Midnight Doomsday

Chapter 3: Stay

Rosemeyer, Artemis, April 23, 2012, 20:00 Hours

"You're kidding, right?" Alexander looks down, his eyes tightened. "Michelle, I-I-"

"Don't push yourself," Michelle holds back.

Michelle grabbed onto Alexander's hand. In a long while, Alexander's eyes began to feel powerless. However, he frees himself and strides out of the room. Michelle calls but her voice faint.

"Father!" Alexander yells.

"Yes, son?" Grant replies. "Something wrong?"

Alexander clenches his fist, and is at a loss of words.

"S- You're right that something's wrong!" Alexander exclaims. "So is this what you were hiding from me!?"

"Y-Yes..." Michelle sobbed.

"Michelle. I-I'm sorry..."

Alexander remained shocked, yet somehow still managed to think. Michelle's family is dead, she's the only one left. He saw his jacket, now soaked from her tears. However, he didn't seem to care now, as every vein of blood began to boil.

"They're gonna die," he said in a desperate and guilt-fueled voice. "This Gambler Party or whatever it is, all of them will die... I'll kill them!"

"N-No, you can't!" Michelle said, as a blade of anxiety stabbed her heart.

"Why not? If I kill them, then-!"

"You'll die!"

Someone opens the door. Little did the two teenagers know that Grant heard about commotion taking place. Alexander looks at him. He looked as if he was entirely confused. From Alexander's point of view however, it was so deep that he almost felt betrayed.

"Why didn't you tell me about Michelle's trauma beforehand?" he asked. "Why hide it away from me?"

"Look I-I just wanted you to enjoy your time here."

Alexander tightened his fists.

"Enjoy my time here? Have you lost your idea of overcoming conflicts instead of hiding away!?" He lashes out.

Grant's temper suddenly flared up, causing him to smack his son. The argument deescalates.

"Why! W-Why can't I be your father again and keep you safe?" Grant asked sorrowfully.

A very awkward pause filled the room. Alexander broke the seemingly eternal silence.

"If I can't stop the growing Gambler Party," he stated. "Then who will stop them? Who will end the upcoming tyrannic uprising towards Artemis? It's practically controlling this government that has no use for us anymore! And-And if no one's gonna save Artemis, then fine. I'll do it myself, starting tomorrow morning..."

"You're right..." Grant said after a long pause. "...the country might be saved, even if I must let my son go...And if anyone's destined for greatness...it's you, son. You owe the world your gifts. You just have to figure out how to use them. And know that wherever they take you, I'll always be here. And take these."

He then took out an item and it seemed to be a necklace. He put it on Alexander, and the boy saw them.

"My dog tags from the war." he said, "Just a little something before you go."

Alexander smiled. Meanwhile, Michelle was busy working up the courage to speak her next words.

"I'll..." Michelle stammered. "I'll be coming with you..."

"W-What?" Alexander replied. "No, stay here. I'm not gonna allow you into this."

"You can't do this all on your own. Do you really think that you can take on the Gambler Party without me? Without anybody?"

Alexander thought. She was practically right. He was, after all, willing to take on something too absurd. Alexander looks with concern towards Michelle.

"Aren't you realizing what you're saying?" Alexander asks. "Aren't you scared? It's-It's dangerous... You do know at some point we will have to kill people..."

Michelle looks down. She kept silent.

"Alex," Michelle responds. "Y-You're right. I'm scared... I really am scared of the Gambler Party... I- I saw what they did to my family... What they did to my father..."

Michelle's voice breaks. She breathes deeply to calm down, wiping her tears with her sleeve.

"But I cannot allow you to go on your own!" Michelle said sternly. "I-I won't allow you to die! I don't want anyone else to die anymore!"

Michelle appeared stern, yet her eyes slightly teary eyed. She clutches on Alexander's jacket. She's still too innocent to do any of this. Alexander thought. But it seems I have no other choice... She might be stronger than I thought... Just, why? Why are you willing to sacrifice yourself?

"O-Okay," he said. "But promise me... Promise me you won't die."

"I won't," she replied. "I won't die..."

Elysian, Artemis, April 24, 2012, 00:00 Hours

It's quite gloomy and dark in Elysian. It is the place in which gothic architecture dominates, and also homes Artemis's First Church for users to gain combat forms. And the two teenagers stood just right outside of it.

"You ready?" Alexander asked, turning to Michelle.

"Of course." Michelle replied, encouraged.

Heading inside, Alexander strides forward into the church's statue, the statue granting combat forms. Placing his hands down into the floors imprinted markings, a blue aura surrounds his environment.

Suddenly, in Alexander's view, the entire surroundings change into an empty void. A mysterious figure, with an indiscriminate appearance, looks towards him.

"For what brings you here?" the mysterious figure asks.

"I-I've," Alexander stumbles, until looking straight towards the figure. "I've come here to gain a combat form to stop the Gambler Party; An evil organization that has ruined many lives."

"So I see that you are doing this out of vengeance. You are justified to believe this way. After all, the Devil has taken possession of a man named Alanzo Romano, and has murdered members of the Ozanne family, is that correct?"

"Yes."

"...Judging from here... You aren't afraid of the Gambler Party, are you?"

"N-No. No. I am to end the Gambler Party. I'm supposed to stop them. And I'll not be backing away from this!"

"I see. You are still naturally scared; But you definitely have a clear look on your goals... However, with this possession of the combat form that suits you best... Are you willing to sacrifice? Are you willing to die with honor? To fight for Artemis, and end this tyranny that has plagued your home?"

Alexander paused. Am I really willing to sacrifice? This is my plan after all.

"Yes," Alexander responds. " I will not die senseless. I will defeat the Gambler Party and that is final!"

The mysterious figure nodded.

"Very well," the figure replies. "I shall grant you the power of Wrath!"

Elysian, Artemis, April 24, 2012, 01:00 Hours

Alexander and Michelle walk out of the church. They had almost felt as if a whole new chapter of their entire life had just begun. Alexander aligns with Wrath; Michelle connects with Restoration. From this point forward, they say farewell to Rosemeyer.

Little do they know that, mysteriously, someone was watching them behind a building. He wore a black hat as his trench coat was waving around by the wind.

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