Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Y-y-yes," Faust answered shakily. Mephistophiles drew his finger across his neck, slicing off his own head and holding it forebodingly in his hand.

"You can't tell her anything," he warned, still decapitated. "You can't warn her, can't confide in anyone. Because you're alone in this world, and will be until you resurrect Eliza. That's why you joined this tournament, isn't it?"

Then I should die, rather than an innocent child!

"Suicides always go to Hell, Faust," the devil warned airily before tossing his head into the split ground and hopping after it. The wasp followed suit, and Faust was left miserably trying to pretend that he'd seen nothing.

Faust drew back, flinching violently at her touch. If he was still facing this choice, he couldn't allow himself to think of her as more than skin, muscle, bone.

All that was left of Eliza....

He couldn't bear to look at her, or at any of them. He was a phantom, a monster, an Erlking from children's stories told to him when he was young, a creature that stole souls because he in fact had none to call his own.

No soul. A vessel drained of life and meaning. Straighten. Deep breath. Regain composure.

"I'm fine," Faust replied, smiling. "Sorry about that... I think a spider bit me."

Manta drew Netsubo aside. "You're right. Something is WRONG. I hate to say, but I'm more scared, right now, than I ever was with Hao around."

"You kids worry too much!" Faust laughed, but there was a tremor in his voice and he was paler than usual.

"Class, I'd like to introduce you to Mr. Smith."

Oh.... God....

"Mr. Smith donated his body to our school, and we're all very lucky that he's here today. Otherwise you students would never know what it's like to cut real human tissue until you're holding diplomas. Now, who would like to make the primary incision? Ah, Hans. Step up here."

I don't want to.

"Hans? Do you want to be a doctor, or not?"

At least cover the face.

"Today we'll dissect and discuss the chest cavity. Any questions? No? Good. For God's sake, Hans, hold the scalpel steady!"

You want me to cut a person. A human being, like me. I'm in Hell.

"It's not a mannequin contest, Hans. Touch it, see? Mr. Smith is dead, he won't bite."

Stop the class laughing at me. He's cold, he's dead, he could have been me, could have been someone I loved...

"Make the damn incision already!"

Red. Knees hit the floor. Cold. Black. Death? Worse.

Faust bowed his head, clutching the sides as if he were afraid his skull would split apart. He had to remember that he knew how to kill, in fact, he was very good at it. He'd lost all sensitivity he might once have possessed, and he could reave flesh with the best of them. The only thing he had to wait for was for Shizuka and Manta to leave. Then he could take what he... no, what Eliza needed, and then...

And then what? Would Hao arrive and answer his prayers? Would Mephistophiles? Would God, the entity that had never helped him before, finally harken to his plea?

You don't know her. You don't care.

Faust turned his back on her, hugging his arms across his chest as if he were in an imaginary straight jacket. He shook his head briskly, refusing to answer.

Manta was getting angry. "If I were a Shaman, Faust, I'd have you screaming in seconds!"

"He won't hurt us," Manta said confidently. "He delivered a baby this morning! No way he'd..."

"If you don't leave," Faust said softly, "I'll tear your throat out with my fingernails and hang your entrails on that tree branch."

Manta paled. "Come on, Shizuka," he said, pulling her along with him. "This isn't right... Netsubo? Can you handle him?"

Faust turned back towards her, tears glistening on his face. "I need something from you..." he began.