SIREN COMES CALLING.

1777, APRIL 06th, WEDNESDAY 10:13 pm.

Noche was an adult again and stood on an empty battlefield. Swords, spears, and other weapons were all scattered about. The corpses of numerous Cross soldiers and DeathTech soldiers littered the floor.

"NOCHE!"

She turned to the voice and her eye widened at Tak. He stood in a fighting stance and locked eyes with her.

"You've gone too far! You need to be stopped."

Noche blinked. No way, this couldn't happen. She would never fight her friends. Never... Right?

"Tak, what are you talking about?"

"You killed all these people – thousands dead! All so you could have a shot at Edward!"

"I... I wouldn't... Not unless I had to."

"That's your problem! You think the means justify the end!" Tak yelled. "There are other ways – you didn't have to kill everyone!"

"I... I—"

"No! I don't want to hear it. You've gone unchecked long enough," he said. "This madness has to end. I'm stopping you."

Tak approached and Noche took a few steps back.

"Don't do this," she said. "I don't want to fight you."

He came in with a startling burst of speed, Noche blinked and he was there. She ducked under his fist, but the punch flowed into an elbow strike that slammed down on her neck. The blonde let out a little gasp as the immortal followed up by wrapping his arm around her throat and tossing her into the ground.

Noche saw stars as she lay on the ground, however he wasn't done. Tak raised his foot to stomp her to unconsciousness. She rolled to the side and avoided the attack. As he kicked with his other foot, Noche managed to get back to her feet and block with both arms.

"Think Noche, think – he can regenerate from any wound so I can't knock him out. He's got strong augment, so I can't trap him in a box of metal or anything. A battle of attrition wouldn't work cause he has unlimited stamina and drive."

Her face paled.

"No... This scenario couldn't be designed to do that."

She swallowed and dodged his next few strikes. She couldn't go that far. Perish the thought. She wouldn't. She refused. There was no way she was going to use corruption on Tak.

As the fight went on it became clear this was what the test wanted. Tak was in such a state of mind that he couldn't be reasoned with. He intended to capture Noche and bring her to justice. Maybe he'd be willing to listen to her then, but not before she was brought to a court of law.

Not that it would matter for this hypothetical trial. It'd probably just repeat the moment he knocked her out. Still, Noche grit her teeth, for Tak was an incredible fighter. The blonde had gotten into many fights, but it surprised her to see how precise, fast, and strong Tak's attacks were. His exponential growth since she met him could only be described as insane.

Granted, she was still stronger in terms of raw strength, but in the form of technique and control, he had far exceeded her. She couldn't land a blow on him without him seeing it a mile away and having a counterattack ready. To be frank, he had her on the defensive the whole time. It was a one-sided contest.

Creeps appeared and Noche was out of time. She prepared to die again, but this time was different. Creeps didn't strike out at her, instead, it grew and grew until it was a monstrous giant. Then it opened its big grinning maw full of jagged teeth. At the back of its throat was Noche's greatest fear – that desert.

The blonde's single eye widened and her skin paled. It had killed her the last few times, why was this time different? She disengaged from Tak and attempted to run away – it was impossible. Creeps was already waiting at her destination with its maw wide open.

Noche tried to create a blast of air to get some distance but create was nullified. She tried to scream, but all silent. She tried to run, but Creeps's fingers had already wrapped around her torso and were dragging her in. Within a handful of seconds, Noche was eaten alive.

She landed on sand. Her heart sped up faster and faster until it made a jackhammer look slow. Her single eye grew wider and wider as she took in the scene. She couldn't breath – her lungs were working, yet they weren't. Her veins were filled with poison, fire, and ice at the same time and bile rose in her throat.

Noche was back in that desert.

The blonde vomited, fell on the ground, and started to shake. Her entire being pulsated between being burned alive and frozen in ice. Ants crawled under every inch of skin as tears continuously fell down her face.

She couldn't get in enough air as she hyperventilated. For a moment, she was convinced she was still back at the asylum and this was another torture the Grave brothers had thought up. It was all too much for Noche – she passed out.

Some unknown amount of time later she woke up; she was still trapped in that desert. Noche was feeling a bit better, but not much. Suppressing the fear before it overwhelmed her she took in a deep breath. Last thing she needed was another panic attack.

"I can fix this – I can still get out of this," she told herself.

Still, her words didn't reach her heart. Adrenaline was still pumping through her veins as she clenched her sweating hand into a fist. Body trembling the entire time.

"This is what happens when I fail. I've forgotten that failure brings me back to that desert," she said. "This is temporary. Just a reminder of what happens should I fuck up."

Noche kept her eye closed as she spoke.

"I'm here... Because I hesitated to hurt Tak," she paused. "I'm here because I failed my trial... Now I'm being punished for it. Forced to suffer."

When she opened her eye the desert was still around her. Noche took in a deep breath and stood up.

"I got to get out of here. I can't spend another eternity trapped in this torture," her single eye lit up. "That's it! How obvious."

Noche summoned her sword. She flipped the blade around and had the point press into her stomach.

"If the scenario restarts when I die, then all I have to do is die."

The blonde hesitated.

"Wow... Haven't tried killing myself since graduation," she frowned. "I really hope this works."

She plunged the sword into her stomach. The pain would have been overwhelming to anyone else, but Noche had endured much worse. Still, it wasn't comfortable and soon she fell to her knees. As she knelt there, bleeding out, her arm started to dissolve into sand.

"Shit – not now. Not when I'm about to escape."

Her legs dissolved and she landed on her side. That desert was slowly assimilating her. If she didn't die before it consumed her, would she be trapped here forever?

"Come on. Bleed to death already," Noche whispered.

Sand encroached it's way to her torso as her vision started to go black at the edges.

"Just... Let me...... Die......... please."

As the sand made its way up her neck the world went dark. With a loud gasp, Noche opened her sole eye and took in the sight.

"NOCHE!" Tak stood in a fighting stance and locked eyes with her. "You've gone too far! You need to be stopped."

She resisted the urge to smile; her plan had worked. Not only did she escape that desert, but she had a second chance at the trial. That thought sobered her... A second chance to... kill her friend. Suddenly she was sick all over again.

"Tak, you know I can't stop," she said. "As my friend, I'm asking you. Begging you. Don't do this. Back off."

"I can't do that Noche," his frown was filled with sorrow and regret, but his eyes were determined. "You had your chance."

"Please Tak."

He adjusted his feet to get into a better position to dart forward. Of course, persuasion wouldn't work – this scenario was specifically designed to thwart her. It was a hypothetical she was being forced to live. There was only one way out and she had to do it without hesitation.

Noche grit her teeth so hard she swore some cracked. Her fist clenched until all the bones in her knuckles popped. She didn't want to do this – but Tak, this scenario, everything was forcing her. The blonde didn't allow herself to think on it, otherwise, she would falter yet again.

Her evil eye lit up and Tak ignited into white flames. His panicked screams froze Noche's heart – a chill so cold it made her think she died spread across her body. Blood cooled to sludge, her stomach a black pit, and tears fell from her single eye.

She stood there and watched as her friend flailed. Eventually, he stopped moving and the flames grew smaller. A twisted chuckle escaped her lips – of course it couldn't end quickly. Of course the scenario wanted her to watch. It wanted to make sure she took in Tak's suffering. The environment melted into an empty room.

Noche's arm and legs shook before all her limbs gave out. She collapsed to the floor like a newborn baby dear. Then she started to laugh; it was manic and unhinged. Within a few seconds, the laughter turned to crying. She stayed that way for a minute or so before composing herself.

"I... I might actually have to do that one day," she said. "Oh god. I might actually have to do that some day."

She couldn't stop shivering. The idea made her sick, made her feel horrible, but worse than that... A small part of her was willing to do it if it meant she would win. Overwhelming self-hatred welled in her stomach. She found herself disgusting; loathed herself. Yet she knew, if there was no other choice, she would do it.

"Do I want to be that kind of person?" She muttered.

She took out the mirror and looked at her reflection. For a moment she didn't recognize it. Then there she was – in her child form. Yet, somehow, she didn't look so innocent now. Noche frowned and put the mirror away. All this was making her depressed.

"How many more of these scenarios do I have to live through?"

Noche stood on shaking legs and limped towards the door. With each step, she took in a deep breath, in and out, as she tried to force her nerves to calm. By the time she had gotten to the door, she was able to walk normally, but she still couldn't stop the shaking in her hands.

Entering the upstairs hall she looked around. Baxy was standing in the middle of the path and staring at her. Noche raised her middle finger and the plush bear walked away.

"Oh no you don't! You're not putting me through another one of those scenarios!"

The blonde ran after the toy, but for all her speed, the stuffed animal was faster. It reached a door and swung it open – Noche swore. The door slammed shut and she stood there for a moment deciding whether to go in. With another swear, she pushed her way in.

Adult Noche floated in space and her single eye went wide. She was surrounded by a telekinetic bubble full of air and heat. In a way, she had used create to make herself a space suit. Down below the planet was wrong – very wrong.

Despite being in the sun's rays, there was a blackness that had taken over a third of the planet. An unnatural, ocean of black shadows that was somehow darker than the vacuum of space around it. She was snapped out of it when Galloway appeared by her side.

"It's too late. Creeps has almost won," he said.

"Those shadows are because of Creeps?" Noche asked.

"Those shadows are Creeps. It is consuming the planet and when it is done it will spread to the solar system," Galloway said. "Then from there the milky way galaxy, the universe, the multiverse, and eventually all of existence itself."

Noche's single eye was wide as she stared at the grim reaper dressed fellow.

"W-What are we going to do?"

"There's only one way to stop Creeps," Galloway turned to face her. "You have to destroy the world."

Noche paused as his words settled in her brain. Did she hear that right? She has to destroy the planet? The blonde stared at the grim reaper as if she couldn't believe what she had heard.

"It is the only way. If we slow it down, then we might still have a chance to stop all this."

"Is there no other way?"

"None."

Noche turned her gaze back to the world; half of it was in shadows.

"H-How would I even do that?"

"Corruption. Use your evil eye – from this distance you can see the entire planet, right? That ability isn't bound to reality. It doesn't care for distance or size. All you need is to see it."

Every cell in Noche's body screamed this was the wrong thing to do. That she shouldn't destroy the entire planet. Wipe out all life in the world, maybe even the whole universe. Still, she suppressed that feeling. It didn't stop her trembling as her evil eye manifested.

The world transformed into a white star – blinding flames exploded in all directions. Noche was stunned by how easy it was. Not the act itself, it took all her willpower to push herself to unleash such destruction. No, what was easy was how effortlessly and instantaneously the planet was erased by corruption.

She floated in space and watched as the white ball of destruction fought off the black shadows. Gradually, over a handful of seconds, both vanished. Where her home planet once resided was now nothing but the empty vacuum of space.

It was that easy.

Noche was back in an empty room. A small chuckle escaped her lips as a bead of sweat trailed down her face. Her body was cold, her hands shaking, and her stomach was filled with lead.

She really could destroy the planet. Sure, it was just a simulation, but in her heart, she knew she had that power. If she really wanted, she was strong enough to jump into space, create a bubble of habitation, and then all she had to do was look at the blue marble. It would be that easy.

No, she would never. Not in a million years. At least, that's what she told herself despite knowing, deep in her heart, that she'd be willing to do otherwise. Noche shook her head, she would not let it come to that. She would stop Creeps before it ever came to that.

The blonde wrapped her single, shaking arm around her torso and took in a few deep breathes. She was fine. Everything was fine. All she had to do was get through this training and then it would all be ok. In. Out. In. Out. Breathe.

She was fine.

The shaking is normal. So was the cold in her limbs. It's fine. She's perfectly fine. Noche took one more breath and then made her way out of the room. As she reached for the doorknob she noticed she was still in her adult body. Her eye widened just a tad at that. Did it mean she completed all the trails? Fuck, it better.

Noche entered the hallway and found herself still on the second floor. She approached the stairs and some light at the bottom caught her eye. The front door was open and in the middle of the floor was Baxy.

She went down the stairs slowly on trembling legs. Once she got to the bottom she approached the bear and picked it up. It was no longer alive, or animated, or whatever. The distortions were gone and now it was just a normal stuff toy in the shape of her guardian Baxter.

Noche placed the toy on a nearby table and noticed the large mirror leaning against the wall from earlier. The blonde stared at her reflection and it shocked her. Her expression was one of horror – her single eye filled with dread. She raised her only hand to her only eye and watched the reflection mimic her.

This was her. This was really her. This broken, shattered, weak looking thing. Fire exploded across Noche's entire body. She brought her fist back and slammed it into the mirror – it shattered into a million little pieces. Noche screamed and punched her reflection over and over again. By the time she was done, she was huffing for breath.

"I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine, I'M FUCKING FINE!"

Noche laughed hysterically.

"It's all a fucking game, right? None of it really matters in the end. Just win! That's all I have to do~ Just win... At any cost."

Her laughter died down and she wiped away the tears streaming down her face.

"I have to win. It's for the greater good. Abandon my friends, stop Edward. Kill Innocents, stop Creeps. Destroy the world, save the universe. Cause all that matters so fucking much."

Noche clenched her fist until it popped and grit her teeth.

"What the fuck is this? What is my life?"

The blonde untensed her muscles and stared at the thousands of tiny mirror fragments. Her gaze lingered on all her scars and wounds.

"I'm the one who wants to avoid going back to that desert. To do that, I have to be willing to win at any cost. To commit any sin without hesitation. This is the path I've decided to walk... Even if it makes me feel sick."

Noche stood up and walked towards the front door.

"WeLcOmE bAcK – I knew it wouldn't take you long. All you needed was a little push."

"A little push? A little push! What the fuck about that was little!"

"Noche!"

The blonde turned to the man in the yellow raincoat. She was motionless for a moment as her brain processed the sight before her.

"Raven? What the fuck is he doing here!"

He did a little wave with his free hand, while the other one held a metal umbrella above the corpse of her previous body.

"Fuck!" Noche yelled.

Meanwhile, Mary was silent as she stood before the casket. Alice placed her hand on her lover's shoulder. They stood in silence as the wooden box was lowered into the dirt.

"Dad... didn't answer my phone calls," Mary muttered.

Alice's expression was pained; full of sorrow. Mary didn't turn to look as she kept her eyes locked on the casket. The first shovel full of dirt broke the silence like a cannon going off next to her ear. Mary wiped at the tears that streamed down her face and didn't speak again for the rest of the evening.