Colin's posts

Hal just stepped forward, and placed his hands on her shoulders.

"It's ok." he said.

"You'll lose this fight. But we can win this war." he told her.

"For now, leave my office. I'll not let you in again, and I'll try to come up with something." he went on.

"You've helped immensely." he said further.

"...and just remember, this isn't your fault. You were tricked by her. We all were."

"...." Hal was silent for a moment, before nodding.

"Right." he said.

"I'll think of something. I promise." he told her.

"We'll find a way to get through this. Now that I know what is causing all this, specifically." he then added.

"With more info, we're better prepared."

"Damn it." Hal muttered.

"The camera. I never would have seen it." he said.

He then paused for a moment, looking at her.

"...you seem to have some clarity." he then commented.

"Though very temporary, I'm guessing." he went on.

"Can you think of a way to turn this around?" he asked her. "While you still have your sense of self?"

Hal was silent for a moment, processing this.

"Firstly, no." he said.

"I won't kill you. I cannot bring myself to do that." he told her, when the reality was he just couldn't do it. Full stop. That was outside what he could actually do, with what he was.

"Secondly, HOW?" he asked her.

"How is this all happening?" he asked further.

"How the hell is she operating through you? Seriously."

Hal was sitting in his office, and had just touched the crystal he had hidden away, when he heard Jordan banging on the door, and practically PLEADING to speak with him. He was silent for a moment, before clearing his throat.

"Coming!" he shouted back, getting up and walking over to the door.

He opened it, and saw she looked... panicked and exasperated.

"...what is it, Jordan?" he asked.

"What's got you so panicked?"

Both Bast and Zeke were silent and stunned for a moment as she ran off, with Bast still holding the camera. They looked at each other, before shrugging and and both sitting down where they were.

They were told not to start fighting again, so they would sit there and do... nothing.

Though Bast had to wonder about the camera in his hands.

"...she didn't take it..." he mumbled.

"Wait, what is WITH this thing...?" he then wondered aloud.

Bast quickly took her in his arms, and wasn't sure what he could do right now. He also didn't notice that Zeke had rising to his feet once more. The archangel nephilim then stepped closer and put his hand on Jordan's chest.

"Hey!" Bast exclaimed... until he saw the glow inside of Jordan was moving to the hand.

"...this will hurt..." Zeke said.

"But endure it." he told her.

"..." Bast was silent, as he realised that Zeke was pulling the mana out of Jordan's body.

Bast approached her quickly, and bit his lower lip.

"Damn it." he cursed, though her tone seemed to strike something in his core.

"..." he was silent, before looking over at Zeke again.

'...Jordan...' he thought, before looking back to the girl.

"What do we do NOW?" he asked her.

"What can we do about this!?"

"Huh!?" Bast exclaimed, before looking between Zeke and her.

"What did you DO!?" he yelled at Zeke.

Zeke said nothing. Did nothing. Just remained there. Motionless.

Bast growled, before looking at Jordan.

"What happened!?" he asked.

"The hell is that glow!?"

Zeke said nothing, merely getting to his feel slowly, as though his body was fighting against him.

"Hm." Bast mumbled.

"Either his body is in really bad shape right now, or his DNA is literally fighting against his mana and soul." he commented.

"...useless." he then spat.

Zeke managed to rise to his feet, and slowly plodded towards Jordan, one uneasy step at a time, until he was not but a foot away from her. And there he stood, awaiting further instructions.

Bast was silent as she said what she did, and looked her, before looking at Zeke. He then smirked as well, piecing together what she was 'saying'. He then crossed his hands over his chest and shook his head.

"Fitting." he said.

"A very 'special' 'lamb of God', right here for the slaughter." he commented with a chuckle.

"And he can't fight back, either." he added, as Zeke moved slightly, but only ended up flopping onto his back.

"Right here?" he asked her.

Bast felt himself compelled to step forward, and handed her the camera.

"Here." he said.

"It was the perfect shot." he said further.

"...it was the last one needed for you." he went on, as Zeke just groaned softly, causing Bast to sneer at him.

"Hmph, Pitiful." he spat.

"To think he even dared to try and fight back against you."

Bast nodded in response.

"Excellent idea!" he stated.

He then took a photo... and then another... and then paused. He looked through the viewfinder silently, before looking at Jordan and Zeke... as a grin stretched out across his face now.

"...yes." he said.

"Oh, yes, THIS will be the PERFECT shot." he declared...

...and then snapped the photo.

With each photo taken, Zeke could feel his sense of self slip away. His archangel DNA had somehow given him this clarity, but every time a photo was taken, it was chipped away, little bit little.

"D... damn you..." he said.

"I.... will... fight." he told her, shakily grabbing for his sword. He managed to get his hand around it, and started to bring it up towards her... but one more picture seemed to do it.

And he collapsed to the floor.

She knew that was it. His fighting back was done and over with now.