Chapter 15 Part 2Casper
While Remy and Fiona barely managed to escape the building because Casper threw them out and saved their lives, Casper was spotted by Hugo. Hugo reminded him of his past as the infamous Vampir du Lac Vert (Green Lake Vampire). There he met Camilia, who was the daughter and sister of two of Casper's victims. Casper did not fight back and let Camilia take him.Meanwhile, Remy and Fiona were worried, so they headed back toward the building.
Remy: "We're back."Fiona: "Mhm."Remy: "Careful, they might still be inside… can that Mr. Herold not give us masks?"Fiona: "Hmm… I don't think he can do that… let's just go inside and check."Remy: "Hmm?"Fiona: "Hmm?… Maybe I could use my ghost form…"Remy: "What?"Fiona: "That could work… but no one should see how you knock me unconscious…"Remy: "Oh…"
She took his hand and they hid in a corner.
Fiona: "Here. I want you to make a loud noise so no one hears the shot."Remy: "Uh… okay… and how am I supposed to do that?"Fiona: "Hmm… think."Remy: "Hmmm… how about I smash that wagon over there…"Fiona: "What? No…"Remy: "I won't hurt anyone."Fiona: "That's not the point… that wagon belongs to some farmer. If you destroy it, you destroy his livelihood. Let's find something else."Remy: "You're kinder than I thought."Fiona: "It's not about kindness. I just want to avoid trouble."Remy: "Fine then… I have another idea…"
He took out a flute and started to play.
Pffff!
Fiona: "Huh?… what are you doing…"Remy: "Hello, my dears! Today we will show you a circus act! With me, Remy Thomas, and Fiona Househould. Fiona Househould will now show us an experiment!! What was it again?"Fiona: "Surviving… a bullet in the head."Remy: "Uh… huh?… hmm, interesting, how one survives a bullet (WTF)… well then, show us, Fiona… I'll play music… with my spooky flute…"
He started playing music.
Remy: "Ta-da… here she comes… she's taking out her weapon."
Fiona: "(Hahhh… what an idiot…)"
She took out her pistol and shot herself in the head.
Remy: "Oh! I mean… wooow, did you see that!?"
The people around looked on in fear. They did not know Fiona had become a ghost. She headed toward the building.
Fiona: "I'll make it quick, I can't waste time."
She went into the building. Since she was a ghost, she could walk through walls. She hurried down to the lowest floor.
Fiona: "Hmm…"
There were only the corpses of the human trafficking victims.
Fiona: "I'm sorry…"
She looked around… but Casper was not there.
Fiona: "Hmm… did he make it out… I have to get back…"
She quickly returned.
Remy: "Yeah… she'll get up soon… don't worry…"
She didn't get up.
Remy: "(Huh?… now what)… you can get up now, Fiona… hahaha… sorry, my dears, she likes dark jokes… hey… Fiona…"
he whispered at the end. At that moment Fiona woke up.
Fiona: "Huh!"
She stood up immediately.
Remy: "Oh… thank goodness. I mean… did you see that!?"Onlookers: "Wooow…"Woman: "Wow…"
They started clapping.
Remy: "Hahaha… hahh… that took a really long time… didn't it?"Fiona: "Sorry…"
they whispered to each other.
Remy: "Okay… that's it for today, ladies and gentlemen…"Fiona: "Use your hat for the money… no one does this for free, or people will find it strange."
He took his hat, Fiona too.
Remy: "Please throw money in here."Fiona: "Please…"
The crowd threw coins.
Fiona: "Thank you very much."Spectator: "That was amazing, Fiona!"Fiona: "Thank you very much, gentlemen…"
The people left after a few more minutes of clapping and tossing coins.
Remy: "Phew… that really scared me… I thought you were dead."Fiona: "I said I was sorry…"Remy: "And apparently you didn't find anything."Fiona: "No… Casper wasn't there."Remy: "Maybe they fought and took him prisoner."Fiona: "Fought?… Prisoner maybe… but there were no signs of fighting…"Remy: "Hmm…"Fiona: "Anyway… I think we should go back to your office… better than standing around."Remy: "Mhm… better than just standing here."
They looked around.
Remy: "How about that carriage there… it takes people to their destination."Fiona: "Mhm… okay."Remy: "Okay…"
They headed back, using a small carriage that would bring them there.
Remy: "You should have told me it hurts that much… doesn't it hurt?"Fiona: "… (silent)… hhhhhghhhhh…"Remy: "Thought so… it does hurt…"Fiona: "Of course it hurts…"Remy: "This ability of yours, becoming a ghost by dying for a few minutes… it's cool but also not cool…"Fiona: "Hhhmmm… hey… do you have something to drink… water…"Remy: "Hmmm… excuse me… could you stop for a moment?"
The carriage stopped, Remy got out.
Remy: "Stay here… somewhere nearby I can buy you a bottle of water."Fiona: "Thanks…"
He walked away.
Remy: "One bottle of water, please."Vendor: "Here."Remy: "Thanks. Keep the change."
He came back, but… the carriage was gone.
Remy: "Huh?"
(Meanwhile)
Fiona: "Mmmm…"Thorn Mafia member: "Shhh…"
(A few minutes earlier)
Right as Remy stepped out…
Fiona: "Hahhhh…"
The door opened.
Fiona: "Huh?… ugh!!!"
A Thorn Mafia member pointed a gun at her head.
Thorn Mafia member: "Hehehe."Fiona: "Ugh… the driver!!"
She looked forward… the driver was already dead.
Fiona: "Ugh… damn…"Thorn Mafia member: "Don't worry…"
Another member climbed in and took the reins.
Fiona: "What do you want?"Thorn Mafia member: "Hmm?… you were in our building… detective…"Fiona: "… hhhh… why did you kill the driver… he had nothing to do with this."Thorn Mafia member: "Hehe."
(Back to the present)
Fiona: "Hahhh…"Thorn Mafia member: "Where is the other one?"Fiona: "The other one?"Thorn Mafia member: "The other guy… with the long black tied-up hair."Fiona: "No idea…"Thorn Mafia member: "Don't lie to me!"
He aimed the gun at her.
Fiona: "I have no idea, okay… he went to get something for me, a bottle of water… I don't know where he is… if you weren't so stupid and had waited a bit, who knows, maybe you could have caught both of us."Thorn Mafia member: "Tsss… watch your tongue… girl… that's not how you talk to a member of the Thorn Mafia. You're a prisoner here…"Fiona: "Hmph…"
(Meanwhile with Remy)
Remy: "Damn… Fiona's been kidnapped… tssss… I have to find her…"
He ran off, searching for the carriage.
(Back to Fiona)
Fiona: "Hmm…"Thorn Mafia member: "… (yawns!)"Fiona: "Hmm."
She punched him straight in the eye.
Thorn Mafia member: "Ghh…"Fiona: "Tss."
She grabbed his gun and fired three times into his chest.
Thorn Mafia member: "Urk…"
He fell out of the carriage.
Fiona: "Hahh."Driver: "What!?"Fiona: "Don't move!"
She aimed at the Thorn Mafia member who was driving.
Fiona: "Stop the carriage… now!"Thorn Mafia member: "Ghhhh… you won't shoot…"Fiona: "Oh yeah? Well, I just shot your colleague over there… do you want the same?"Thorn Mafia member: "Ghhhhh…"
He stopped. She got out and climbed into the driver's seat.
Thorn Mafia member: "Huh?"Fiona: "Now… you are going to drive me to the place where you're holding a girl named Cossette Clement."Thorn Mafia member: "Ugh…"
(Meanwhile)
Remy: "Hahhh… huh?"
He kept running.
(A few minutes later)
Remy: "Huh…"
He found a corpse—one dead Thorn Mafia member.
Remy: "Ugh… was that Fiona?… Phew… creepy… but… why… why isn't the carriage here…"
(Meanwhile)
Casper: "Hmmm…"Camilia: "What's wrong, Casper…"Casper: "Hmm?"Camilia: "Don't you like the clothes I gave you?"
They were childish doll-like outfits.
Casper: "No, they're great…"Camilia: "Hehehe… when I was a child I didn't have dolls… I wasn't even allowed to play."Casper: "Hmm…"Camilia: "Would you make me some warm tea… please?"Casper: "Gladly…"Camilia: "Thank you…"
(Meanwhile)
Remy: "Damn!!! First Casper, now Fiona… what is going on… hmm… oh oh… I think I need help… hahhh… I guess I have to talk with her…"
He went into a phone booth and dialed the number 432153.
(Klick!)
Remy: "Hahhh…"
(Ding!)
Remy: "Hello… Jade?"Jade: "Hello, Remy… what is it?… why are you bothering me?"Remy: "Listen, listen."Jade: "I'm busy."Remy: "Wait, it's important… please… I can't say this over the phone…"Jade: "Hahhhh… okay, okay… make room."
Remy: "Huh?… okay."
He stepped away from the phone.Suddenly a hand came out of the receiver.
Remy: "Uh…"
Then a foot… then the other foot… then the other hand, then the head…
Jade: "Ghh… hahhh…"Remy: "Hmm…"
She wore a dark, midriff-revealing outfit, had medium-length hair, grayish skin, her hair a light purple mixed with black.
Jade: "Alright… I'm here."Remy: "You… you really can come out of a telephone…"Jade: "Of course I can… I'm a witch… I'm the Witch of the Clock… I live in a clock tower."Remy: "Okay…"Jade: "So, tell me, what is so important… that you had to call me?"Remy: "Hey… new hat."Jade: "Mhmm… oh, by the way, I talked to Casper yesterday…"Remy: "Hmm?"Jade: "He said I should meet this young woman… Fiona Househould… half human, half banshee… which actually sounds cool."Remy: "Well… she's just been kidnapped… and… hey… Casper was kidnapped about two hours ago…"
Silence.
Jade: "What was that!?"
She grabbed him by the collar.
Jade: "What do you mean kidnapped… both… Fiona and Casper… and you say it so calmly…"Remy: "Calm… I'm not… but crying won't help either…"Jade: "Ugh… you're really weird when it comes to being nice… fine… I'll help Casper… I think I know how to find him… as for Fiona… you take care of her."Remy: "I don't know how…"Jade: "Hmmm… maybe… I should help you with that… take this with you."
It was a bat.
Jade: "It will help you find Fiona. I'll go to Casper… I'm worried… about him…"Remy: "Not worried about Fiona?"Jade: "Hmm?… I don't really know her… I have to see her first… is she pretty?"Remy: "Very pretty, actually…"Jade: "Hmm… okay…"Remy: "Hmm… see you later then. We'll meet at our office."Jade: "Okay."
(A few minutes later)
Fiona was in the carriage, still aiming the gun at the Thorn Mafia member.
Thorn Mafia member: "Ghhhh…"Fiona: "Don't get any ideas that might cost you your life…"Thorn Mafia member: "Are detectives even allowed to kill?"Fiona: "Well… I used to work for Dark Umbrella… there you were allowed to kill if necessary…"Thorn Mafia member: "Hehehe… Hugo will find you and torture you… that's for sure."Fiona: "Maybe you shouldn't talk so much…"Thorn Mafia member: "Ghhh."
(Klick!)
Fiona: "Who knows… maybe I'll pull the trigger…"Thorn Mafia member: "Alright, alright… that's the warehouse…"
Fiona: "Hmm?"
It was a big factory.
Fiona: "A factory…"Thorn Mafia member: "Many companies are willing to do things for us if we pay them and they know we're the Thorn Mafia… that's usually enough."Fiona: "I see…"
She knocked him out with the gun.
Fiona: "The rest I can handle alone…"
She climbed down from the carriage.
Fiona: "Hmm…"
The factory was neither huge nor small—somewhere in between. Fiona looked around.
Fiona: "I see… an oil factory… at least that's what it smells like… it's loud, so no one can hear the prisoners no matter how much they scream… but why are there no more guards…? That's really strange… maybe they didn't want too many so it doesn't look suspicious… no… the Thorn Mafia have most police officers and politicians in their pocket. Even if this comes out, nothing will happen anyway…"
She walked on, looking around.
Fiona: "Where could they be… hey, Crane…"
Crane appeared.
Crane: "Yes?"Fiona: "How about a little help…"Crane: "I thought Mr. Herold helps you…"Fiona: "Hahhh… Crane… no time for jealousy… we can argue later, I need you now…"Crane: "Hhhh…"Fiona: "Alright, alright… if that's how it is, I'll just use Mr. Herold instead…"
She took out the hat.
Crane: "No, fine."Fiona: "Hmm?"Crane: "Alright, what do you want?"Fiona: "Help me find prisoners. They're trafficking people here."Crane: "In Roux, I know… even if you don't call me… I'm with you… that's part of the contract."Fiona: "Then help me find them. Cruella should be here… I mean Cossette…"Crane: "Alright…"
He started flying.
Fiona: "Hmm…"Crane: "Oh… over there… there seem to be buildings that aren't necessary for the factory itself…"Fiona: "Hmm?…"
She looked behind her.
Fiona: "Over there?"Crane: "Exactly."
He came back.
Fiona: "Good work, Crane."
She petted him and gave him a kiss on the head.
Crane: "Ugh… what?"Fiona: "Take it as an apology. I know you think I replaced you… I didn't. You are and remain my crow."Crane: "Hahh… alright… if you say so… I'll stay here for now, maybe you need my help."Fiona: "Okay."
She continued walking.
Fiona: "Hmm…"
(Dong… Dong)
The factory noises were constant and loud.
Fiona: "Hmm."Crane: "Really good place for human trafficking."Fiona: "Hahhh… this reminds me of Dehl… except there it wasn't hidden at all…"Crane: "Mhm… human trafficking was normal there."
She entered the building.
Fiona: "Ghhh… what is that smell…"Crane: "It's strong."Fiona: "Smells… like something rotten."
She went on.
Fiona: "Ugh… huh!!"
She saw where the smell came from—several bodies on the ground… apparently starved.
Fiona: "Hahhh…"
She checked them, touching hands or necks.
Fiona: "No pulse… they're dead…"Crane: "That's horrible."Fiona: "Something's wrong… why would they just let people die like this… they wanted to sell them…"
She stood up.
Fiona: "Please, Cossette… don't be here…"
Crane: "Fiona, I get it… you want to see her, but not here… because that would mean she's dead…"
Fiona walked on.
Fiona: "Hhh… wait… some of the bodies are different."Crane: "Ugh… you're right… that's not starvation… what is it then…"Fiona: "Hahh… not starvation… and not… human hands…"
Butchered bodies on the ground.
Fiona: "Hahh…"
(Crash!)
Fiona: "Ugh…"
(Patch) (Patch)
A large figure appeared. Its body was strangely torn and twisted in a suit.
Crane: "We… should go… Fiona."Fiona: "You're right…"
She started running. It followed her.
Crane: "What is that…"Fiona: "I have no idea… maybe a machine…"Crane: "Looks more like a mutant…"
(Crash!)
Mutant: "Rooaaaarrrrr…"Fiona: "Hahhh, hahhh…"
She left the building.
Fiona: "Faster, faster…"
(Crash!)
Mutant: "Roaaarrrrr…"Fiona: "Hahhh… hahhh… I have an idea…"Crane: "What idea?"Fiona: "Ghhh…"
She took out her gun and shot herself in the head.
(Bang!)
She fell to the ground and became a ghost.
Fiona: "Crane, you can see me, right?…"Crane: "Yes."Fiona: "Good… as a ghost, it can't see me… and if it just sees my body, maybe it'll work… I hope…"
She watched the creature come closer, feeling a bit afraid.
Mutant: "Rrrrr…"Fiona: "Hahh…"Mutant: "Hrrr."
It suddenly looked straight at her.
Fiona: "What!!!"Crane: "It can see you!!! Quick, Fiona, go… who knows, it might even hurt ghosts! Get back into your body!!!"
Fiona did exactly that.
Fiona: "Ugh… hahhh…"
She got up at once—but the fear was so strong she collapsed again.
Fiona: "No… hahh."Crane: "It's going to kill us."Mutant: "Roarrr…"
(Whrooom!)
Fiona: "What!!!"
She heard a loud noise.
Remy: "No… you will not touch Fiona!!!"
He was standing on a carriage.
Mutant: "Roar…"
(Crash!)
Fiona: "Ugh… Remy!!"Remy: "I'm here…"
He jumped down safely.
Remy: "Phew… jumped just in time… come on, let's run."Fiona: "But how did you know where I was?"Crane: "Hmm."
Remy grabbed Fiona's hand and ran.
Remy: "I'll explain later… just run…"Fiona: "Ugh…"Remy: "That thing won't stay down for long…"
(Crash!)
Remy: "Hmm?"Fiona: "Ugh…"
The mutant appeared again.
Mutant: "Roarrr…"Remy: "Come on, quickly… over there… we'll hide."Fiona: "Hhhhahhh…"
They hid in a closet.
Remy: "Shhhhh…"Fiona: "Ugh..."Remy: "Hmm… I imagined being in a closet with a pretty woman differently."Fiona: "Ghhhh… does your arm have to be that close to my back…"Remy: "You mean your butt."Fiona: "Doesn't matter… now's not the time…"Remy: "Shhhh…"
(Crash!) (Crash!)
Mutant: "Roaarrr…"Remy: "…shhh…"Fiona: "Hhhh…"
The monster could no longer be heard.
Remy: "Wait a bit…"Fiona: "Hhhh..."Remy: "Wait a bit…"Fiona: "Remy…"Remy: "Shhh…"Fiona: "Remy, it's gone."Remy: "No, you're just imagining it."Fiona: "Stop it… I know you're just trying to take advantage of the situation…"Remy: "Oh… you noticed that early… well, let's get out…"
They left the closet.
Remy: "Phew… being in a closet with a pretty woman is actually more romantic than I thought… hahahaha."Fiona: "Hahhh…"Remy: "Hmm?"Fiona: "Let's get out of here quickly…"Remy: "Right… you're right…"
They left the building. There was a carriage nearby. They got in and it took off.
Remy: "Phew…"Fiona: "So, will you tell me now how you found that carriage earlier?"Remy: "Oh… I stole it."Fiona: "And how did you find me…"Remy: "Bat."Fiona: "I'm being serious…"Remy: "It's the truth. That's how I found the factory… through Jade's bat I found the factory you were in…"Fiona: "Jade?… that's the name of Casper's girlfriend… right?"Remy: "Yep. And she'll find and rescue him…"Fiona: "Oh…"Remy: "She really is a witch…"
(Meanwhile)
Camilia: "Hmm…"Casper: "Hey, listen… how long are you going to cling to my arm…"Camilia: "Until you want my blood…"Casper: "What? Why?"Camilia: "I want you to drink my blood… so I can drink yours in return and become a vampire…"Casper: "You want to become a vampire? Why?"Camilia: "I missed so many years, stuck as a prisoner… without a childhood… I want to become a vampire so I never again have to fear that time will be taken from me… as a vampire, I can at least make up for it…"Casper: "Because you won't age… you'd have to kill people for that."Camilia: "Oh, that's not necessary…"Casper: "Yes, it is… vampires often lose control… and hurt innocents. Being a vampire is not a dream… it's endless suffering… the regrets will only pile up…"Camilia: "Oh, come on… then try my blood. I bet my blood tastes good…"
She held his cheeks.
Camilia: "Go on… drink my blood…"Casper: "Huh… what…"Camilia: "Do you want my neck… my shoulder… or more… skin?"Casper: "What… no… ugh… huh?!"Camilia: "What's wrong…?"Casper: "Jad… Jade!!!"Camilia: "Huh?"
She slowly emerged from the clock.
Camilia: "Huh!"Jade: "Hands… off… him!!"
She grabbed Camilia by the throat.
Camilia: "Ugh… ghh."Casper: "No, Jade… no… put her down…"Camilia: "Urk…"Jade: "You dare touch him…"Casper: "Jade!!!… I am in her debt. I killed her mother and sister years ago because of the Larmes Sombres curse (Dark Tears curse)."Jade: "Huh?"
She let Camilia go.
Jade: "I see… and I was wondering why you didn't fight back…"Camilia: "Ugh… (cough)…"Jade: "Still… she has to pay…"
Jade took her staff and touched Camilia's face with it. A spirit shot out and exploded in her face.
Camilia: "Urk… ghhhh…"
She held her face.
Jade: "Come on, Casper…"Casper: "Ugh…"
He got up… but not to follow Jade. He quickly went over to Camilia.
Casper: "Damn it, Camilia… now I'm even more in your debt…"Jade: "Casper…"Camilia: "Ow… my… face… my face… it burns… it burns!… it hurts… hhhhhhhhhhh…"Casper: "Jade, do something…"Jade: "I can't… it just hurts and she'll have some scars, that's all… now come!!!"Casper: "Hhhh…"Jade: "She hurt people, Casper… she's a member of the Thorn Mafia…"Casper: "Hmm…"Jade: "Come on now…"Camilia: "Go!!!"Casper: "Huh?"Camilia: "Because of you my face is hurt… go… I'm safer without you here!!!"
She shouted in anger.
Jade: "Come now!!!"Casper: "Ugh…"
He took Jade's hand, she grabbed him, then stepped into a clock with him… and vanished.
(Swoosh!)
Jade: "Hahh. Here we are."Casper: "Oh… is this Remy's office…"Jade: "Yeah…"
The door opened. Remy and Fiona were there.
Remy: "Oh… there you are."Fiona: "Huh…"Jade: "Well, look at that… so this is her… Fiona Househould."