Fatal Order

Part 3: Death, Dejection, Destruction - 5

Dante woke up in a cold sweat, and he wheezed weakly while he attempted to get up, but at the angle he did, he felt a sharp sting in his chest from the scar Violet had given him last night.

"Shit..." he whispered as he held his stomach in pain.

Thankfully, it was less painful than it was initially, but it still felt rather unpleasant and sore, especially when he was moving.

Though, he knew he had to move, as he could not stop thinking about Erica all night.

Despite what he had tried to promise himself, he couldn't help but keep worrying and decided he had to check on her.

With that intention in mind, he slipped into a new uniform, discarded the previous one into his wash bin, and dashed out into the hall, bright and early so that he could ignore what his mind was telling him and try to check up on Erica.

One thing he immediately noticed, however, was a sign on her door reading ' DO NOT DISTURB'.

He knew what she wanted, but he couldn't help himself, her state was worrying him way too much.

On top of that, Violet telling her to end her life made him worried as well, as that could very well have gotten to her and deeply upset her.

And so, he took a deep breath, and began to lightly knock on her door.

"Hey uh-" he cleared his throat, "sorry for ignoring the sign but, are you okay?" he asked.

He then stood patiently waiting for a few seconds, but once he realised he was getting no response, he lightly knocked again, repeating his previous question.

Once again, he got no response.

This time he was slightly less patient, but he understood that she may still be asleep. So, he sighed and began to walk away back to his room.

However, before he could finish doing so, he heard Fate's voice blasting through the speakers in the corners.

"Ah, fucking hell!" He groaned with his ears covered.

*DO YOU WISH TO SEE ERICA WEST, DANTE?*

Dante waited a few seconds, confused as to why they would appear just to ask that, before replying, "Uh, yeah... but if she's asleep I don't wanna disturb her."

*SHE IS NOT ASLEEP.*

"Oh, she's awake?" Dante asked with a cheery expression on his face.

*SHE IS NOT ASLEEP.*

"Um..." he said, "okay..."

*THE DOOR IS UNLOCKED.*

"I can't just walk right in!" he snapped. "That's fucked up!"

*YES, YOU CAN. WALK RIGHT IN. NOW.*

Hesitantly, he then walked back over to Erica's door and placed his shaky hand on it, slowly opening it up, so that he could walk inside and check up on her, as per Fate's command.

"Hey, Erica- I know you told me-"

But as soon as Dante tried to begin the conversation, he realised one was not going to happen.

Turning the door inwards, and hearing the loud creak, he smelled the atrocious, pungent air of the room.

Seeing dark, dry, crimson stains covering the walls, the dim roof light, and the rugged carpet all added up to allow him to immediately understand what was going on, and that he was too late.

Once he aimed his gaze toward the ground, a dreaded realisation hit.

He could see blood coating Erica's clothing rack, guts covering the carpet and walls, and even going so far as to cover the floor upon entry.