[hr][right][sup]Monday — Morning — Hallway[/sup][/right]Dulac's shoes clacked loudly on the tiled floor, as she approached her quarry at last. Even exhausted, her hair matted to her skin, she hid her breathing, and kept her poise. Now, more than ever, she needed to hold her back straight and her head high.

She knew that she had the attention of that vulgar thing, now. With only the two of them in the hall, her light burned brightly in its eyes.

Distasteful form. Abhorrent sounds. Everything about her mark disgusted her to her core, and yet...it detected no killing intent from her. Emboldened by its insight, the creature stepped forward to meet its enemy—

—only to be brought low by a single sentence from the young woman's lips, spoken with an eerie calm, shaking the world.

 
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/UEKn1Ri.png?1[/img][/center]
[center][color=8882be][b]"Gold Abhors Ebon."[/b][/color][/center]

[hr][right][sup]Monday — Morning — Cafeteria[/sup][/right]Keone looked left and right with a nervous expression, unsure of just how to react. Kat was crying more than Rebecca was. With a glance back, he saw her being comforted in a small and largely ineffective way by Chester. [color=ffe0e0]"That was...Malie's voice..."[/color] Rebecca's words shook, as her fingertips tugged at the skin of her forehead. [color=ffe0e0]"That voice...it was...Malie's voice...it was her...!"[/color]

 
[i][color=82ca9d]What's happening, Cece? Did it stop?[/color]

[color=8882be]Yes. I scared it off.[/color]

[color=82ca9d]Just in time...[/color]

[color=8882be]No. Too late. It was already concentrating when I reached it. Who was taken in?[/color]

[color=82ca9d]Um...Rebecca, and the other two from homeroom. They were talking with her around the time it happened, so they were sympathetically linked...[/color]

[color=8882be]...They're involved, then. It's only Monday, and we've this many variables.[/color]

[color=82ca9d]That's why I said, I think this plan is—[/color]

[color=8882be]It's worked before. This time won't be any different.[/color]

[color=82ca9d]Cece...[/color]

[color=8882be]I know this is painful for you, sœur. But please, believe in me. Everything will go perfectly.[/color]

[color=82ca9d]...[/color]

[color=8882be]And when this is all over...I'll make it up to you. I promise.[/color][/i]

 
He took in a sharp breath. Rebecca had someone by her side at least. But to him, it seemed like Kat had been hit the hardest out of any of them. His face set in a nervous frown, he tentatively put an arm lightly on his shoulder, leading Kat away from the other students.

[hr]

 
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/HoVHuve.gif[/img][/center]
[center][color=222222]the rain continues to fall[/color][/center]
[center][color=222222]99 : 44 : 12[/color][/center]

 
[hr][right][sup]Monday — Morning — Hallway[/sup][/right][center][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQwDBvHobh4][img]http://i.imgur.com/KdzywDR.png[/img][/url][/center]
[color=8882be]Far away, at the end of the hall, Kat caught just a glance of the young woman from before. Dulac was rounding a corner, away from them and out of sight. But just before she left view, it was impossible for Kat to miss the sharp, dreadful gaze of her eyes.[/color]

Once the two of them were alone in the halls, Keone raised a regretful head to Kat's tears, patiently waiting for him to calm down.

[color=82ca9d]"Look, I..."[/color] He stammered, clenching his teeth for a second. [color=82ca9d]"...I begged you not to help her. I really did."[/color] He told Kat with anguish written all over him. [color=82ca9d]"I didn't want you...[i]anyone[/i], getting caught in that...I didn't want this. Honestly, I didn't, I tried to...stop it..."[/color]