*BANG*
Arcueid crossed her arms to block but to her surprise, the hand didn't land but instead, it tapped her shoulder.
Wait. Tapped?
She opened her eyes and looked at her shoulder and was surprised that two hands were holding her down.
"Y-You awake?" Arcueid looked around and to her surprise, she found herself sitting down in the chair. She did not leave at all.
An illusion?
"I'm fine. What about…. You?" She looked up to him and asked but what she saw made her freeze.
Diego's eyes are now red, just like what she previously saw. Blood was seeping from his mouth down to his chin and he had that terrifying look on his face.
It was as if he wanted to tear someone apart.
"A-Are you okay?" Arcueid asked with concern. It was the first time she saw him so… angry.
"Yeah. But my head hurts right now." Diego held his head before looking at her. He can see some aura around her and the death lines were flashing, disappearing and reappearing in her body.
He looked around and saw an invisible force field surrounding the theater. A barrier has been deployed, probably since they entered. As for what it does, Diego has no idea.
But how was Arcueid unconscious? His eyes can see this energy which he assumed was magical energy she kept talking about, wrapped around his body before he killed it.
That's right. He killed it. It doesn't make sense but he was so annoyed and angry that he just dug his hands to the line and tore it apart.
But Arcueid? There's nothing on her body. No foreign energy invaded her at all.
He subconsciously took a look at the popcorn and the cup before grabbing it with his hands.
"What are you doing?" Arcueid shakily stood up before grabbing his shoulder as a support accidentally. She thought he would be angry but he just ignored her and kept looking at the snacks she ate.
"Sedative? No wonder. And a large dose too." He took a sip before his face turned ugly. His eyes saw something and after tasting it, he was sure someone put sedatives in this drink.
Probably in the popcorn too.
Wait, how did I know how sedative tastes? Do they even taste? Diego's face became confused before he threw it away at the back of his mind. There are more pressing matters at hand.
"Someone put a sedative in your food." He threw it away, spilling the contents everywhere.
"Sedative?" She tilted her head.
"It's a drug that makes people sleep." He turned to her. He was pretty surprised that something like that would even work on a vampire creature.
"I see…" She rubbed her hair, "No wonder I didn't sense any magical energy." This was her first time getting drugged.
Come to think of it, this was her first time being put to sleep.
She frowned and looked at her hands. She's so… weak.
Can she even kill Roa at her current state?
As she was feeling doubt, she heard Diego's voice calling her.
"Are you okay? You're not hurt or anything right?" Arcueid looked at her and saw his eyes that were still beautiful red. Compared to the aggressiveness she saw when she was asleep, his eyes now looked calm and had a tinge of… concern?
Thinking about this, Arcueid smiled brightly and nodded, "I'm okay. Nothing painful on my part." Except when you killed me but she didn't say that part, "What about you?"
She also decided to not tell what happened about what she saw when she was unconscious. It's a bad memory for both of them.
"Fine. I guess." Diego sighed in relief before replying, "Though, my head hurts. It's like I'm looking at everything."
He can see everything. 360 degree vision, the invisible energy around him and if he focuses enough, it can even reach microscopic level. When it comes with the lines of death, if he focused enough, he can unravel more lines for easier kill.
"What happened to you? You didn't eat the food right?" Arcueid looked at him in confusion. She may have been paying attention to the movie most of the time but it didn't mean she's ignoring Diego.
She still notices some small parts like his boredom or how he didn't eat anything.
"It's probably influenced by magic." Diego answered. They are covered by a barrier right now so that's the most plausible explanation.
Great. Ghosts can do magic too.
"I remember talking to you and then suddenly it blacked out. We went downstairs and you were gone then I fell." He added.
"Is that so?" Arcueid thought for a moment, "When I fell asleep too. I remember seeing someone then.."
"The what?"
"Nothing." She shook her head rapidly.
"By the way, why is your mouth bleeding?" Arcueid pointed out the blood in his chin. She can smell it clearly, and even wants to get closer but for some reason, her instincts told her it's not a good idea to do it.
Really strange. This was the first time she felt this.
"Long story…" Diego sighed before wiping the blood with his sleeve.
— Flashback —
Diego took a deep breath and calmed himself down. He's falling, and from the looks of it, it's very fast. But why hasn't he hit the ground yet? Normally, even tall buildings would take 30 seconds or so before someone hits the ground once they fall but at this moment, he already lost track of time.
He's sure that 30 seconds have already passed.
An illusion?
"King Crimson, do you feel something weird? Like we're in an illusion or something?" The Stand appeared behind him and shook his head.
Diego clicked his tongue seeing that. How very troublesome. This must be magic or magecraft as Arcueid was calling it.
"If this isn't an illusion, what then?" He racked his brain before a tingling sensation appeared on his left shoulder, "Burning? No, it's like… I'm being filled up." He looked at his shoulder and can see red lines appearing, before it reaches his face.
A buzzing sensation appeared on his head making him close his eyes in pain. When he opened it, the red lines came back again and this time, clearer than ever.
Wasting no time, Diego used King Crimson's arms to tear apart the lines and to his surprise, he started slowing down until…
*CRACK*
The world around him cracked before shattering, leaving him falling on the ground.
*THUD*
"Ugh…" Diego stood up with pain before muttering, "I actually survived that?" He looked around and found himself inside a room.
It was pretty normal, although old, there was no sign of supernatural stuff around it. Outside the windows were bright, it was still the day and for some reason, the room was very.. familiar.
Diego wanted to shout but held himself, he wanted to see if someone could hear him but something told him that's not a good idea. After some time, he decided to get out of the room.
Looking around, he found himself in a corridor, the sun was still shining brightly and the horror cliche where someone would jump scare him didn't happen.
"King Crimson?" The Stand appeared behind him, giving him a sense of comfort.
Knowing he has his Stand, Diego gained the courage to move forward. The halls felt endless so he started running but to his surprise, the halls were still there, same paintings, same walls, same doors, same floor, to the point he's starting to get irritated.
Damn tight spaces.
Eventually, Diego decided to open one of the doors in the hallway which were easily opened much to his surprise but when he entered the room, he saw something.
It was a bed, as if someone was sleeping on it. Diego frowned, this room is making him uneasy. He tried opening the door but to his surprise, it was locked from the outside, he tried pushing it but to no avail.
He looked at the bed again and to his surprise and horror, something was bulging in contrast with earlier. It slowly started to get bigger, looking like an adult person was sleeping.
The growth stopped. As Diego was about to open the door again, the figure sat up, the blanket still covering it making its appearance unknown.
It slowly turned its head towards him, making him tense up even more and when he blinked, the figure suddenly appeared in front of him.
"...Fuck." That's all Diego could say before he was punched in the stomach, sending him flying and destroying the door behind him, dropping him outside the room.
"Ugh!" He coughed up blood. He slowly stood up while covering his abdomen to see the figure approaching him, the blanket still covering its body.
"King Crimson!" Diego called out his Stand but to his surprise, nothing came out.
Before he could say anything, the figure kicked him into space, sending him rolling to the floor but it was not done yet, it jumped over to stomp him but Diego managed to roll away, barely dodging him.
*BANG!*
Looking at the spiderweb cracks on the floor, Diego's face became solemn.
He stood up and endured the pain in his body before doing a fighting stance.
MMA.
Back at his previous life, his job was so dangerous that he needed to learn a form of self defense, making him delve into mixed martial arts. Eventually, it became a hobby he does to keep himself fit.
He's been in a few fights or so and some spars but he never went pro nor was he interested too.
Diego rushed forward and throw job which the blanket figure dodged before following a knee which the figure blocked, before it grabbed him by the leg and slammed him on the ground.
Fortunately, he was already expecting this and he grabbed the figure's blanket not only to drag it with him but also to unravel whatever was hiding behind it but to his surprise, the figure's blanket didn't budge and the two of them fell over.
Diego was about to push it away but to his surprise, the figure struggled him before it punched him in the face, making him stunned followed by an elbow.
He gritted his teeth and covered his face and to his surprise, the blanket figure stopped. Just as he was about to fight back, the blanket figure raised its hand and this time, Diego could fully see its human arm before it drove its hand onto his arms, piercing it.
Diego's eyes were wide as he looked at his arms that were penetrated by the figure's arm. Blood was spurting on his face but he grit his teeth and dove his fingers into its eyes, surprising it. Unfortunately, the figure jumped back, avoiding the attack but it did give him freedom, allowing him to stand up.
It hurts but at the same time it's not. Diego can feel the stingy sensation in his arm but not on a level where it can make him scream in pain.
As the figure was about to rush again, it heard his voice.
"I see, this is a dream." Diego looked around. Not an illusion and he can use stands. Weird transition from place to place and the lack of feeling aside from emotions.
"And you. You must be a nightmare, my nightmare, right?" Diego smirked as he looked at the creature but the cool factor was reduced due to the blood seeping from his arms.
The figure paused before it waved its hand. Now, the mansion is gone and was replaced by a dark eerie forest.
Despite the atmosphere being creepy, it did not bother Diego and he was even in a mood to sneer.
"Since this is a dream. I just need to wake up." He opened his mouth wide, making the figure rushed forward towards him but it was too late, Diego already bit his tongue hard, waking him up/
— Flashback End —
Diego swallowed the blood in his mouth after he finished his story, making Arcueid ponder for a moment.
"That's all?"
"Yeah, that's all." Diego looked at her with a raised eyebrow, "Is there a problem?"
"Nothing. I just felt there's something more you're going to say," She saw Diego but he saw something else.
What does this mean?
"Well, you're in for a disappointment because there's nothing next. I bit my tongue, woke up, and woke you up next." He clenched his jaw after speaking.
Damn it hurts.
"What are we going to do now then?" Arcueid shook her head. She feels like whatever was shown to them has a meaning but couldn't put her finger on it.
"Let's get out of here first." Diego closed his eyes, making it return to its usual green color.
Arcueid nodded and he immediately jumped from the stairs to the floor, surprising her.
"What was that for?"
"... Reflex." He's not gonna fall again for 30 minutes or so.
Fuck the stairs, and fuck the elevator too.
To his surprise, Arcueid giggled and also jumped on the stairs following him.
"What's so funny?" He tilted his head.
"Nothing." It would be rude to say he looks like a kid just now right?
Diego felt something was amiss but shrugged it off. They should get out first before worrying about this kind of thing.
The two of them went into the door before opening it, surprisingly it wasn't locked or anything so they easily left the theater.
At least that's what it should've been.
"Outside the theater is… another theater?" Diego found himself back in the theater.
"We're back?" Arcueid looked around. She can feel this was the same theater before.
Diego frowned. He opened the door again, but not enough to close it.
It was the cinema hall, something that would make them leave the theater.
"For safety, let's hold on to each other." Diego looked at the bright hallway and signaled her.
"Oh.. okay." She happily agreed and held his hand.
"I mean… nevermind." Diego was about to say hold on to his shirt or something but after seeing her innocent look, he just sighed.
They cautiously stepped forward while holding each other and when the door closed. They found themselves back in the theater again.
"That was something. Are we going to be stuck here?" Arcueid tilted her head. Not panicking about her current situation.
Diego held his forehead for a while before he put it down, his eyes turned red. Mystic Eyes of Death Perception has been activated.
"Let's just force it." As he was about to punch the door, they saw the large screen brighten up.
[To leave this room. Follow the instructions]
"Huh?" 2x
The two of them looked at each other and even Diego's Mystic Eyes stopped activating.
[Sit down back to your sits]
"Should we follow it?" Diego asked her. To be honest, he's not sure if they can get out if he forces himself. He lacked information about the supernatural to come up with a conclusion.
Arcueid on the other hand, may look clueless but she's knowledgeable in this kind of thing.
"I think there's no problem following for now."
"Are you sure?" Diego was surprised to hear that. He was expecting her to refuse but he didn't expect her to accept.
"Of course. After all, we can get out but.." Arcueid, for the first time he saw her, gave a sinister grin and raised her hand, turning it into sharp claws, "But if it tries to trick us again, let's just kill it. I may not look like it but I'm starting to get annoyed as well."
If this continues, how can she eat more food and watch more mov— catch Roa?
She's a princess and she had never experienced being played like this. Rather, the one who tricked her was torn to pieces by her and continued for 800 years.
That's just how much of grudgeful woman she is.
Diego sighed in relief. At least she wasn't cocky or blinded by underestimating the ghost.
The two of them went back up to their seats. The two looked at each other before the words on the screen changed.
[To get out. Follow the instructions until the time is up]
Diego frowned. Wondering what kind of disgusting challenge it is. He looked at Arcueid who had a serious look on her face.
Let's just tear it down if the challenge is unpleasant.
As he was waiting, the following words made him stunned.
[Hold hands for 10 minutes]
???
Come again?