The Master's Call

The Vice and The Sinner

Fair warning this character is a little long. I hope you all enjoy it.

Raven's P.O.V

I was going back up the tower's stairs to the Master and his legs. The two were overlooking the scene from the top of the tower. "Mr. Ivey doesn't know exactly who he tried to fool. Be ready for him to return. I want him on my table by week's end, " the Creep instructed. The underling nodded and went to gather their slashers, all ready to harvest another body for the cause.

"If that is even necessary. Lynex will be arriving soon. This may be enough of a push to make her snap." I interrupt, an amused smirk on my face.

"I doubt they will even be worth the time it would take to make them one of my monsters." Taken aback by the words and coldness of the Master's eyes, I step back. We monsters feel very little of anything at all. However, we all have enough fear left to know not to anger The Creep and the caretakers of the factory. Other than that, it's only blood lust and rage. Of course, the two caretakers at the factory aren't quite monsters but are not exactly human, either. They always confuse the newly created with them being the only ones we cannot touch. "I didn't mean to speak out of turn, Master; I only meant that they might be strong enough to handle the process. They may be worth more than just parts."

"We will see what comes of them, " the Creep replies, not convinced. Moving closer to the window, I watch as the charger I rode in so many times screams to a halt at the factory entrance. Lynex busts out the driver's side door, stopping steps away from the scene.

Lynex's P.O.V

I race, not worrying about the engine still running in my charger, praying that I am not too late. That I haven't failed them. Rounding the corner of the tower, the scene before me is enough to shatter my soul. My parents and lover were stricken down in cold blood. As if it genuinely did shatter, my heart stops as I fall to my knees. I released a scream of anguish and rage. The pain of everything now ripped away in seconds consumed my entire being. Cradling Caroline in my arms, my sobs brought a new energy to the grounds.

After sitting there for an hour, now weakened and dehydrated, I get up, hearing footsteps approaching. The pain is now replaced with a rage-induced blood lust. I face the approaching figure. "You always were the weaker of the two of us. People die, sister. Isn't that the consequence of living?" Raven comes forward dressed in ripped and bloodied clothes. Brandishing her knife. A gift and right of passage for guild members when they come of age.

"Are you kidding me?! How dare you brandish a hunter's blade! You turned your back on your leaders and the innocent. You deserve nothing more than to be killed where you stand and stripped of your title!" I spit, drawing my blade.

Raven smirks, takes a few steps closer, and notices more monsters coming out in the open. A kid dressed as a clown and a young man covered in dirt and blood joins her. "Well, that was always the difference between us, wasn't it, sister? You were always the lover. Weak and predictable, it's sad, honestly, that your little girlfriend became your vice." Her words are sadistic, trying to get a reaction.

I smirked myself, letting out a dark chuckle. "Well, if I'm not clean and Caroline was my vice, that makes me the sinner. You know, I find it funny how I am the weak one. When Caroline is the exact reason why I fight the way I do. You were a reason at one point, but it seems to me like your daddy issues are exactly what brought you here. No matter how much we tried to make sure you were okay. Then again, you can help someone, but it matters not when they won't accept it."

Knowing bringing up her father would get the reaction I wanted, I sidestep, predicting her next move as she charges, slashing. Shaking my head, I sweep-kick her feet from under her. "Wow, and here I thought this would be an easy loss. You know, since I am so predictable."

Watching Raven become more enraged, she charges again, holding her blade flushed with her forearm. Reaching only inches away, she slashes upwards, catching me across the face and knocking my glasses across the ground. The young clown retrieves them and tries to return them to me. Raven, in her anger, slaps them from her hands. "Why help a fleshling?! Their kind mean nothing to us!"

Watching her yell at the child, the reason behind my call sign kicks in, I tackle Raven to the ground. Raven fights back but to no avail; my knife drilled through her shoulder into the broken asphalt. "I don't care if they are alive or not. The only rule I have ever made you follow was kids are to be left out of it!" I return the favor by twisting the blade before ripping it from her joint, leaving her a large, deep gash across her face and neck.

Raven's neck sparks from the severed wires and blood hitting the electrical components of her new body; being shocked, I back away, needing to come up with a better strategy.

Raven giggles, wiping my blood from her blade. "I see you noticed the new upgrade. Don't worry. I am sure the Master can piece you back together again."

"You think I'm dying here? You don't know me then, Raven. Not only am I leaving here, but I'm also taking my family home, and your head will be a new trophy on my desk." Panting as I take in my surroundings, regaining my stamina. We have drawn in even more of a crowd. Seeing more of the creeps monsters circle the battleground. "What, getting tired already, Lyn? I guess it really won't be much of a show." Raven states, flipping her knife a couple of times.

Wiping the blood from my face, I fix my stance once again and tightening my grip on my blade. "You truly do doubt me, sister. I am only getting started. I see you called in backup. I hope you realize you will need a lot more than this. You forget exactly who you are dealing with." I spit my words along with blood, making Raven and the others laugh.

"Now, how many times have we heard that line? It reminds me of my ex-husband." A blond woman laughs, stepping forward to take a drag off her cigarette. "We get it pretty often, right, Twinkie?" the young man asks the clown, who responds by squeaking their rubber duck.

"Face it, Lynex, it's over. You have lost. There is no way you are leaving here alive. You were too late to save Louise and Stanley. Too late to save Caroline. Did she tell you that she was going to join the guild tonight? I guess that won't be happening. All of this is your fault." Her words sting more than the kick to the gut that sends me to my knees.

I don't know what it was, the pain of my wounds from the fight, losing everything or knowing that they all were right. However, at that moment, something in me snapped. My moral compass shattered at that moment, and nothing but the blood lust and need for revenge mattered. Laughing, I stand back up, stalking Raven, who has her back to me. Reaching her, I punch her in the back of the head. Shocked, Raven takes off, running up into the tower. Leading up and past The Creep. Who was watching the whole thing, was not happy with his newest monster's performance. Chasing after her, I trap her on the catwalk. "This ends here, Raven! No more running and no more games. It's you and I. I, Lynex Martinez, head of the Protectioner's Guild, strip you of your raking and title. You will never receive a hunter's burial, nor will you enter the halls of Nexus!"

Raven shakes her head in amusement. "As if that matters to me now. I can't die again, you fool. Nexus was never an option for me." Once again, we charge each other, the final battle breaking out. Metal clashes metal, as stabs and slashes are countered. Both of us are trying to deliver the final blow. Blocking her advances again, her blade falls through the grated floor of the catwalk. With one final move and angered scream, I plunge my blade into her throat. Severing her circuits, Raven, coughing in anger, takes one more step. "You are still predictable." Her words catch me off guard as she pushes me from the catwalk, falling herself.