Janus 02.Redemption #Wattys2018

1.07 Faceless.

Faceless could have been the King of the outcasts hadn't it been for his despise for any form of outdated authority. Nobody really knew his story but for Ed. Faceless used to be his father's closest friend and mentor. He never really understood how it was possible someone who thought of authority as hideous could assist the Preacher of Lost Souls in creating an underworld of power and obedience up to the day he found out that Faceless had an expensive taste. His father took care of satisfying his taste, no questions asked.

When his father disappeared, Faceless never showed up or asked for anything. Ed hadn't met him ever since. He knew that breath by breath he had created his own dominion of Anarchy. No one ever went there uninvited and came back to say that he met Faceless. That's how he got that name. People used to say stories about him in the night. Children were intimidated by becoming an Outcast so they complied with their parents' commands. Everyone had to choose between submitting either to Lost Souls or the Outcasts. The first rule of the Outcasts was that no blood line or any kind of bond was valid except for the loyalty to the Faceless. So, if parents wanted to go on claiming their parents, children, partners, they were left with no option but stick with Lost Souls.

Father Francis, leader of the Lost Souls kept on walking with Eden in his arms and his pack of dogs, crossing their borders. He knew that he wasn't crossing borders but red lines, walking on thin ice. Ed showed no emotion as he left his dominion behind. He already knew what was going to happen. He knew the very moment that he decided to pick her up and ask for his uncle's help.

Their shared blood line was buried long time ago beneath thick concrete. That didn't imply that it was Ed's first crossing.  We commit the biggest crimes for the ones we love. Francis knew that. Outside his house, walking through Outcasts' territory, he was Francis again, a prey heading willingly to his predator who had been patiently waiting for that.

"No blood line is valid" was the first rule.

"Except for the blood line that you are willing to leave behind you" was Faceless' second rule.

Francis knew every Faceless' rule by heart and he was about to break each one of them. Ed knew that he wasn't coming back either. He kept on walking even when Outcasts started shooting his dogs, one after the other. He didn't blink an eye, not even when Grumpy was shot. They were taking down his flags. He knew that they weren't allowed to shoot him, he was beyond their reach. Only Faceless was entitled to that privilege.

There is nothing more dangerous than a man marching to his death. Francis entered Faceless' dominion with a pack of bloodlines behind him and it wasn't a price to pay. It was a blood river he had to cross; a river that would lead him to Outcasts' Prime Gate.

Eden was dying along with what was left of Ed's humanity. He silently reached for the Gate. He looked emotionless, focused and determined while his inner wolf was howling as he broke the silver lunar seal. Ed let the seal fall on the floor, breaking further in smaller pieces and stepped on it as he entered Faceless' Inaccessible Palace.

The Outcasts had gathered behind him like rats. They closed the door behind him cursing him as if Hell had just unleashed them. Those devils couldn't touch him still.

Nevertheless Faceless was another story. Father Francis of the Lost Souls had just disrespectfully invaded that story, raping its code of honor. Eden was still bleeding in his arms. He had already made his choice on which bloodline  he was there to honor.

Faceless was expecting him. Alone.