RWBY (Salem: Dawn)

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Chapter 40 (Irene)-

"Alright, ship has landed, we'll go get the cargo prepped for unloading," Jeff said as he calmly made his way out of the front room.

"Since when do you two care about the cargo I ship?" Father asked as he looked towards Jim, who was just about to turn the corner.

"Uh you know, elephants and stuff," he laughed while trying to hide his panic as he stepped out of the doorframe. Dad muttered something about them being idiots before looking to Eve and I.

"Normally I'd send you two back home immediately, but your mother has requested that she have some alone time with the both of you and I won't argue, just don't try your mother, and be home by sunset," Dad told us as he made his way down the opposite hallway.

Eve and I watched him as he walked up towards our palace of a house, and we bolted towards the cargo section to find Mom along with Jeff and Jim opening the door. We were greeted by the sight of our dirty and miserable friends stepping out of crates.

"I'm charging Scav interest for the money he owes me," Leo grunted as he stopped himself from gagging.

"So, these are all your friends?" Mother asked a bit reluctantly.

"Yep, this is the gang!" Eve said with a smile as she named everyone off.

"Not that I'm complaining, but why are you helping us out, aren't you upset with us?" I asked while looking to Mom.

"I am, but that's no excuse for how your father is acting, regardless of our personal issues with that boy. You all clearly care about him, and his life may be threatened," Mom explained oddly calm.

"I think it's more than a personal issue with him, knowing Dad..." Eve remarked.

"Here," Mom bluntly said as she handed me a credit card. "They obviously can't stay here, take them to the hotel down the street, and be back home before sunset like your father said; I'll be at the spa blowing off steam," She stated as she headed off in the opposite direction.

"Well, here's your stuff!" Jim said with a smile as he opened another crate where everyone's now feces-covered suitcases were.

"This place better have showers," Ecru shook his head as Eve and I lead the way to the hotel we knew.

"We're gonna get a lot of weird looks," Axi said as we opened the front door, and sure enough he was correct. Most Atlas nobles wouldn't expect to see a group of filthy teenagers walk into a high class hotel.

Eve rented two rooms from the reluctant hotel manager and we all awkwardly made our way into a cramped elevator.

"So, we bunking with teams?" Ecru asked as we moved down the hallway.

"Yeah, Axi can chill with us since Eve's gotta be back home tonight," Leo said as he grabbed Axi's shoulder.

"Dibs on first shower," Axi called out before anyone else got the chance.

"Aw hell naw, my hat's covered in shit!" Nevada quickly responded.

"Likewise!" Axi argued back.

"You guys shower with your hats?" Leo chuckled.

"Ladies first?" Polly shrugged. The argument continued on as they all stepped into their dorm.

"Wonder how that'll go?" Linena smiled as we entered the room just next to them.

"Most likely, it won't but-" Ecru cut everyone off as bolted into the bathroom and slammed the door shut.

"Wait no!" Franck protested as he slammed on the door.

"Sigh boys, anyway we should see if we can video chat Layric," I proposed.

"Alright, Irene can you unpack my laptop? I don't wanna touch the inside of my case until I clean up," Alyce asked as she waved her hands in the air.

"Yeah, I got it," I said as I unhinged her suitcase. We pulled out her pink laptop and opened her home screen, which was a selfie of her and a very uncomfortable looking Axi.

"Shut up!" She crossed her arms while blushing as Linena and I eyed her.

"Does Layric even have a Skep profile?" Linena asked as I opened up Skep, the most common international chat system.

"Oh yeah, I took the liberty to make Scav and him accounts earlier this month, incase we were in a situation like this," I said as I typed in Layric's username.

"RobinHood107?" Linena questioned as she saw me typing.

"Well, I didn't know what else to name it; I feel like he wouldn't want his real name online," I shrugged as I hit the call button.

"What time is it in mistral? He may be asleep," Eve said right as he answered.

"Oh Layric, hey!" I said, surprised he actually answered. He still looked to be in pain; eyes blackened, entire face bruised, and skin paler than usual, but if we was in pain, he hid it with a smile.

"Hey everyone, how'd the trip go?" He asked.

"Not fun at all, Irene's dad decided to be a meanie and we had to ride with elephants," Alyce said as she attempted to brush her pink hair clean.

"...I won't ask," Layric said as he leaned back on his pillow with a raised eyebrow.

"Wait, you're back in the dorm?" I pointed at his camera as I noticed the corner of one of Axi's posters in the background.

"Oh yeah, the doctors said it's best if I just rest up and take it easy for awhile, I'll be set to fight in a week," Layric explained.

"Oh Layric, How's it going?" Franck asked as he got up from the floor. Layric waved with a nod before looking around and asking where everyone else was.

"Oh, most are in the other room; we're in a hotel because my dad wasn't exactly welcoming," I shook my head, "And speaking of him, better head home, bye everyone!" I said as Eve and I exited the room. I wondered how Scav was doing...I hoped whoever those horrible people that kidnapped him weren't doing anything tortuous. I turned to Eve to see her face was wrinkled, probably from worry. It's dangerous to be alone with your thoughts- especially is a situation like this.

"What's wrong?" I asked as she stared at our house.

"Just...what if we don't find him?" She asked grimly as she stared at our house.

"Shhh..." I hushed her, "He's a rhino for crying out loud! It won't be that hard to find something like that!" Eve laughed a little, a smile flashing across her face.

"Yeah, you're right," She looked at me. We were halfway home on the empty road when I saw something shimmer in the forest from the side of my house; followed by a flash of blue cloth, and then it was gone. I stopped in my tracks.

"What?" Eve asked as she turned around and stared at me sideways.

"Nothing, just...remembered something. I think I forgot some of my makeup in Haven, but that's no biggie," I covered myself. I had no clue if I was going insane or not, but I swore I just saw Blue Dress Warehouse Girl.