tampered | Log: Ongoing

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Log: Ongoing

When; Thursday night, during the crossover to Power Switch Day
Rating; R+? for extreme violence/gore and other possible wrongs
Characters;

alessalearnt and

wisdom_rcvr
Summary; Henry goes to the cathedral to console Alessa about her fight with Walter. After the curse day gives him new powers and a new outlook, he and Alessa go out to 'enjoy' themselves.
Log;

There's something in his head that told him this is a bad- no, a horrible- idea, to keep going over to see Alessa. He should be trying to get away from these elements, not run towards them. Down this path lies only death and pain. But that small part in his brain didn't have much of a say in the grand scheme of things, honestly. The rest of him felt terrible for Alessa and what she'd been through. She wasn't evil, she was confused and sad. And above everything else, she was lonely, and Henry understood that better than anyone. She deserved to have people be nice to her, finally.

Plus, she let him rest. When he was near her, all the voices and noises in his head calmed to listen to her. She helped to organize his mind, to make him more comfortable. She already showed that she cared about him when she eased his suffering. She may look like a child most of the time, but she was nothing near it. Much more like the mother figure he got her confused with on a rather frequent basis now.

They were both leaning against the walls of the confessional booth- he hadn't tried to pry her out of it yet. It was small and probably more comfortable than the rest of the echoing church. He wrapped his arms around her and gave her the best hug he knew how to. "It'll be okay, Mom...he doesn't listen, but we can still find a way." He tried not to think of Scarab. He tried to pass judgement on her the same way the others did. But knowing what she did, and knowing what he saw outside the cathedral the other day...it was difficult for him to reconcile the two. And when he thought of that scene, it almost always reminded him of Eileen. She would've wanted this, right? Would've wanted him to try and be kind to these people, the ones who were never given a chance.

But it was so hard to help Walter when all he wants to do is kill him. It would be even worse when that sentiment was returned. And Henry knew that day is coming. He hugged Alessa a little tighter. "He's stubborn, but he'll see eventually. We have to get him away from the city's influence...it'll be all right." He continued murmuring as many comforting things as he could. But he still wasn't used to talking to people, so they all came out awkward and stilted, even though they were genuine. He hated that.

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Alessa wiped her cheeks, but the tears were flowing now. Her argument with Walter had pried open the tank of tears that hadn't flowed over the years.....twenty years of unshed tears were coming from her now, tears that she hadn't shed when her mother had burnt her, or when Mary had come to her for help, or when Claudia killed herself, or when that monster killed Cheryl's father, kind, brave, Harry....she had a feeling they wouldn't stop for awhile now.

'...I hope so, Henry, I hope so...' she murmured, returning his hug gratefully. A hug. When was the last time she had gotten a hug? No one wanted to hug burnt Alessa, it would be too painful for her. No one wanted to help her, no one but Lisa, and Lisa was still too afraid to touch her. But Henry...Henry was giving her a hug. Through the sadness and pain, a foreign emotion that could only be happiness began to sift through it.

'This City is hell,' she growled, pulling away to look at him, and stopped. Something was changing about him, she could sense it. What is this...? she thought, curious. He was changing, but she couldn't tap the source. 'Henry, are you all right? I know Scarab's punishment was frightening, but...she should be alive and well now.'

That Carousel...it is even worse than the Room itself.

He was surprised by the tears. He hadn't expected someone like Alessa to cry at all. He hoped he hadn't done something wrong, to make her cry. He'd been trying to help, not to hurt. But she hugged back and that was at least a good sign.

The change happened fairly quickly- horns appeared on his head in an instant, and there was a brief shifting around in his mind. It could be viewed as a battle, but there really wasn't much of one; the new pushed and settled over the old with little problem.

And then things were much clearer. The worry in his face faded into cool concern. "I'm fine, Mother Alessa. I'm not worried about the Scarab. I only wish death was permanent here...with her reviving, will she really learn her lesson?" He passed a hand over her hair, brushing it back from her tear-stained eyes. "They don't deserve to be reborn."

She shivered slightly as Henry's hand got close to her face. She wasn't used to human contact, and it would probably take her quite awhile to get used to it. Her dark eyes narrowed as the horns grew from his scalp, and a peculiar glint entered his eyes. Something had changed. Her telepathy did a quick sweep of the City, and as she felt the confusion and startlement, she realized that this was like the day that the thoughts were too loud, only that instead of everyone's thoughts invading everyone else's minds, it seemed that their talents and abilities had been swapped.

She lifted a hand and pressed it to the wood of the confessional, willing her power into the place her hand touched. She drew it back, leaving a handprint of rotten wood in its place. Her powers still seemed to be intact, at least. This is good, she thought. Anyone else would probably accidentally kill everyone in this accursed place.

'I certainly hope so,' she answered. 'If not...the final judgement will take care of it.' Alessa reached out, and stroked one of his new horns, recognizing them as Lucy's. '....These are nice. They're very becoming for you.'

He closed his eyes and smiled slightly, tilting his head toward her hand by a fraction of an inch. "I feel different. I'm not sure what..."

His voice trailed off and his eyes popped open. He seemed to be searching the air for something. It appeared as if he found it after a few seconds-- he looked to Alessa and smiled a little wider. "It's a curse day, isn't it? I have things I can do now that I couldn't before. The whole city's going to be in an uproar."

He felt like he should be out there, among all those people. The good and bad alike. No, the bad...just the bad- he had to remind himself. But humanity is almost all bad; everyone is guilty of something. And now he was on par with Walter, if he used it all correctly. The Vectors would help him; he could do anything he wanted. What he wanted was to rip as many humans apart as he was capable of.

There was plenty of time for it. He had a whole day. He fixed his eyes on Alessa's and asked very seriously, "Do you like the difference? I think I do."

Alessa smiled at him. He had let her touch him! He hadn't flinched or drawn away in fear. She could feel the happiness that she felt earlier when he had hugged her well up again. She leaned back, her arms crossed in front of her chest, thinking.

'Yes, I think it is a curse day,' she agreed. The Henry in front of him was different. This Henry, the new and improved Henry, was stronger. Much stronger. He was not weak with the memories of the past. As much as she adored the Henry who was kind, compassionate, sympathetic, she couldn't help but feel an odd appeal and magnetism emanating from him. He was an equal now. He wasn't lesser than her. He was someone who could fight by her side, and by the sounds of it, it would only last a day. She should take advantage of it.

'...I like the difference very much,' she murmured. She could practically feel Xulchibara purring in satisfaction at her answer. I AM PLEASED, the God said into her head. THE RECEIVER OF WISDOM SHALL KNOW HIS TRUE POTENTIAL THIS DAY. HAVE FUN, the God's presence withdrew from her mind, but not before chuckling in amusement.

He closed his eyes again, the faint smile playing across his lips again. "I'm glad. I always want to please you. Maybe this day will make you feel better. I want to...want to..." There was a tiny scream in his mind, something that had tried to come up out of the depths it had been pushed to. It told him he didn't have to do this, that he could sleep this day off, that he shouldn't do things he'd regret tomorrow. It was a final stand.

He looked up at Alessa, his eyes widening. And when he saw her, the scream was cut off. He would do these things, and the fact that he'd regret them later only made him feel like he should get to them more quickly- he would be a different person tomorrow morning. "There are more people like Scarab in this city, aren't there? People that should be crushed and ripped, and punished?" He narrowed his eyes, seemingly at nothing at all. "Lots of people..."

"I always want to please you."

This was even better than Pyramid Head! For one thing, he could actually talk, and his words weren't jumbled. For another, he looked much better than Pyramid Head did. She couldn't help herself; she broke into a wide smile. This...is the best day of my life, she thought.

'This City is unpure. It is corrupted. The sinners walk amongst the innocents without fear. They eat, sleep, drink, and make love to the innocents, tainting them and this City with sin,' she told him. 'There are so many sinners here, so many that need to be punished. This City must begin to be purified. When it is, it will be fit for us to live in without disgust.'

She held out her hand. 'Come with me, and we will purify this City, you and I.' There were no more tears, only a giddy excitement.

He took her hand, happy to see her smiling so wide. Funny how a perspective change was all one needed to help out another in need. He smiled back at her, a tight little smile but a smile nonetheless. And he walked with her. "I want to clean it...yes. We'll leave it better off. But-"

A confused, slightly worried look crossed his face. "They'll all come back, won't they? They won't stay dead. Just like Scarab. But...I'd still feel better." He looked down to her, pleadingly. "We can still go, can't we?"

'Of course,' she reassured him, leading him out of the chapel and down the stone steps. The City was alive, always alive, even at night. The stars shone, and the moon was growing in the sky. It was beautiful, a perfect night for purification. 'It should prove most enjoyable.'

They were nearing Misery Square. Jazz music drifted from a small band playing to the crowds, pop music emanated from the karaoke bar, conversation hung near restaurants and cafe's. The citizens were unaware that their jury was in their midst. Her grip on his hand tightened slightly as they blent with the crowd. This would be a perfect time to start picking out some victims. She paused in her tracks, her telepathy sweeping the crowd.

'There.' Alessa pointed to the man belting out the words to a song of a man whose heart was broken while his friend accompanied him on the saxophone. 'You see that man? He beats his wife and child every night.

'And there,' she pointed to a couple in the window of a nearby restaurant. 'That woman is in love with her fiance's sister. She wants to kill him, and then she and her lover will take his money and run.'

She swept her arm out to indicate the crowd of people. 'Here they all are: rapists, abusers, druggies, self-mutilators, murderers. All for the taking. Go on. Let's see what you can do.'

His jaw set even before she started pointing out targets. He so wanted to kill them all...to pull them out of existence. It would be sweet.

But there were too many here. Far too many. Even with the amount he could do, they needed to be in a smaller area. He looks down at Alessa and nods. They're all here, reveling in their disgusting humanity, pretending they can escape the consequences of their lives just because they're here, of all places.

These were the type of people that made Walter Sullivan. His murders are on their heads, and maybe Henry was wrong before. Maybe they could be avenged here.

The singing man finished and decided to take a break. This was lucky for Henry- he didn't think he could've waited until that man was done to start, but he wanted him to be the first. The man walked down a street. Now, it was a wide street, and there were a great many people there, but it was still much more enclosed than the square itself. This many...yes, he thinks he could do it.

An invisible arm reaches out and spears the man straight through the chest. It rips through his right side, then pulls free and smacks him to the ground. The man makes a startled yelling noise, and it's almost drowned out by the noise on the street.

But not quite. Several people turn to look at the man as he bleeds on the ground- so quite a few see the vector reach in and crush his head. And then there's screaming. And then quite a few more are looking.

He can't reach as far as he'd like with the vectors, that's the first thing he notices. But he can pick up things, things like trash cans and the saxaphone the other man had and even other people- and he can throw these things very hard. Someone was packing weaponry and tries to shoot at him and Alessa. Using a vector to shield them, he runs towards the shooter and pulls the head from his shoulders as soon as he's within range. The clattering noise that the bones make against each other, and then the street, is deeply satifying.

That taken care of, a great many people find they have something better to do. They run off, leaving about twenty who are too stubborn to let this happen without a fight. He smiles slightly. This won't be very hard at all.

Alessa's brows shot up in admiration at his handiwork. 'Nicely done,' she told him, smiling. She certainly was pleased. He moved with grace and speed, and as the crowd dispersed, screaming and running, she laughed. There were about twenty foolish souls who had taken out guns and assorted weapons who stood bravely several feet away from the pair. Obviously, they weren't going down without a fight, with only one outcome: death.

'So, you are stubborn souls, aren't you?' Alessa crooned to them. A twisted smile on her face, she fell to her knees and placed her hands on the concrete ground, willing her power to spread. Darkened rust spread from her hands, crawling towards the group of men and women. The victims backed away in alarm, but one woman was not quick enough. The rust found her boot and snaked up her leg, crawling up to her face, down her arms. Her eyes glazed over and the pupils grew smaller until her eyes were white, emotionless. Rust spilled out of her tear-ducts, and Alessa wiped her mind of everything. The rust turned into crude tissue and wrapped around her face, turning her into a crude bubble-head nurse.

Welcome to the darkness, daughter, she thought to the zombie, who lumbered towards the others, her pistol held in front of her.

Back in the cathedral, Alessa could feel one of her real hands twitch. She was itching to use her barbed wire. It had been ages since she had ripped people to peices. Not yet, she told herself. Wait. It will be the grand finale.

Henry had to pause to watch this transformation. He had to see this woman turn into what she really was. It was so beautiful. A few people had the good sense to shoot at them while they weren't moving; he merely used the vectors to shield them again. The people weren't of any danger.

He wished he brought his camera. He would've liked to capture this moment. And just as soon as it had started, it was over. That meant Henry was moving again. He used one vector to carry himself to a group that thought they were out of range. These folks had assault rifles, and those rifles were sliced in two along with the rest of them. He uses the third vector to shield his back and the fourth to pull limbs off the remaining group. Within five seconds, what used to be four well built and heavily-armed people was a mass of blood and gore. Then he was back at Alessa's side, sending vectors out to start attacking the closest people. He had to run towards them to reach, and (a little surprisingly to Henry) they started backing up.

There were only about ten left then, and three were trying to figure out what to do about the nurse. Funny how the numbers dwindled when they realize judgement was at hand. No escaping consequences here. Henry grinned.

Now. The doors from the cathedral burst open as barbed wire flew from the stone church, racing across the City's streets, dodging the innocent, until they came to a sudden halt behind Alessa, poised and deadly, waiting for her word. She rose to her feet, and turned to her companion.

'Let's finish them off, shall we?' she asked, grinning maliciously. Alessa stretched her arm out towards three men who were loading rifles. The zombie began to fire the three uncertain ones with deadly accuracy. One fell, her head a bloody mess of bone and brain. The other was seized by the zombie, who began to tear her throat open with her hands. The woman screamed in horror and pain. 'STOP!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING??? GET OFF OF ME!!!'

Her screams diminished into incomprehensive gurgles as blood poured from her throat. The zombie rubbed her blood-drenched hands all over her face, twitching in pleasure. She rounded on the remaining woman, who keeled over and threw up, backing away shakily, her face pale.

Let my new pet have fun with her, she thought, directing the barbed wire towards some of the men with loaded rifles. They cut through the air with sharp grating sounds, and Alessa laughed with delight as they sliced through her victims with ease, their screams a symphony to her ears. This is beautiful...beautiful, beautiful judgement! And a beautiful one to share this triumph with me! she thought in exultation.

He watched the barbed wire with pleased amazement. It was something that made sense, so much sense- but he hadn't been expecting it. The barbed wire didn't reach for the woman on the ground, however. That one was his.

He walked slowly towards her, since she didn't seem to have full command of her legs anymore. And maybe there was another reason. He stopped entirely a few feet away from her, and she was just...staring at him. She wasn't trying to shoot him or hurt him- nothing. She was only staring.

He didn't move, either. It was like something was broken. After a few seconds of trying to find out what it was, he turns wide-eyed to Alessa. "What did she do?" he asked, sounding far too timid. "What-?" His own voice makes him angry at himself. Of course she's done something awful, look at the guilt in her eyes. Of course she has, how could he even question it? She needed to be destroyed. She needed to die.

Three vectors reached her at once, grabbing a limb and tugging. She didn't scream or cry, just stared at him with a confused and somewhat angry expression. Cold sweat dripped from her chin as he picked her up in the air. He studied her face closely, wanting to remember every second of this. She'd been denying her guilt all this time.

The sweat dissappeared into the sheets of blood that poured from her body as the vectors ripped her apart. Three separate, jagged pieces were flung up and down the street. Her right arm slapped lazily against one of the men currently getting disembowled by several cords of wire.

Some of the men were still screaming. Some very small thing inside Henry wished he could do the same.

He grinned wide, turning his bloodstained face towards Alessa. Once the last of the noises died away, he said quietly, "That was wonderful."

She was concentrating on the barbed wire, but managed to do a quick sweep of the woman's mind. Images of the woman sobbing, taking pills and slicing her wrists and arms flood her mind. 'She does not value the life given to her. She tries to kill herself,' she told him. Alessa watched Henry kill the woman out of the corner of her eye and smiled. This wasn't a curse, it was a blessing.

The barbed wire withdrew, making its way back to the Cathedral. She turned to Henry, and stared at his bloodstained clothes and hands, a spatter on his face here and there. She probably looked the same, but she was pleased. He was triumphant, a creature of darkness, so beautiful...

Her heart was beating too fast. It echoed in her ears and a peculiar surge of what felt like fire seemed to wash over her. This fire wasn't painful, though. It was good, she liked it. It made her feel...she didn't know what, but she liked it. She approached him, and before she knew what she was doing, before she could stop herself, she reached up and took the collar of his white shirt in her hands, the blood stains warm and fresh. She pulled him down just enough so they could look at eachother.

She couldn't talk; there was a lump in her throat. She had lost control of her actions, it was all instinct...it was the blood, the death, the vengeance. She was high on a cloud of euphoria from the blood spilt. It was making her feel alive.

She hesitated for only a fraction of a second. Alessa leant forward and pressed her lips to Henry's in a fierce kiss, the taste of blood mingling. It was her first kiss, ever. Never had she felt like this. She knew she would regret it in the morning, but at the moment, she couldn't give a damn.

He felt the pulse as well, his heart beating in time with the rhythm he had set during the attack. It was more movement than he'd been capable of in years. And along with Mother Alessa, they had filled this street with not only judgement, but grace. He obligingly moved down when she pulled on his collar, staring at the emotions surging through her eyes.

The kiss caught him entirely off-guard. Eyes that had been happily glazed-over popped open in surprise. But the blood tasted sweet and it had been so long since he kissed anyone, much less someone so beautiful in her rage.

There were rampant emotions filling the air after this massacre- he let them take him over. He returned the kiss just as violently, and perhaps even more so. They hungered for the same thing. They had found it together- not even in solitude, as he had expected. That was a thing to be celebrated, wasn't it?

He let the kiss last for as long as she wanted. He really wanted to make her happy, ever since she had cared for him and shown him the truth and eased his pain. Maybe he could do that for her today.

Alessa's eyes flew open as she found that he was kissing back! Never, in all of her years of existence had she tasted something this good. She wanted it to last forever. His intensity startled her, but at the same time, an instinct carefully tucked away in hiding responded to it, and grew to come close to matching his own. They were drunk on blood and power and death, and it was so sweet!

She pulled away, her grip on his collar loosening, her breaths coming out ragged. She swallowed, trying to find words. I kissed him, I kissed Henry, and he kissed me back, and and... her thoughts were a jumbled mess. She looked up at him, and could feel a faint flush rising in her cheeks, and something akin to shyness. 'I... I don't know what came over me,' she said weakly, slowly rubbing the blood stains on his collar idly.

Where do we go from here? she wondered, then stopped herself. Seize the moment. Tomorrow, you will answer that question. For now...embrace the hunger.

...But I'm afraid, she thought. Alessa reached out and lightly stroked some brown bangs out of his eyes. 'Henry...' She began, then stopped. She had no idea what to say.

He leaned into her hand again, happy to take comfort from her once again. But she seemed troubled...he searched her eyes. "Don't be afraid," he said, that faint smile back in place. He felt so certain. "I've only got one day like this, but some things can't be undone."

As he talked, he shifted some blood-matted sections of her hair away from her face. It was almost an imitation of what she had just done for him. "We should take advantage of the time we have. Then, even if I'm different tomorrow, even if I'm blind again...I'll see eventually. I'll do what I can to make sure of that."

He leaned forward and kissed her again; this one was a quiet and calm one, meant for comfort. He was confused now- he wasn't sure what to even call her anymore. But answers would come in time, and if he only prepared enough, he could make sure it lasted. He could make sure She stayed happy.

She sighed, relishing in him. She felt...happy. He had shown her the most kindness these past few days than she had recieved in years. 'Thank you,' she whispered as they drew apart. 'Raphael is healing me, and soon...I'll be able to truly return the sentiment.' She smiled at him. She would be beautiful for Henry, she would be a woman, and discard this shell of a child she had kept for so long.

'Let us continue on our walk, shall we? The night is young.' She reached down and took his hand in hers, a genuine smile on her face. Nothing could bring her down now that she was so high. Nothing.

Thank you, Henry. Thank you for making me happy, she thought. He would regret everything, just as he said. But she would remind him everyday. Even if she couldn't have his kisses or have him beside her to punish the guilty, she would remain by his side, hoping and waiting.

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Log: Ongoing

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