Chapter 27

Hunters' Side

"What the fuck?! Jack!"

Hastur slammed his fist on the table that is located right in front of the monitor displaying the whole match as he witnessed his very partner doing the action no one has never expected.

The Feaster had witnessed everything. The way his partner had let all four survivors do their thing when the match first started. The way the Ripper always had his bloodlust eyes staring at the embalmer all the time. But at the same time, Hastur had never expected that out of every hunter in Oletus, Jack the Ripper would be capable of doing something so violent.

He had taken Jack's hatred feeling towards the survivor Aesop Carl into account, but never in a million years would he expect the very thing that happened before his eyes.

He really came for the embalmer....

Removing the cloak that covers half of his face, Hastur was startled by Michiko standing next to him.

The Geisha looked like she was calm and all, especially with her placing her hand on the still shocked Feaster's shoulder as sign that he should not freak out, but if anyone were to have a closer look on her, a raging storm had occured in her heart, crushing every bits of feelings she has.

"Michiko... I.. I..." Hastur said, tears coming out of his human face.

"I shouldn't have let him play this match...."

The Geisha gave him a weak nod. She is also at loss of words, her mind still barely able to process what is displayed on the monitor.

It was when a loud scream snapped the two out of the trance they were in.

Right before the two, stood Joseph.

It was pretty obvious that the Photographer had just underwent a massive breakdown on the loss of his twin. Dark bags had formed under his eyes and he was holding the precious photograph of him and Claude.

With all that still ongoing in him, he had witnessed another disaster happen before his eyes.

"Joseph!" The Feaster said as the Photographer slumped down to his knees, his hands shaking badly.

"Why did you do that... Hastur...." Joseph muttered as a wave ot anger took over him.

"I-I can explain! I had no idea-"

"How could you fucking let him play in this match despite how much of a chaos he had caused?! How could you still say you have no idea he would be pulling a dirty trick like that?!"

The Photographer had gone beyond angry that he had cornered the Feaster in the wall, his hands squeezing Hastur's clothing behind the cloak.

The Feaster did not give any response even after Joseph had his grip off him. He had gone limp. In disbelief and shock.

"So you're not saying anything now, huh?! And you still call yourself a match officer?! You-"

"Joseph! Stop!" Michiko chimed in, her hands holding into the Photographer's arms as he had his fists on the Feaster.

"Get off me, Michiko! Get off me!"

The Geisha cannot help but have tears come out of her eyes as the Photographer kept on struggling free of her grip. Joseph had never cared about anyone this much, he does not even bother to pull out such of an act, but now... he had broken down into tears. He even lashed out.

Joseph loves the embalmer.

"Joseph! Please, listen to me!" Michiko yelled out as the Photographer violently let her grip off him.

"I'm going to the survivors' side." Joseph said, his voice in a dark tone.

"Joseph. I know you're shocked and down about this, but please calm yourself down. I don't want even more problems to happen! You need to calm down!"

"Me?! Calming down?!" Joseph yelled on top of his lungs.

"You made a fucking psychopath roam free as he made his first kill, and you're expecting everyone to be calm?!"

The Geisha gave no answer. She had lost. Joseph has a point.

"You're a fucking idiot too. Now get off me." He said as he walked away to the other side.

***

Survivors' Side

It was something barely believable to fathom. Chaos had filled the whole manor as they noticed Emily and William making their way back to the Red Church.

"Emily! You better bring him back here real quick!" Eli said as the Forward kicked the door open.

"We will!" Emily said. A stern tone her voice let out, and she had tried her best to act tough the moment she talked to the Seer, but little did anyone know that deep down inside she is nothing but guilt.

She had left the embalmer alone, without even bothering to check whether he had went along with them or not.

The embalmer had gotten sick and she had watched that happen before her, yet she, along with William and Kurt, still bothered to dash towards the exit without checking.

"I was selfish.." Emily muttered, her both hands now fists.

"I should have went with him and not running towards the gate directly...."

William placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Em, it ain't any of your fault. That Ripper was playing in a way none of us could figure out. He didn't even bother chasing me despite my stuns. He let us go, even after all the ciphers were done and both gates were open....

"But Aesop... I had no idea that Jack would do that... he had always pulled a normal act whenever we inform each other about matches... I should have-"

"Hey. No time for cries. Let's pick up the pace! I can see the Red Church now!"

The moment the two arrived, they were surprised by what is there before them.

It was something none of them wanted to see. There, before the gate doors, lies Aesop.

Blood is pouring everywhere from his chest all the way to his whole body, staining the grey garment he usually wore and a few of it staining the gates. There were three long scratch marks on the chest, each of them having the angry red blood coming out.

"Oh God..." Emily muttered, placing one hand on her mouth.

"Aesop!" William said.

He was about to dash towards Aesop when he saw someone else sitting by the embalmer, crying his tears out.

"What the fuck?!" William said as he figured out who the person is.

"That's a hunter! What the fuck is he doing with Aesop?!"

The Forward grabbed his football and was about to dash towards Aesop's direction when he felt a pinch on his right leg.

"Ow! What did ya do that for?!" William yelled as Emily put her hands on his head, forcing him to duck down.

"Just let them!" She said.

A slight smile escaped the Doctor's lips. She doesn't need anyone telling her who the hunter is. She knew it and is aware of the feeling the hunter has for Aesop. On the other hand, she knew she has to act quick before the embalmer suffers from blood loss, but she noticed that Joseph had came way more prepared than that of herself.

***

"Aesop! Please! Hang in there!" The Photographer cried, placing his arms under the embalmer's head for him to lean on as he pulled Aesop into an embrace.

The Photographer took his blue coat off and wrapped it along the Embalmer's angry marks as it kept on bleeding.

"No... no... Aesop don't go!" He cried, his tears streaming all the way down to his cheeks.

It was when he felt a slight pat on his wet cheeks.

"You.... crybaby..... I... hear you..."

"Aesop?!" Joseph said as his eyes now focusing on Aesop. There he is, still alive and talking open despite the pain he is in.

"Aesop!" Joseph cried into the embalmer.

"I'm so happy you withstood it..."

It was when he felt something sticky covering his palms.

Aesop's chest had bled again. A bad bleeding.

"Aesop?! No! Stay with me! I'll get help! Aesop!"

The embalmer let out a faint smile as he felt his consciousness drifting away.

"I... love.....you..... Joseph....."

That was the last thing Joseph heard before Aesop slipped into unconsciousness.