Lily is one of Michael’s many dolls. There is a raid on the building, and two people crush through the door in the middle of their fight. Lily jumps on the opportunity to escape by grabbing a gun. Another of the girls tries to stop her because she’s Michael’s “favorite” and doesn’t deserve to leave. Lily accidentally kills in the girl in her struggle to get out. While sneaking down the hall she thinks she’s spotted Michael and shoots him, but it’s Gabriel who tells her to run when Michael appears behind her. Gabriel fights with Michael. Lily runs in to Conrad during her escape (pointing her gun at him too). Seeing him as the only smart one to still be alive, Lily escapes with Conrad and in to one of the Oracle vans. (Never letting loose of that gun!) Some of the Oracle hunters set off a bomb to blow up the building with Michael and Gabriel still inside. Gabriel manages to protect the girls still alive with a shield. Michael is no where to be found.
On the way back to Oracle, Lily points her gun at Conrad again, who patiently explains what Oracle is and where they’re going. She tells him her name is Lace, opting not to draw any attention to herself and not ready to even think about returning home. At the organization Conrad sticks with Lily, getting her some clothes and taking her for some food as she seems to be the only one of the girls who hadn’t lost her marbles.
- Lily displays strength despite fear. She sticks to Conrad because he “didn’t die”.
- Gabriel again shows that he protects innocents first – kills bad guys second.
- Conrad shows patience and wisdom!
There were shouts outside! Gunfire! Screams! The sounds of a raid, courtesy of Oracle!
One of the girls quickly pointed in the direction his favorite had gone! There! She had gone that way!
Gabriel: *Walked down the hall, one gun out. He more or less ignored those fools from the Oracle and they were too busy trying to stay alive to pester him much. He did, however, do them the courtesy of taking out the vampires that crossed his path. His real quarry was elsewhere, though …*
Vampires and hunters littered the hideaway, although the vampires were already burning into ash! Even some of Michael’s dolls were being killed in the crossfire but they refused to leave!
Gabriel: *Looked down at the bullet hole already healing. He arched an eyebrow at her but made no other move. It was obvious to see. She was one of Michael’s dolls. Something caught his attention and his gaze went from her face.* Run.
Gabriel: *He said and stepped aside to let her through.*
Gabriel: *As soon as the girl had gone, he moved between her and Michael. Wait and wait … As soon as Michael’s body flickered (it would have blurred and disappeared to the untrained eye), he did a roundhouse kick!*
Gabriel: *One step back! Turn to the side, turn back! He raised his guns and crossed them against Michael’s claws!*
Conrad: *Where did these things come from?! He watched as those mannequins ripped apart hunters with ease! Gary! David … even Thomas! He stood there, eyes closed as four marionettes closed in on him!* Reverto in pacis! *He threw four scrolls written in ancient script on the marionettes!*
The marionettes froze in place and the scrolls stuck to their bodies! Black energy rose off them like smoke and their bodies twitched for a moment before dropping to the floor!
Conrad: *Wished his fallen comrades a peaceful rest before he moved ahead! At least now he knew why he was here! Oracle hadn’t been too specific on why they would need a hunter who could purify or exorcise.*
Gabriel: *Leaned slightly to one side as the blade came down, missing it by a hair! The mannequin fell forward and he kicked out, catching it in the chin and sending it flying backwards! He went back to trying to push Michael offguard!*
Conrad: Whoa! *His hands quickly went up!* Uh … easy on the trigger there! *Had it not been for the fact he had a gun in his face, his jaw probably would’ve dropped!*
Gabriel: *Felt Michael’s claw catch him across the cheek! But he didn’t bother to touch it. He knew it was bleeding but he also knew it was already healing.* … At least mine heals. *BANGBANGBANGBANG!*
Conrad: I get that a lot. Behind you! *He moved to one side!* Reverto in pacis! *He threw a scroll at another marionette who shared the same fate as the others!* Uh, less talking and more moving. *He gestured for the girl to get going.*
Elsewhere! The Hunters had decided enough was enough! They’d saved what civilians they could and now they were going to blow those two bastards–they’d heard Gabriel was here too–to kingdom come!
Conrad: Instead of sticking around, he ran after her! This was far too dangerous and he remembered that bomb the others had brought!*
Gabriel: *Back step! Side step! Move to the side! When Michael’s talon came slashing down, he moved away slightly, pulling his fist back and burying it into Michael’s gut! BANG! He felt Michael’s body jerk!*
Conrad: *Now where had that girl … Ah, there she was! He headed for the large vans parked outside! In one, the girls they’d rescued and some of the wounded were rushed inside. The other carried all their equipment, including that bomb Conrad remembered.* In here. We’re headed back to the Oracle in … *He checked his watch.* 30 seconds.
Countdown to … a minute! They needed to buy themselves time to get out of here! Once the bomb was activated, they ran for it!*
Gabriel: *Watched as he moved his arm, watched as Michael dropped to the floor. He pulled the knife out. It was time to end this–until he heard something … something ticking. So those fools had thought up a back up plan after all … But he knew there were still innocents here.*
Gabriel: *Looked down at Michael on the floor.* Perhaps. *He turned and started to walk away. Then paused.* I saved your Lily, didn’t I? *And then he was gone!*
Conrad: *Was the last one to get into the van before they shut the door and drove off! The guys in the other van would follow later. Once they were sure the bomb had gone off and damage was kept to a minimum.
As the first van drove away there was a loud BBBBOOOOMM! The guys who’d set everything up were ecstatic! They’d rescued some girls and killed off those bastard Carnatellis! They were going to be legends! That was … until the smoke cleared and they could see!
Gabriel: *Put his guns away! The girls he’d saved were alive but their well-being was another matter … Michael was a disease and those he infected were never entirely rid of him. There was a girl over each of his shoulders and one under the crook of his arms. He gently put them down in front of the startled hunters.* Get the rest. *Was all he said before he disappeared again!*
“Heh hay! Yeah, we did it!” said one of the guys in the front!
Conrad: *Sat down and leaned his head back! He might be trained for this type of thing but those marionettes had proved difficult to purify! There had been some black magic at work there. Serious black magic.*
Conrad: *Opened his eyes and saw that gun aimed at his head again. Unfortunately, he was too exhausted to panic much. And if she’d wanted to shoot him, she would have shot him already.* Oracle HQ.
Conrad: *Blinked. He’d been part of Oracle for awhile so from time to time, he forgot Oracle was mostly undercover. When they could help it …* No. Oracle. “People from all walks of life who band together to fight the forces of darkness.” *His voice imitated a narrator of some movie.* So we’re going to the HQ of the Oracle branch stationed in the area. We can rest up, get a bite to eat, recuperate and what not.
Conrad: That’s pretty much all we do. Until the next time Oracle sends us out. *He glanced over at the girls they’d gathered so far. He was more than certain this wasn’t all of them–much less, most of them. This mission had been a failure. It was a miracle they’d gotten out alive without meeting that powerful vampire the guys had been whispering about killing.*
Conrad: *Seeing these girls … they reminded him an awful lot of his sisters. He should pay them a visit and his family. They all thought he’d found a nice, ordinary job in the city. If only they knew …* Yeah … *He shut his eyes.* This mission was a failure. *He muttered, more to himself than anyone else.* We should have saved more of them.
Conrad: Anyways … *He looked at the girl.* My name’s Conrad. What’s yours?
Conrad: Nice to meet you. *Someone knocked on the wall separating the back of the van from the front.* Looks like we’re here. *He moved and waited for the doors to open from the outside. Then he hopped out, moving to show that they were in a large garage of some sort with many cars of different shapes, colors and sizes, and a bunch of people hard at work.*
Conrad: *Watched as the girls were taken out. He glanced at Lace.* Maybe you should go to the Infirmary with them.
Conrad: Sure. I know just the place. *He started going down a different direction than the guys carrying the girls. Out of the garage, down the hall, take a right to the end of the hall. They came to a laundry room, just as big as the warehouse with people doing their laundry. He waved to some, moved around others, and took her to a small room in the back. He stood by the door and gestured to Lace.* Clean clothes are in the closet over there. *Point to the back.* And in these baskets over here. *Point down, next to the door.* All the dirty clothes are the ones in the hamper. I wouldn’t recommend touching those. I’ll just be outside. *He left Lace.*
Conrad: *Was helping an old woman fold her clothes. He looked up when Lace walked out.* You’re welcome. *He finished folding the white shirt, placed it on the pile of other t-shirts next to him.* So, ready to get a bite to eat or should I just go find a spare room for you?
Conrad: *If he noticed anything strange about Lace’s behavior, he certainly didn’t show it. Instead, he nodded and turned to the woman.* Here you go, Matilda. I’ll catch you later. *The woman thanked him and turned back to her washing.* Right this way. *And he led. They went back the way they’d come but instead of taking a left to the garage, he took a right and headed farther down the hall. There were a lot of doors going down on either side but he didn’t pay attention to any of them. The farther they walked, the more people they past until finally they took a left and came to a hall with a wall of windows and two sliding glass doors.* The cafeteria. *He went through into the large room decorated with black and white tiles and potted plants. Lots of tables and chairs and a large area with a salad/fruit bar, a dessert bar, just to name a couple.*
Conrad: *Stood by and watched as Lace went to go grab her some food–er, correction, a lot of dessert. He felt his stomach growl and had to grab himself a hamburger with a heap of extras with it.*