
Brother…possessed…murderer…
Those were the only words she spoke to me. Her…brother? He was the poltergeist haunting the house? Had he murdered his sister and then himself!? I needed answers. It was the only way I was going to save Rosette!
'I knew she was hiding something from me…Why did she never say anything?' I thought trembling as I held the photo.
Help…her…Last hope
I nodded but frowned. "How can I? Where is she? Is she…even in this world?" I replied to the girl.
Lost world…spirits' home…
It was as if the girl was speaking in riddles. A lost world? The spirits' home? Did she mean that…Rosette wasn't even in this universe any longer?
"I don't understand…I need more information. Tell me where she is!" I demanded a bit harsher this time.
Photograph…
"She's…inside…of the photograph!?" How could she be? Finally I spotted a figure in the background of the picture. A young woman sat in the grass staring up to a darkened sky. Her eyes were filled with tears of blood. 'Rosette…'
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Rosette's POV
The boy from before appeared before me, but upon his face was a mask. What kind of mask was it? It looked so sinister, and yet sorrowful at the same time. He continued to stare at me with what looked like pleading eyes, but I knew he was up to something. I couldn't back away again.
"What do you want with me? Answer me now!" I demanded slamming my foot on the ground again. The boy let an innocent chuckle escape his lips; though I though it sounded more sinister than anything.
Rosette…why are you so afraid? He spoke. I trembled taking a step backwards. He only stepped closer to me. Why, Rosette? Am I really so…frightening? My words were jumbled all together and I could no longer respond. I finally backed into a wall and gasped. My hands began to sweat and I could barely keep a hold of my gun.
"Tell me….please…" I whispered, my eyes seeming pale and lifeless. I could barely hold myself up, let alone keep my thoughts straight. What had happened in this house so long ago? What did I have to do with any of it…
Save me Rosette…Take my place…Let me be free…
"I will come with you…just tell me…who…and what are you…" I pleaded for a final time falling to my knees before the boy. His expression fell solemn and he took a step away from me.
My name…is Joshua…
A/N: Yes! I have completed the chapter and I will take all flames for not putting up sooner! I am so sorry, but you know…it's Christmas break and I've been busy fixing my room up and goin' to parties and all that. And…also…Sadly enough…I've had a bit of writer's block. ;.; But, I'm praying the next chapter will be up quicker than this one. Later dudes!
Preview: Rosette has found out what the boy is and why he has done so many things to the visitors of the house. But, is her heart bigger than her brain? Has she completely forgotten about Chrono and what she means to him? And how can Chrono help her? Find out in the next chappie!