[center][size=4][b]In the sewers: Fighting Caudata[/size=4][/b][/center]

	The world finally made sense, here in the dank and depressing hole in the ground it all finally clicked into place. As Aaron darted around the massive creature each slice of his blades, every impact from furious winds, he could honestly say that he had never felt more alive. The howling laughter and maddening look only proved to everyone in the room that this was no longer the childhood friend that they had come to know and love. The sound of tearing flesh and crackling bone drew Aaron's attention down to Fuzzy, who with all of the strength that he could muster began tearing the limb of the giant creature from the bulbous monstrosity only to have it attempt to roll on top of him. Seeing an opportunity present itself Aaron darted back to the ground and charged the massive creatures belly and unleashed another devastating gust of wind into its soft underbelly, subsequently leaving the monstrosity all but completely eviscerated. With the creature now off of Fuzzy and the monster now throughly incapacitated Aaron casually strode onto the creatures side and walked to the side of its head that hadn't been damaged and stood over its enormously bulbous eye. Aaron paused a moment and gazed into the creatures eye, taking in all the apparent seething hatred and bestial instinct to attack and kill but as he gazed deeper he saw something else that he hadn't expected to see. Fear. This creature actually seemed to fear for its life as it glared up at the monster that so savagely assaulted every possible point that it could. It was then that the reality of what he had done set in. Aaron stared down at his once pristine blades and saw the sullied with blood and riddled with knicks and gouges from his reckless attacks. His hands were also coated in the thick viscous substance and when he turned and met Olivia's gaze for the first time since his wild assault began, she turned away in a manner that could only be described as disgust and shame. As his gaze returned back to the Caudata as it lay in the cold and filthy water of the sewer, Aaron saw the true monster he had become. Hot tears began to well up in his eyes as he leaned in close to the beast and whispered,

[b]"I am truly sorry...."[/b]

As the tears began to fall down his cheek, Aaron plunged on of his blades deep into the creatures eye far enough that he was sure that it had reached its brain and ended the monsters suffering. Aaron took a moment to clean his face and blades with the rancid water then turned and followed the others to leave. He couldn't bring himself to talk to anyone for the rest of the trip back to the surface.

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[size=4][center][b]Chapter 4: A new face in the crowd[/size=4][/center][/b]

	The ambush had been quite a shock and the subsequent transfer to whatever facility had been rather rough on Aaron. Not only was the incident with the Caudata still fresh on his mind, but the Nautilus soldiers weren't too keen on Aaron's comfort or well being. Most of the transfer and subsequent imprisonment had passed with a bit of a blur as he spent a great deal of time with a sack over his head or getting slapped around. Escape didn't even think of escaping until Olivia noticed the door to their makeshift prison was indeed open, to which Aaron quickly found to large kitchen knives for makeshift weapons.

[size=4][center][b]The Confrontation[/size=4][/center][/b]

	 Aaron watched as Liv went through her mental break down over the news that Sam was still alive, and to be honest he was having a hard time with it himself. From his fight with the Caudata and his physotic episode to the hallway lined with blood from the guards that watched over them got his blood stiring, and then on top of that seeing Sofia brought back memories of Helston all over again. Suddenly and with out warning Aaron felt his anger rise up and lash out at this familiar face brandishing his improvised weapons in each hand, using one hand and blade to hold Sophia at bay with a blade at her throat, and the other aiming the point of the other in the center of her eye.

 Feeling the cool touch of steel against her her neck while another blade centered on her eye, Sofia felt her heart quicken. Death was so close, so near. She had escaped its fell clutches time and time again - many were not without consequence. Mentally or physically, they still left a mark in one way or another.
 
 Aaron. She remembered him. The more temperamental of the lot. 

[b]"Well Sophie...this has been a fun reunion filled with lies from the whore of Helston, but why don't you be a good little girl and show us the way out of here...eh, what d'ya say?"[/b]

 Her face remained impassive. "A [i]whore[/i] is such a terrible word, dear Aaron. Such low-life ... [i]things[/i] are far below me. How despicable they are. But I agree, whores and sons of Helston are just the worst types of vermin." Wrapping her arms around her torso, she leaned back. "Show you the way out? Perhaps I'll carve a map on your chest, so you may never lose your way. Would you like that?

Aaron picked Sophie enough to force-ably slam her back against the wall with enough force to knock the wind out of any normal person, unfortunately for Aaron, the monster in his grasp was not normal by any means.

 [b]"You can try sweetheart, but I assure you...one wrong move and it will be the last you will ever make."[/b]
 
 "Samuel is here; your thoughts or opinions mean very little to me. Nothing in fact. The death of dozens are on my hands. It'd be a shame if I left here empty handed. Why their pale, rotting sacks of flesh wouldn't forgive me!"

Aaron could feel his anger welling up within him, but there was something more. Deep within the pit of his stomach was a fire that felt akin to something he had felt before, like he had felt fighting the Caudata.

 Sofia giggled as the images of the civilians and soldiers revisited her. "Oh how simply delicious this whole war thing has been! Assassinations are so quite - or loud. Depending on the method," she said. "But the chaos ignites the senses. Are you not enthralled? Why so quick to leave? Have you had your fill? Your anger is transparent. Is this not the best of remedies? You're soldiers! Don't disappoint me like the Nautilus idiots who accompanied me. A soldier kills for a country. Orders are to be carried out without second thought. In a way, we're alike, you all and I. The difference? I'm free. Liberated. Your chained by the whims of others, my angry little boy."

Once again Aaron lashed out at Sofia by pressing the blade against her throat just a little bit harder, opening a slight wound on her otherwise flawless skin,

 [b]"Shut your fucking mouth...we may be soldiers but we are nothing like you. We are here fighting for the well being of human lives. If liberation, to you, means the complete and utter disregard of humanity then that's all the proof you need that your the only monster here!"[/b]
 
Something she said struck a nerve with Aaron. The overwhelming sense of euphoria that he had experienced since his episode in the sewers had triggered a new perspective on life. The blood, smoke, and other indicators of war now seemed like a drug that helped calm his mind and soothe his soul. Somewhere deep where deep within him he couldn't help but wonder if he and Sofia weren't the same after all.

 Sofia felt the trickle of blood roll down her neck. It had been far too long since she had felt this intoxicating sensation. How kind it was that one of Samuel's friends was the one to remind her of it.
 
 "Fighting for the well being of humans? How hypocritical. How could you be fighting for the well being of another when you take the life of another?" Sofia grinned at him. Turning her neck slightly, she could feel the steely bite's pressure lessen. "A monster? Try enlightened. Do you not feel the satisfaction of knowing you killed your prey before it could you? Even in your position, as with all soldiers, there is a certain glee to living - even if it meant forfeiting the other's [i]well-being[/i]. Oh, my dear, we are much more similar than you may think. You and the rest of this sorry ... entourage."

Even though he tried his hardest to deny her words, Aaron couldn't help but have to agree with her. The thrill he felt while fighting the Caudata was still fresh in his mind and the overwhelming sensation of joy was too perfect for words. Aaron came back to reality as Sofia turned her neck to relieve the tension from his blades, to which Aaron to which he quickly rectified this by pushing the blade harder against her throat.

 [b]"Uh, uh little girl, don't even think about moving. Maybe your right...maybe we are similar, but there is one major difference."[/b]

Aaron leaned close to whisper in her ear, the tone the tone was cold and sadistic. The thought that came to Aaron's mind, it was the phantom in the woods and his cruel and near psychotic tone,

 [b]"By the time that this day ends and I swear to all that is holy that I will hunt you down and kill you myself."[/b]
 
 The stupid smirk remained plastered over Sofia's face. "No need to look far my misguided lamb," she said. "Egoism is the epitome of the most noblest of souls. The zenith of our existence! Once I've satiated my perverse desires, I'll happily welcome the steel's thrust. But will it be you or I? I'm excited to find out."