~Elise... my only hope.~

Weiss: Part II

1 month ago

"Don't you think it's time you found your girl again?" My training was complete, it seems. Xandor seems to improve the relationship with my power... although I seem to feel it is a presence, not something that I can control. But it's something that relies on me. It can't live without me.

"She's now in this school... Winston High. I've sent Lex to test her. She is of age to awaken her spiritual vision - something that makes her see hidden powers like ours..."

"What, you going to - no! Don't! She..." I protested, but he only smiled.

"Lex has already made contact."

---

Lex came back to Esmonia with another girl. She was so indulgent in her new power.

"Brothers and sisters! We have a new sibling! Meet Mira of Winston High." Shockingly, everyone welcomes her happily, and hugs were shared.

Human values were still in Fallen... and it is just the cause they fight for, and their reasons that set them apart.

Just like me.

"And our target that you were sent to, Lex? Where is she?"

"She found her way to Protectors. We cannot defeat her Protector, at least, for the time being."

"Brother... if you couldn't finish the job, you should have asked me. She trusts me the most."

"Whatever suits you. Should this go wrong, don't put the blame on me. It is your responsibility." How deep and insightful. I didn't know Fallen has such values I thought were only from the good guys. Maybe I never tried to see from the villain's point of view.

---

I sent a message to Elise. I know she will use Telegram.

"Meet me at 6.30am, or else." I wrote. I didn't mean to sound rude, but it sounds rude. I sent it, anyway.

I waited at the clearing near Winston High, and she appeared.

"Why... w-why are you h-here? You're supposed to b-be dead," She was struggling to comprehend my return. I was laughing, in the depths of my mind. I combed my hair back and waited for the best time to reply.

"Well, well. I came to see you." I took out my phone and showed her the exact same text I sent to her.

"You know that doesn't really count as a reason."

"You know yourself, you know me. I told you I wanted to see you, what do you think I actually wanted, huh? Something else?" I still had to act like how I was the last time I saw her, and then slowly revert...

"Please stop, Weiss. Please. Leave from my sight. I met you because I won't know what you could possibly do if I didn't." My power? Is she scared of it? I revealed the darkness residing in me, to show her.

"What are you standing there for?" She was standing there in her own world again, I had to bring her back. I hid my power away and became the supposed jerk she thought me to be.

"Why are you now backing away? Have you got a hidden conscience? What's wrong with me that-" I lied, faking that I didn't know about how my power showed itself.

"I've got school to attend, okay? Could you not harass me at 6.30am in the morning, Weiss? Could you at least have some concern and consideration for me? You made me run all the way here so early, but at least it's on the way to school. Seriously, you could talk to me any other time but now." I blinked my eyes, and let my other self free.

"...What if I can't wait?" I faked my struggle, to make her think I had this unwillingly... but I never meant to make her worry.

"I know you can see it. You're the only one that can stop this. I don't want to kill anyone, please... help me," I begged. Elise stood there, unsure of what to do. She came, however, and I was glad. Then, there came the interruption between us. Her Protector.

He was the new wedge, but as much as he is, I was also a contradiction. I still disagree with Xandor's plans at times, and I need convincing in order to come to terms.

But seeing this Protector made me feel hungry for his death.

"Thought you would never ask." It seems he could read Elise's mind. But I will not lose. She is merely asking for help to restore me, and it seems he knows I'm for real.

"Why are you with such a man?!" He roared in anger, but that was short-lived. He sat down and started to work.

"This isn't so bad," He muttered. A bright light formed over my chest, and that's when the rage awoke.

I let my imagination run free. A world of Darkness, for this Protector. I rose from the grass, slamming the Protector down and almost getting Elise to come with me when that cheeky Protector started retaliating.

No choice. I knocked Elise out and called upon my brethren. Not a hard fight, but dragging on was dangerous. As if something was wrong, the Protector fled. He was crazy strong, but talented Protectors... have never appeared on Earth.

Never did I realise, I would see Elise in a form that's never before seen in the powers I have learnt about.

Dreamform.

When I returned to Xandor to report about Elise's Protector, he slammed his fist down on his armrest.

"Who is this Protector's partner? Find him. I will make him pay."

---

A newborn. Only Xandor can freely turn humans like this. I hear screaming, cries from a contradiction.

Elise?

I left my quarters. I had to find her. I hate our separation. Seeing her makes me feel whole.

"I'm already a Fallen, why infect me again?!" Xandor. Yet again, he wants to try to make her understand, while I believe his methods might just be a bit too cruel...

"Xandor... she shouldn't be tortured to this extent. Pain was just to show her... our misery." Elise seemed to focus on me rather than the liquid Fallen on her body now, giving me the chills. Within my outfit... my arms were shaking. However, it was kept behind the cape that was wrapped around them.

"Veil, she is not like you. She's a halfbreed. She must learn to have us. Staying with the Heavens blindly... she's been clouded in mind and spirit. She must learn to see from our perspective... learn about us. No matter how you were related to her before... it's all over. She's nothing, but a potential ally." Elise was still focusing on me. She heard the last sentence. She has figured out... something about my identity.

But I cannot leave her like that. I need... to do something. Ever since I saw her again, my mindset has been reverting back to good. I just can't bear to see her like this.

"But, Xandor... she needs better treatment than this. She needs education, not..." I spoke up again, defying his plans for Elise.

"My word is final, Veil. Don't let me take off that mask and let you suffer." He's signalling that I have already disappointed him. He will take me back and as his apprentice... be pulled down to the dark side again.

I sense another presence. He is approaching Xandor and I. It's Brother Pain.

"Veil, pain seemed to mean nothing to her till today. I will make her feel that." They don't understand my intentions! I don't want to change who my girl is in mind and spirit. She is the best the way she is. Changing her will lead her to ruin...

"Pain, continue executing your plan. I would very much like to see that outcome. And Elise... I don't mind letting you hear everything because I know you would never tell." Xandor concluded.

But, thinking again, if she becomes a Fallen, I can share everything I have with her. We both can use our powers together... our chemistry would be so great, we could be unstoppable. It would mean total victory on the war with the Protectors. Lord Xandor's goal would be realised. He would finally respect me...

That's when I see Xandor's eyes look at me with a slight sense of pride. They started laughing and so did I, to mask my current thoughts, to remind me I was no longer human.

But one fact remains. They can never destroy the real me.

---

"Veil, today Pain will bring her to visit us. She WILL let me unravel the mystery about her. Do you know why I am telling you, my disciple?" A question. I hate questions like that.

"So that I may know about our enemy. She has powers belonging to them. We can then counter their skills effectively." Textbook answer.

"Correct. You have not deteriorated in your knowledge. Remain in the shadows. Don't show yourself in front of her. She knows something about your real identity, and I don't like it." He ordered.

"Yes, Master." I stayed back, leaning against the wall and residing in the camouflage of black. Xandor leant back on his 'glorious' throne that he so adores, his eyes focusing on nothing but the arriving girl. MY girl.

"Well, well. It seems Pain could bring you here. Come, Elise. I want to talk to you." I received a slight headache. My power can't handle the thoughts going through Xandor's mind. I can't read.

I can't warn Elise. Not at all.

"I don't need you to tell me what I should do, Dark Lord. I can find my way." Xandor smiled and kept silent. It was no longer necessary for a reply. He can sense the hate. And he wants to aggravate her further.

Elise arrived with a seemingly strong vengeance, even though Xandor had not done anything substantial to give her such a reaction.

I stood there watching the conversation unfold, but as soon as Xandor started letting his lust for the blood of the Protectors take over, he pushed Elise into a corner, dominating the conversation, never letting the latter talk.

He was too deep inside his own mind. His dream world of domination, his dream world of control.

"..Look at you. You're perfect for us." That was the trigger. I can't stand his arrogance. No one is truly perfect, just as his motives and goals are.

"Stop it, Xandor. Give her the freedom to choose." Xandor glared at me, piercing through my soul once again, seeing the weak and powerless me begging for the mercy of our target.

Who gave you that right, Veil? Xandor entered my mind, giving me a headache.

It was a battle of minds, leading me to remove the chains binding Elise, from Xandor's hopeless desire to turn her into his puppet...

Like me.

Xandor then fought with me as I tried to defend Elise from getting pulled back. It was futile, of course. My neck was gripped and I felt the air leaving my system. Xandor was very angry...

And he slammed me down to the floor, cracking my mask in the process.

My right eye was visible now. Thinking about it, Elise would find it familiar. She would realise the difference in irises, and she will soon weep with tears. She will then try every way to save me, and fall into his trap.

"Elise... save yourself," I mumbled, hoping she heard.

I was about to sink back into the depths of darkness, of sleep, when I heard another voice. It was the Protector.

He finally came. Elise has a chance to leave.

The conversation exchanged between Xandor and the Protector was now inaudible. But I can faintly see Elise's gaze fall on me. My eyes.

She knows I'm familiar to her.

---

My last meeting with her. It's the best one I've ever had, and the most regretful one. As my Fallen brethren died one by one, I couldn't help but be concerned about Elise's safety, rather than bring the soldiers back to life.

We called out to each other before ending up in an embrace, feeling each other again.

"Xandor is very agitated right now. Lupus couldn't get you, and now he sent... me. Ahhh..." The pain. The pain. I don't have enough energy to repel. It's painful.

He's weighing down on me. I can feel his presence. I can't enter his mind. I can't find out what he's thinking. My mask...

If I take it out, my identity would be revealed, but I will get a breather.

I stopped the advances of my remaining Fallen brethren with my power. I need to let everyone be at peace, for now.

I hastily removed my chrome mask and kissed Elise, my love for her still standing strong. I can't believe what would be my determination to live like this without her.

My hand brushed through her hair, but I couldn't feel the rough, tangled strands. My hands... they're covered. They hide the extremes that my power holds. I don't know what would happen to her if I touched her without them.

"You have to leave, Elise. They're... really gonna turn me and make me go for you. Your school is no longer safe. Nowhere here is safe anymore. He's turning everyone. You won't know they are Fallen. You can't take the risk of staying." I held onto her arms, without a single intention of letting go. Her warmth filled me. I felt whole.

But when Elise replied that betrayal was nothing, she never knew about the whole conspiracy. It's been planned and prepared long ago. It was the factors, that complicated the plan.

"It's not that... your friends... they all really admired you actually... when they arrived in headquarters for the turning... they all wanted you to help liberate them once they realised you were their only hope..." The memories. The cries. The screams. The smiles on the faces of my brethren.

"Ash... he currently is brainwashing them. They will soon transform into their normal selves, turn their parents and soon all will plot an ambush towards you. The war has already been set in motion." I told her further. The scenes were so horrible to imagine for her if she was there. She was lucky she wasn't the one experiencing. However, I feel my info given is worth.

"I... understand. If you can, provide me with more information some other way." Her hand held ever so tightly onto mine. She doesn't want me to go.

"No... I think this is the last time we may talk like this. Xandor... he's been suspicious. This visit might already cost me my humanity. The next time you see me... liberate me. Farewell..." I locked my chrome mask in place and pulled myself away from her grasp.

She cannot be in contact with me, anymore now. I'm now a Fallen. I have said my farewells. I will wait for my liberation.

Present Day

I'm losing myself. My memories, they're disappearing. I feel empty. I'm even losing the least of who I used to be.

I hope my words got to you, Elise. Please, save yourself. There's more to this war. It's not just about you alone...

"Process 90% complete." That voice... I'm hearing the real world.

"Resetting memory..."

---

"Process completed." Was the first words I hear. I wake up to see a chrome mask on the table. I remember it was mine. The masked figure currently standing before me... I remember too. Lex.

"Welcome back, brother."

Author's Note

And well, that's Weiss' perspective on everything, before brainwashing.

I felt Weiss could change how 'Me' thought, he was the one that first changed her life for the better but ended it off on a bad note, to return all of a sudden with a revival on Telegram.

So well... I thought I could develop his own story better since I was literally now imbuing him into the plot of the story real deep as a wedge in Xandor's plan near this chapter and Elise's friend... till the very end.

Well... stay tuned for other special perspective appearances! XD