Tales of Undeath: The Von Virtus Chronicles

LXXIII. Paperboy

Tyssa: Hope I can make it in time...!

As she races up the stairs, Tyssa did her best to keep her footsteps as quiet as possible, yet the criticality of Punjo and Rel's plight had her caution thrown to the wind. Leveraging the thick wool carpet that adorned the floor and her slim frame, she hoped her footsteps would be muffled as she dashed towards Cabdan's office. Unfortunately, as she made it to the floor above, she had no means of knowing its location.

Tyssa (hushed): Now, which way would they go...

She looks down the two potential corridors she could take, dreading the thought of making a mistake that could potentially cost her friends their lives, or even her own. As she does her best to keep her ears perked for any sound, the sound-proofing of Cabdan's expensive mansion's infrastructure made it nearly impossible for even a peep to be heard. No activity whatsoever could be seen either, as the top floor seemed suspiciously peaceful. Surrendering to her odds, Tyssa decides to pick a random direction.

Tyssa: ...?

Yet, as she carefully steps on the carpet, she notices that her foot pressed down slightly lower than she would have expected. Upon looking under her feet with greater caution, Tyssa noticed that faint imprints of footsteps had been left on the carpet, thanks to the ease with which its wool fibers could be compressed. Closer examination revealed that, in fact, there was a trail of two pairs of footprints, heading down one of the corridors. Breathing a sigh of relief through a resolute smile, she followed the trail.

Tyssa: Hope you've had more luck than we, Jargen...!

Nearing the end of the corridor, faint noises could be heard coming from within a nearby room. As she approached its door, they grew louder and clearer: they resembled the sound of wood breaking with great force. Her heart skipped a beat, assuming that Jargen and Syl had run into problems with the guards... As she puts her ear up to the door, her eyes meet the blood-stained door frame, following a trail of blood that that stained the carpet, leading into the room itself. Taking several deep breaths to calm herself down, Tyssa prepares to enter the room, when suddenly all sound within stops. Her eyes dart around, unsure whether opening the door is the best choice she could make... But there was no turning back any more. As she grabs the door handle, the door suddenly opens abruptly before she could turn it, causing her to fall forward.

 Jargen: ... Found it.

As she fell forward, her hands landed on the thick leather cover of a folder which contained tens of pages, each containing several scribbles and map drawings.

Tyssa: J-Jargen...!

Her eyes widen in horror as she sees a blood covered Jargen with blood-shot eyes. Still hungering for more, he does not stop, handing the folder over to Tyssa and robotically heading down the corridor where she had come from.

Tyssa: Oh my god...

As she grabs the bloody folder, she can't help but look inside the room. It seemed as if a wild bear had been released into it and chased its helpless prey around, destroying everything in its path as it tore it to shreds. All furniture within had been destroyed, even the thick wooden desk in the centre of the office, which seemed to contain a hollow compartment at its core where, presumably, Cabdan's documents were contained. Several parts of the floor were missing entirely, and traps seemed to litter the walls and ceiling. Tying the whole picture together were countless splashes of red which decorated floor and walls alike, leaving her wondering what sort of brutality had taken place therein. As for Syl... He was nowhere to be found.

Tyssa: W-wait...!

Chasing after Jargen, she informs him of the urgency of their situation.

Tyssa: Punjo and Rel, they're fighting this m-monster in the lab... It's horrible, it's twice the size of a normal person, several times as strong, has many arms... They need all help they can get Jargen! 

Still, Jargen did not stop moving. As she tilts her head forward while walking beside him, she takes a peek at his expression, becoming utterly mortified. Jargen was smiling from ear to ear, blood running down his forehead and painting his teeth red.

Jargen: Sounds like a good fight. Like a DAMN good fight. 

Tyssa stops in the middle of the corridor, trying to gather her bearings as she gawked at Jargen, who consistently marched towards the lower floor. Blood dripped from his knuckles, which had been punched raw. One of his arms was severely injured, as the other gripped a dagger she had never seen him wield before. He didn't seem like himself... Rational reasoning seemed to have left him entirely, with the only thing in his mind being a primal desire to battle.

Tyssa (hushed): Jargen... What happened to you...?

On his way down the stairs, Jargen passes by a coat hanger, holding several pieces of clothing. His eyes lock immediately lock onto two specific pieces of clothing: a paperboy cap, and a long scarf. Instinctively, he reaches for them, knocking the coat hanger over as he takes them for himself without interrupting his march. He places the cap in his head, adjusting it with precision, tilting it down slightly to almost cover his eyesight, and expertly wrapping the scarf around his neck with just a couple of hand movements.

Jargen: Let's make it one for the ages...!

Throwing Syl's dagger away, he pounds his bloody knuckles together as small splash of blood sullies his clothes even further. Tyssa followed him close behind, taking the discarded dagger for herself as she passes it base, in case she needed to fight. As she holds onto it, she notices that three letters were engraved on its hilt: 'S', 'Y', 'L'.

Tyssa: Syl... Is he...? 

With fear and concern in her eyes, she kept following him from a distance.

Tyssa (hushed): I don't know what's gotten into you, but please... Please save them, Jargen...

Jargen: I will. 

Her eyes widen in surprise, as there should be no way he could have heard her words. They were but a faint whisper even to her ears, let alone to his who was several metres in front of her.

Jargen: Punjo and Rel aren't dying today.