Previously on LOTM: Witnesses of Sleepy Hollow...[]
Vital parts only
Tweedledee: (voice) Previously on LOTM: Witnesses of Sleepy Hollow...
Tweedledum petted his brother's shoulder. He nodded with a smile.
Tweedledum: I know, it is going to be okay. Sister Mary Eunice is going to solve the problems of that hive, and Crane and Abbie were solving problems with those mad jackals from Van Bij Household. It means we are not fighting alone. Do you know? My greatest problem in my mind is that I am problem-free. I hope you will one day problem-free as well.
Tweedledee chuckled and then he stopped before looking at the screen once again,
Tweedledee: Problem-free? That's easier to say than done. Look, Abbie sent us this photo.
Tweedledee then opened the images that Abbie took, and those photos showed that fake Betsy Ross flag with six holes on it.
Tweedledee: They found that flag was a fake. They were hoping that whoever took the real flag would leave behind a clue, something that might tell us where it went.
Tweedledum immediately leaned forward and looked at the holes.
Tweedledum: What's with the holes?
Tweedledee shrugged his shoulders.
Tweedledee: I don't know. Burn marks?
Tweedledum: Moths? No, they're too... symmetrical. They are all identical... * gasp * meaning they were put there deliberately.
Tweedledee: Maybe a griller cipher?
Tweedledum: Yeah, maybe, but I mean, what would the source text would be? Why stripes?
Hearing this, Tweedledee was confused and he looked at Tweedledum for two seconds.
Tweedledee: What?
Tweedledum: I mean, I get why the Founding Fathers put starts on the flag, and the... the red, white and blue, that's from the British flag, right? But why stripes?
Tweedledee was even more confused and he shook his head. Tweedledum then went to mark those holes with circle just by clicking on them. Then, after a brief time, the circle became the shape of music notes.
Tweedledee: Music notes?
Tweedledee looked at his brother, amazed, and even Tweedledum seemed surprised as well. However, the latter soon calmed down.
Tweedledum: Do you want to play Name That Tune?
Tweedledee: Yeah.
Then, Tweedledum started to work on the computer in order to find out what the music was referring to by putting those music notes on a short score, imagining if the stripes was a music score.
Tweedledum: G-E-C-E-G-C.
As the short score was finished, Tweedledum and Tweedledee looked at each other.
Tweedledee had heard several national anthem of countries on Earth, and he memorized all of them. Therefore, soon he recognized it as the national anthem of the United States of America. He and his brother looked at each other with amazement.
Tweedledum: Why is "The Star-Spangled Banner" on this flag?
Tweedledee and Tweedledum then looked at the flag once again, and soon they found out it was hiding some secret. A confident smile appeared on Tweedledee's face.
- Tweedledee: We will soon find out.
Nowadays[]
Abbie: Well, anything that happened in the history of mankind had mysteries, and this is possibly the most mysterious thing I have ever heard...
Abbie then kept on checking the corpse she was checking. Ichabod went beside her and picked up a large piece of wood to check it. Even though it might be an illusion, he could still pick it up.
Abbie: Got musket ball strikes on their bodies, and behind the trees.
Ichabod: Shrapnel from an explosive charge on their boat.
Abbie: What the hell happened here, Crane?
Ichabod turned back to Abbie and had a glimmer of horror upon his face.
Ichabod: This is exactly the place where the manslaughter happened. A spy from British Army appeared on the boat and blew it up, killing many on the boat. That is exactly what Katrina wrote in the note written by her.
Abbie then started to survey the area and bit her lips. It was indeed a recreation of the bank of Delaware River which was close to Trenton.
Abbie: Hmm, strange... Katrina said in her note that she was going to stop a conspiracy made by Van Bilj Family... and what kind of conspiracy would it be?
Ichabod: Maybe it was hidden on those corpses and we need to find it on them.
Ignoring the real purpose that Colin called them here, Ichabod and Abbie went on searching. They searched on a corpse after another, but still, they cannot find anything useful. Then, after 10 minutes of searching in vain, both of them were utterly frustrated.
Ichabod: Nothing to tell us how or why Washington planned this secret move. No notes, no maps, not even a simple code among them. We lost our way, just as they did.
Abbie: We came here to do a job, Crane, so keep searching.
After hearing this, Ichabod felt that he had no other choice. He could do nothing more other than keep searching in utter frustration.
Ichabod: Dead men really tell no tales...
Ichabod then noticed that there was one more man who was lying on the ground. Unbeknownst to him, that was exactly the spy that sabotaged the secret plan and blew up the ship.
Ichabod: You...
Ichabod kept searching the corpse's back pocket and could not find anything at all. He then turned the corpse and kept searching in his front pocket, but then all of a sudden, something terrifying happened. The dead man's eyes suddenly opened, and his eyes were grayish and were full of spite.
Ichabod: Huh!?
Before Ichabod could react, the revived man - or more accurately, the zombie - suddenly chocked Ichabod and pushed him on a tree not far away beside them, acting like a total madman.
Then, Ichabod start to struggle with the zombie as Abbie, who already saw this, picked up a sword on the ground and ran towards the zombie. She swayed her sword and immediately chopped the zombie in half.
Then, the zombie had to release Ichabod when its severed torso collapsed on the ground. Abbie and Ichabod looked together as Abbie was wearing a frustrated face.
Abbie: Zombies again?
Ichabod: ......
Ichabod and Abbie then caught their breath, but not for long. The chopped zombie was in fact still "alive", and his torso was still moving. He waved his arm and attacked Abbie's ankle, and Abbie fell on the ground before trying to roll and attack her.
Abbie: AH!
As the zombie tried to assault Abbie, Ichabod picked up the sword which Abbie dropped and kicked the chest of the zombie, making him away from Abbie. Ichabod then struck the sword into the zombie's chest, but the latter kept rolling his head and kept crying, screaming and even babbling.
However, Ichabod noticed a black necklace on the zombie's neck and ripped it from the zombie. Finally, the zombie was deactivated and lied on the ground, dead for good. Abbie started to get up and sat on a rock beside her, breathing heavily.
Ichabod, at this time, was looking at the black necklace he had just ripped off. Then, Abbie noticed it as well.
Abbie: What the hell is that?
Ichabod's face was now full of horror.
Ichabod: This is a dark magic charm, giving its wearer the curse of eternal life. I assume it was made by Christine Van Bilj.
Ichabod sat beside Abbie as the latter's eyes widened in fright. Surely, it was a crazy day for her.
Ichabod: It is surely a tactic of General Howe's. Maybe under Christine's advice, Howe managed to persuade one of his spies to sacrifice his very humanity in order to sabotage Washington.
Abbie shrugged her shoulder with a sigh. She could not imagine just how inhumane and cruel this tactic was and it was even designed under an advice of a young woman like Christine.
Abbie: Too bad that good old George didn't see it coming.
Abbie turned back to continue her rest, but Ichabod suddenly widened his eyes as if he realized something.
- Ichabod: Or perhaps he did.
Abbie: Oh?
Ichabod then rose his head before putting the broken chasm into his pocket.
Ichabod: Katrina was with him, and so since she is a witch, she had told Washington about this possible sabotage, and she helped Washington among others to survive...
Abbie then helped Ichabod to finish his word.
Abbie: ... but she can't save them all.
Ichabod: I know she had tried... Anyway, this demonic and evil trick only bring me more hatred on Christine van Bilj. This conspiracy she was planning... might be connected to the recent events in this day.
Abbie: You mean Christine was trying to make a dark magic ritual, and only Katrina could help Washington to foil it since she is a witch?
Ichabod: Yes, Lt. Mills, hat is what I mean.
Abbie then widened her eyes. Ichabod had been mentioning this woman named Christine Van Bilj for many times and expressed his hatred on her, and Abbie could not understand this.
As Ichabod moved forward to search more clues, Abbie walked further.
Abbie: You really hate that Christine. Why?
Ichabod stopped at his spot and he bit his lips, and then, after half a minute of silence, Ichabod raised his head.
Ichabod: I do not want to talk about it for now. I can only tell you is that Caspar Van Bilj is mad, Colin is madder...
- Ichabod: ... and Christine is the maddest of them all.
As the two were talking, they had arrived at a strange place. Ichabod stopped and looked around, and Abbie were surprised to see what she and Ichabod saw.
Abbie: Wow, a crazy day for us, huh?
What they saw was an enormous staircase which stretched endlessly, from top to the bottom, it seemed that the stadium had a endlessly long staircase.
Ichabod: Aye, it could be.
When suddenly...
- Colin: Hello, there, my little rats! Welcome to my world!
Meanwhile in Sleepy Hollow
Trout Lake
Corbin's Cabin
For Sister Mary Eunice, the cabin of Corbin was having less fun ever since Katarina Couteau and her friends' departure, and the fact that a demonic hive was hiding in the area could be more chilling and scary to think.At this time, Sister Mary Eunice had no time to feel sad about her current loneliness. Instead, she immediately set out in search for the hive.
Sister Mary Eunice: Now, where should I start? Hmm...
Sister Mary Eunice then took a look at some trees beside her and her face lit up.
Sister Mary Eunice: Maybe there...
With no hesitation, Sister Mary Eunice immediately turned to find the hive, and not for long, she suddenly heard a strange voice.
It was just like bee's humming.
Sister Mary Eunice: That's it.
Sister Mary Eunice then slowly turned slowly and gently to the noise which she deduced that there was a hive.
Due to a traumatic experience of suffering from bee stings when she was a child, Sister Mary Eunice was afraid of bees and wasps despite she admitted bees are good creatures. Even so, she should not be worried anymore since she was now immune to bee stings due to her spiritual status.
However, she was very careful when she finally spoofed the hive and went closer to it... and she found that large hive on the tree, with red wasps around it.
Sister Mary Eunice: Here... we... go...
Sister Mary Eunice immediately stopped acting so cautious. Instead, she turned herself into her angel form all of a sudden and released light beam.
Sister Mary Eunice: Now, die!
Sister Mary Eunice opened her palm and summoned a large red fire ball, and then she threw it immediately to the large hive. Her attack successfully hit the hive and blew it up.
BOOOOOOM!
The hive exploded and started burning until it was reduced back to ashes, and soon the killer wasps around it were turning into ashes as well.
Sister Mary Eunice: That's too easy.
Sister Mary Eunice then returned back to her nun form before she looked around. For now, the problem of killer bees had ended and the only things she needed to worry was the flag of Betsy Ross as well as the ashes of the Dark Witches.
With no hesitations, Sister Mary Eunice immediately contacted Tweedledee and Tweedledum using a magic mirror she summoned.
Sister Mary Eunice: Tweedledee? The hive is now clear. Is there any progress in your research?
Tweedledee's response was...
Tweedledee: [Sister, there is a good news as well as a bad news.]
Sister Mary Eunice: What is the good news?
The good news would make Sister Mary Eunice smile and nod in satisfaction.
Tweedledee: [The good news is, we found something connected to the possible location to the flag of Betsy Ross, and we were looking for Ichabod and Abbie.]
Sister Mary Eunice: Good, and What is the bad news?
The bad news, however...
- Tweedledee: [We experienced an car accident and we are now lost in woods...]
Sister Mary Eunice: You what?!
Sister Mary Eunice widened her gaze in shock and then she covered her face with her palm.
Sister Mary Eunice: [Is you guys okay?]
Tweedledee shrugged his shoulder with an embarrassed smile.
Tweedledee: [Well, if you want to make us a funeral, be my guest.]
Sister Mary Eunice: ......
Sister Mary Eunice bit her lips as she calmed herself down.
Sister Mary Eunice: Where are you guys?
Tweedledee: [Well, we are in the woods, approximately 20 km away from Corbin's cabin, I suppose.]
Sister Mary Eunice: May I go there and pick you up?
Tweedledee: Don't worry, Sister. We will find our way. You just need to wait there for us and you will fly us to Boston.
Sister Mary Eunice: Very well, Dee. I will tell Crane right away.
Sister Mary Eunice immediately contacted Ichabod as quick as she could, but she waited for a long time and there were no response..
Sister Mary Eunice: Come on, come on...
Then, Sister Mary Eunice tried to contact Abbie but she failed as well. Then, Sister Mary Eunice sighed helplessly and lean herself on a dead tree beside the tree where the hive once existed.
- Sister Mary Eunice: I think I might of lost them.
All of a sudden, Sister Mary Eunice had a strange feelings... She was feeling that the dead tree she leaned made her feel chill on her spine.
Sister Mary Eunice: What is that...
Sister Mary Eunice immediately stood up and turned back in order to check the tree which made her very uneasy.The tree was seemly just a plain withered tree with dry branches, no leaves. However, when she narrowed her eyes and leaned forward, Sister Mary Eunice felt there was something very strange.
Sister Mary Eunice: How could I feel a life in the tree? A sinister life?
Through the tree, Sister Mary Eunice saw through the trunk of the tree and then she saw purple mists as well as sparkling eyes and black, widened mouth with no teeth. Then, holding back her fear, she see through the demonic faces once again...... before she saw a human shadow which seemed like a woman, standing straight, but she could not see the shadow's facial features. However, Sister Mary Eunice could felt that the shadow was still alive and was, for now, in dormant.She then looked closer before she finally see the face of the shadow. She was so shocked that she even stepped back in horror.
Sister Mary Eunice: Impossible... That is...
Suddenly, her words and thoughts was interrupted by a noise like someone who stepped on a stick, breaking it in half. Sister Mary Eunice was immediately distracted from her visions before she turned back. She never expected what she saw...
... or more precisely, she never expected WHO she saw...
That's right, what Abbie and Ichabod saw was two walls with a narrow tunnel between it. In fact, they were standing at an enormous maze.
Ichabod: What is he planning to do?
Ichabod and Abbie were both shocked and dismayed when they saw a large, flashing neon sign hanging on the maze, which said:
HOUSE OF KILLER
Ichabod: What on Earth is that?
Abbie bit her lips as she looked at the neon sign.
Abbie: Yeah, a maze with a sign like this, that is pretty damn strange.
Ichabod, however, merely shook his head as he widened his eyes looking at the flashing neon sign.
Ichabod: Why is that sign change color again and again? Colin is trying to play tricks upon us.
Abbie helplessly looked at Ichabod who had a look of sarcasm in his eyes.
Abbie: I think it was necessary to tell you about neon later... right after this was over.
- Colin: Are you two ready to play!?
The voice of Colin appeared once again when another fire was shot, and it missed Ichabod and Abbie once again. The shot had made them both shocked and startled in some kind of sheer fright.
Abbie: That is him again!
Colin: [I am hiding right inside this maze, and now look for the exit so that you can enter the next step, Witnesses! How long can you survive?]
Colin's voice could only made Ichabod and Abbie more and more incensed. As Colin stopped talking, Abbie and Ichabod looked at each other and they could do nothing but entering into the maze.
The next twenty minutes was full of hunt and kill. There were several zombies coming at the corner of the entire labyrinth, and they had to fire at the zombies again and again.
However, fortunately, those monsters were so weak that only one gunfire had reduced them into ashes. The most horrible threat were not zombies, however. The laughing of Colin Van Bilj could be heard everywhere in the room and gunfire of snipers could be heard.
- Colin: Yes, yes, that is it! My little rats, you are now ready to leave this place...
After some struggling, Ichabod and Abbie was both stressed out and had no bullets in their guns. Ichabod and Abbie had found that the gunfire of Colin was now apparently stopped.
At this time, Colin was refilling his bullet.
Colin: I can wait for an eternity in order to toy with you both, since this is absolutely funny!
The freakish attitude like a spoiled and nasty child had only made Abbie feel annoyed. What annoyed Abbie more was Colin's girlish giggle. Just then, Abbie turned and saw there was a red door and the end of corridor.
Abbie: Ah, that must be the exit! Crane, go!
Abbie attempted to run towards the red door, which was apparently inside a white room, but she felt that she was stopped. In fact, Ichabod had grabbed Abbie's wrist and tried to pull her away. In shock, Abbie immediately let go of Ichabod.
Abbie: What are you doing?
Enraged, Abbie turned back and was surprised to see the face of Ichabod, which was filled with sheer terror. Ichabod's face was paled and he looked at the red door far away. It was apparent that the red door had stir some memory he would never want to remember ever again.
Ichabod: Don't go there, lieutenant...
Abbie: Hmm?
Abbie was utterly confused and she widened her gaze, as Ichabod was shivering.
Abbie: Crane?
Ichabod: Lieutenant, that door leads to the place of sheer horror... We might be going into the wrong direction. This will be the last place you want to go.
Despite the face of Ichabod was pale and terrified, Abbie did not understand what Ichabod was on about. She was only thinking about how to leave this dreadful place.
Abbie: Crane, we had found the only possible exit, and I don't think this is a trap.
Crane: I think this is dangerous, lieutenant...
Abbie: Really? Because I don't!
With haste, Abbie immediately ran towards the red door. Ichabod was shocked and he immediately chased Abbie.
- Ichabod: Lieutenant, don't!
At this time, inside his hideout, Colin gleefully had his bullets filled, and he tried to point the gunpoint at the two once again, but he was startled that he saw the two running out of the room.
Colin: No... no way, I lost them...
Colin was so shocked that he immediately dropped the rifle from his hand. He was trying to manipulate the old fear of Ichabod in order to turn him away from the red door, which was the real exit...
- Colin: I made them slipped away! How could I?
At this time, Colin could only slammed his fist on his leg.
After passing the red door
In a corridor
After running into the place behind the red door, Abbie stopped and Ichabod stopped behind her. They did not saw something terrifying. It was only a simple and plain corridor.
Abbie: Look at your so-called dangerous place, Crane.
Ichabod widened his eyes and he was still pale in his eyes. Somehow, he was caught in an illusion.
Ichabod: No, mother... mother... Please, don't...
Abbie was surprised by Ichabod's mumbling, and she immediately pinched his arm. In great pain, Ichabod closed his eyes, and then he opened it. When he saw the corridor, Ichabod sighed in relief.
Ichabod: Oh, thank you, lieutenant. I was, oh, I was almost haunted by what I saw... once again...
At this time, Abbie realized that it was something in the past of Ichabod was awakened inside his mind. She immediately asked Ichabod.
Abbie: Crane, what happened? I said you spoke about your mother. What happened to her? Tell me, please.
Ichabod turned his head and looked at Abbie. Then, Ichabod had to do nothing but letting out a sigh.
Ichabod: Very well... That was years ago. My mother is a kind, selfless and loving woman, like a child of nature itself. She was kind to me, and I loved her very, very dearly...
- Ichabod: ... but I never expected that she died... behind a red door... inside an iron maiden...
When Ichabod thought about the violent and gory scene in his head, he always felt that his head felt hurt due to his sorrow.
Abbie: Crane?
Ichabod bit his lips as he clenched his fist. His body was trembling.
Ichabod: That is what Christine did. She used magic to remind me that my mother died undignified. She build her own tower of joy on others' pain. I don't know if my mother was born or learned to become a witch, or she may know some tricks. However, Christine had multiplied the pain given towards me... by six.
After that, Ichabod then walked towards the door with his eyes narrowed stoically.
Ichabod: This is unforgivable. I still cannot... cannot believe the fact that my father had her killed. I must delve into the truth. That is why I need to confront Christine personally... if her return is true. We have a great grudge which needs to resolve personally, and still, we need to stop her. We will do what Colin say. He may knows something.
As Ichabod was talking, Abbie and Ichabod promptly left the place and walked towards the car, assuring Colin had left. All the way walking, Abbie heard Ichabod's word and blinked her eyes. She did not know how many secrets were hiding in the past of this Ichabod Crane, but still, it was affecting nowadays.
Just as Abbie was wondering Ichabod opened the door, and he soon found that he and were at a corner. The corridors lead to two different ways. Abbie opened her eyes wider to take a look.
Ichabod: I think we need to depart in two ways for now, in order to check dangers..
Abbie: Why?
Abbie looked at Ichabod with confusion.
Ichabod: If Colin was still trying to hunt us down, it would be dangerous for us to be side by side since he may had both of us killed. If we were temporarily separated, he won't decide which to choose and may wait for a while. We could find more of the connections between him and those horrible events... after seizing this valuable chance.
Abbie did not fancy the idea, but in fact, she felt that she had no alternative choice.
Abbie: Hmm, well... At first, you must promised me that you will be okay.
Ichabod blinked as he smiled to Abbie.
Ichabod: I promise.
Abbie: Very well, Crane, and meet me here after 10 minutes.
Then, Ichabod and Abbie separated and went on their respective ways. Abbie held her gun and walked deeper into the corridor, deeper and deeper, and when she bypass a window with glimmer of lights, she stopped. Abbie leaned the wall carefully and looked inside the hall. She heard someone speaking.
It was a woman who spoke in a deep, husky voice, with thick British accent. The voice started to occur after Abbie heard some whipping voice, sounded like someone slapping their whip on a table.
???: You failed me, brother. You failed our master. You put everything in risk.
Colin's voice could be heard soon afterwards, much to the surprise of Abbie...
Colin: I am sorry, Christine... I was only trying to toy them...
- Abbie: (think) * Christine?! *
Abbie tried to lean forward to the window to look closer. From the window, she saw the figure of Christine Van Bilj, a tall, well-dressed and aristocratic woman who dressed up like someone who was from Europe in 18th century.
Christine: Toy them? Is that what you can only do? I am so disappointed, but we can talk about this later. If there is any necessity...
- Christine: I will take down those wretched Witnesses by myself!
When Atticus Nevins appeared in front of Sister Mary Eunice, the latter was utterly shocked and startled. She immediately glared at him.
Sister Mary Eunice: N-Nevins?
Sister Mary Eunice could not believe her eyes, and she was even more shocked when she saw that ruby ring on Nevins' index finger.
Sister Mary Eunice: I thought you are dead! And that ring...
Without any response, Nevins raised his fist and punched Sister Mary Eunice, and he sent her three meters away until she hit the wall and fell.
Nevins: This ring is only a replica made by Colin van Bilj, and he brought me back to death with the help of my Master. Now, Sister, I am sorry that I do this to you, and yet you have to tell me where is Katarina Couteau, the one who killed me!
Sister Mary Eunice struggled herself to get up. She was very astonished when she realized that Nevins had an ability of harming holy spirits. She stood up and looked at Nevins with her eyes wide up in shock.
Sister Mary Eunice: No, it cannot be...
She saw Nevins' eyes as he approached her. The eyes of Nevins had changed into an inhumane and unnatural color of orange, and it was very shocking to see those eyes. No human beings on Earth have eyes like that.
Nevins: What is going on, Sister? I sense fear inside you. Don't you want to show your bravery and wits? Aren't you always brave? Now, why can't you deal with me anymore? If you want to be a dead dog, then bark! I will make you suffer from all eternity...
Just then, Sister Mary Eunice immediately returned to her calm state and overcame the sudden startle. She interrupted Nevins.
Sister Mary Eunice: I vouch for it. Katarina Couteau is not here anymore.
Nevins: Then, I will find Michael Langdon. He will help me from killing Katarina.
Sister Mary Eunice: Michael Langdon is dead... or so it seemed.
Hearing this, Nevins' eyes widened in surprise and his tone became cooler.
Nevins: Huh, who killed him?
Sister Mary Eunice: Which time?
Nevins began to feel more and more surprised since he did not expected this even if Michael gave him the orders for a new mission. Sister Mary Eunice seized the chance and started to draw her holy sword behind her secretly.
Nevins: So he returned back from the dead as well?
Sister Mary Eunice: Yes, and here, I have no time wasting with you. Now, if you don't mind, allow me to cast you to Hell where you belong!
Nevins: Ha, you
Sister Mary Eunice immediately turned into her angel form and slashed the sword on Nevins, but Nevins managed to grab the sword with his bare hand. Sister Mary Eunice immediately narrowed her eyes.
Sister Mary Eunice: Brothers, sisters, do me a favor!
Then, Sister Mary Eunice narrowed her eyes even further and summoned other holy spirits. Then, those holy spirits formed a combined force and pushed Nevins out of the cabin before he could ever realized that. Sister Mary Eunice the fanned the air with her wings and immediately flew out, looking at Nevins below her.
Sister Mary Eunice: You are no match for me, but I warn you, if you ever come back here...
Suddenly, Nevins swung his arm and then disappeared in just one second. All of a sudden, the cloud had filled the sky and it soon started to snow.
Sister Mary Eunice looked at the place where Nevins still stood as the holy spirits behind her disappeared. Then, she slowly returned to her nun form. Now, her face was full of confusion.
Sister Mary Eunice: (think) * Why is he disappeared quite so suddenly? What is he planning? *
Suddenly, Sister Mary Eunice heard a familiar voice coming beside her, shouting at her.
Tweedledee: SISTER!
Sister Mary Eunice immediately turned back and saw the Tweedles were running towards her.
Tweedledee: SISTER! SOMETHING IS WRONG!
Tweedledee immediately stopped in front of Sister Mary Eunice and started to breath, but Tweedledum who came behind him ha accidentally hit his brother, and both of them had fell their own faces on the ground.
Sister Mary Eunice immediately helped them to get up as soon as possible. She then looked at them with great distraught on her face.
Sister Mary Eunice: Calm down, and I need you to tell me what happened.
Tweedledee: We saw Crane and Abbie in a vehicle not far away, but it was out of control and somehow ran in a wild speed!
Sister Mary Eunice immediately startled.
Sister Mary Eunice: NO! We must save him, be fast!
Tweedledum: But how can we arrive there on time?
Sister Mary Eunice: Like this.
With her words ended, Sister Mary Eunice immediately turned to her angel form and grabbed the arms of the Tweedles with each of her hand, dragging them on the air and flew towards the area like a speed of quick wind. The Tweedles were both shocked and dizzy.
Tweedledum: Hey, why can't you just slow down a bit?
Sister Mary Eunice narrowed her eyes and she ignored Tweedledum's complaint.
Sister Mary Eunice: (think) Ichabod, Abbie, hold on... I am coming for you.
Colin: You bullied my sister, right? Weren't you!? Crane, when I first met you, I felt that you are anything but--
Before Colin could finish, Abbie saw a large frying pan on the table and she immediately grabbed it to hit Colin. "BANG!" Colin was hit at his head and immediately bumped himself on the table, before he looked up... and saw himself in the mirror.
Colin: This face... Is this my face? WHY AM I LOOKING LIKE THIS?!
In the mirror, Colin found his face was covered with ladies' make up and he was now looking like a woman... and his face as same as the face of Christine's!
Screaming at the combined voice of himself and Christine, Colin covered his face and immediately ran away from the door like a quick wind.
Ichabod and Abbie was too shocked that the could not stop Colin in time. When they realized that, Colin had already escaped. Ichabod and Abbie then turned to see the wig on
Ichabod: So this wig is for...
Shocked, Abbie immediately picked up the wig and looked at it with full of surprise. It was a wig of bright color, and it was very much alike... to the hair of Christine. Then, everything was clear. Christine never revived. It was Colin who was playing her all along with even realizing it.
Ichabod: So Colin was playing two roles all by himself...
Then, Abbie remembered the life-sized doll of Christine in the living room before she saw another living doll like Colin in this room as well.
Abbie: Uh, you mean that guy has a split personality? Why did he portray his own sister?
Ichabod and Abbie looked at each other with surprise. In helplessness, Abbie lowered her head and sighed. Ichabod deduced the true reason.
Ichabod: He could not bear the fact that his sister was dead...
Just then, Ichabod noticed a key on the table and he picked it up. Abbie took a closer look at it.
Abbie: That must be Colin's car key. I saw him holding it. All we need to do is getting into the parking lot.
Ichabod: Very well. Now, let's go.
Then, Ichabod and Abbie immediately rushed to find the exit, and Colin seemed to vanish without a trace, which is absolutely strange. It took not long before they walked down the hall, but then...
???: ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAR!!!
Abbie was shocked to see what was coming towards them. It was a horrid white creature that was formed like something that made of white worms, and Ichabod had the same reaction when he saw that creature. The creature was glaring at them as Ichabod narrowed his eyes.
Ichabod: It looks like Christine had built that whitish monster in her project.
The monster then opened its claw and ran towards Ichabod as Abbie tried to shoot at it. The gunshot immediately caught the attention of this monster as it ultimately turned his head and tried to ran towards Abbie.Abbie, however, showed it the silver crucifix given to her by Sister Mary Eunice which could be use if situation needed.
Abbie: Stay away!
Then, as soon as Abbie showed the crucifix to the monster, the monster immediately stopped right in front of her.
Ichabod: Lieutenant...
Seeing the monster itself start trembling and stepped back, Abbie smiled confidently.
Abbie: Believe me, this is not the craziest thing I have ever endure during those days full of so many surprises.
The monster roared in sheer pain as it stepped back and started to shake his head, completely falling into the feeling given to it by the power of saints.However, just as Abbie was about to shoot down the weakened monster, the monster itself started to speak, and it shocked Ichabod as well as Abbie...
Creature: Me... I... Betsy... Won't... Me...
The creature was speaking words slowly one by one and it did not make any sense to Ichabod and Abbie. Ichabod paid attention immediately when he heard the name, "Betsy."
Abbie: What the hell?
Ichabod: It's trying to tell us something...
Suddenly, chunks of debris that were out of nowhere fell down. Ichabod and Abbie immediately ran out of the door when they heard the creature shouting again.
While talking, the creature had its eyes twitching and its face started to turn more human-like, but before it could finish its words, the falling stones had buried it underneath a pile of rocks, silencing it.
The illusion woods disappeared as well and it turned into a collapsing hall. Ichabod was shocked by this as he tried to figure out the connection between this creature and Betsy Ross.
Ichabod: What happened?
Ichabod and Abbie looked at the scene where the monster once stood, and Abbie bit her lips as she looked at the debris that buried the monster.
Abbie: It must be Colin. He wants to bury us alive. We must hurry.
Ichabod and Abbie immediately ran towards the parking lot beside the house, unknowing what would Colin do under such circumstances.
Abbie: Anyway, damn, I should have shot him down when we had the chance...
Behind them, a taloned white hand came out of the debris... and that hand belonged to the creature. It was not crushed by the rocks.
Turns out it was still alive.
2 minutes later
Parking lot
After they are out of danger, Ichabod and Abbie went towards the parking lot and start searching for the car, and then Abbie had spoofed a black vehicle in the parking lot.
The problem was that the car was 10 meters far away from them. Immediately, Abbie turned back to yell to Ichabod.
Abbie: Crane! I think this is the car we are now looking for!
To Abbie's surprise, however, Ichabod did not move to the vehicle immediately.
Ichabod: Lieutenant, I feel there is something strange. It was like someone was following us.
Abbie immediately turned back and grabbed Ichabod's wrist.
Abbie: There is no time for this. We must leave this place as soon as possible, Crane.
Then, Ichabod had nothing else to choose but to obey Abbie's instruction. They then ran towards the car.
However, unknown to them both, Ichabod was right. Not far away from the parking lot, behind the tree, a woman dressed in black was looking at them with no emotions on her face. She was observing the two Witnesses.
One second later, however, she smirked calmly.
Pandora: Hmm... I know one day you will lead me to the truth.
Car
On the car, Abbie drove the car as the car started to leave away from Colin's dreadful house. Abbie sighed in relief and smiled. Ichabod, however, fell into thoughts.
Abbie: Now, we are finally freed. Then, we will settle for a day before we find the original flag that Betsy Ross sewed, in order to get rid of this nightmare once and for all.
Abbie then turned to Ichabod before noticing Ichabod fell into deep thoughts. She was a bit of confused.
Abbie: Crane?
Ichabod: Ms. Mills, I suspect that the monster was trying to tell us something about Betsy... and I find those two sentence... rather connected.
Abbie made a funny face, showing that she did not fancy this theory.
Abbie: I thought it was merely babbling something nonsense, but... in the name of Corbin, I managed to take the recording of the voice immediately when it began to talk, in two different audios.
Hearing this, Ichabod was quite amazed and his eyes widened.
Ichabod: How did you do this in such a short time?
Abbie then revealed something that looked like a pen.
Abbie: I have got two recorders on myself, and I think somethings you just need to be creative.
Ichabod looked at the recorders carefully. He was curious about this small device that can record voices and played them.
Ichabod: That is interesting.
Suddenly, Ichabod's eyes widened and immediately turned to look at Abbie.
Ichabod: I have an idea... We play those two... audio recordings at the same time.
Abbie: What?
Abbie looked at Ichabod with quite a shock. She then saw Ichabod grabbed the two recorders in his hands.
Ichabod: You say that the tapes might have hidden messages coming from that monster, but I think we cannot get the outcome we want from merely one of them. It mentioned Betsy, and I need to confirm that if it is connected to her.
Abbie looked at Ichabod, and she wondered how many surprising movements of his had witnessed by her.
Abbie: So you want two of them playing together?
Ichabod: Lt. Mills, it is very worth trying.
While speaking, Ichabod then opened the two recorders at the same time... Then, instead of some chaotic and senseless words, the two Witnesses heard a complete sentence.
- Creature: (voice) [Help me, Ichabod! I am Betsy! It won't let me go!]
Ichabod and Abbie were both shocked by the words and they looked at each other.
Ichabod: Betsy?
Suddenly, the car immediately ran out of control and started to ride in an accelerate speed. Abbie were shocked by this, and so was Ichabod.
Ichabod: What did you do?
Abbie: I did not do anything! It lost control!
Car
On the car (which had drove at a speed of 90km/h), Ichabod and Abbie tried to stop it by holding the control panel, but turned out it never worked. Abbie stepped on the break and it won't work as well.
The car passed the Tweedles who were wandering on the pavement very near to Corbin's cabin, and they recognized the people on the car were Ichabod and Abbie. Knowing something was terribly wrong, the Tweedles immediately went for Sister Mary Eunice to seek help.
One minute before the crash, the car went straight out of the road and start running itself into the forest. As Ichabod and Abbie struggled themselves before the car crashed into a tree, a white light shone above them, and half a second later, they disappeared suddenly.
The crazy car went right into the forest, faster, faster and faster... until three seconds after the white light's occurring, it finally stopped after hitting a tree. The fuel inside the car was ignited, causing an explosion...
[BOOOOOOOOOM!!!]
Pandora's lair
Coming back from the town, Pandora walked back into the secret lair of hers, and soon she walked towards the water pool inside her house, while summoning her box on the table in just one second.
Pandora: One for sorrow, two for mirth. Three for a wedding and four for a birth.
Pandora then walked towards the pool while seeing Ichabod dying from Colin Van Bilj's influence.
Pandora: Five for silver, six for gold. Seven for a secret... not to be told.
Pandora smirked deviously before returning to a serious expression when she saw the feared face of the citizens haunted by dark witches.
Pandora: So afraid... yet they have no idea... just how powerful their fear can be... but I know... and I want more.
Pandora then use a bowl for containing some water before sprinkling them on her tree behind her; the tree of fear.
While standing in the cold wind coming straight towards him, Ichabod felt that he was about to fell into somewhere deep and dark. Surrounded by grayish mist, he spent some little bit of time and looked straight forward.Suddenly, the mist disappeared and soon he saw a familiar figure standing not far away from him, the woman he had been missing for 232 years... Katrina Anne Van Tassel, now known as Katrina Crane.
Ichabod: Katrina?
Katrina was surprised when she saw Ichabod. Her eyes widened in surprise.
Katrina: Ichabod? Are you really here?
As a response, Ichabod walked closer to his wife and they shared a kiss, the first kiss ever since his death in 232 years ago.
After that, Katrina looked at her husband with great concern before she spoke out.
Katrina: You're not well.
Ichabod: How did you know?
Katrina: Because you're here.
Ichabod shook his head. He immediately recognized the woods surrounding him. It was exactly the place where Katrina summoned him to.
Ichabod: I've been here before.
Katrina sighed and shook her head.
Katrina: Only when I summoned you. I've... I've not been able to for some time. If you are here in any other way... it means you are dead... or near to it.
Ichabod's eyes widened. He then noticed several strange shadows wandering in the woods not far away.
Katrina: You must understand. It's only under great duress you would find yourself here.
Ichabod: I am not well. I did not realize how critically. Serilda's remaining power still exists... and many more are dying because of Van Bilj.
Katrina: And I fear you will, too. Ichabod, this place I've been trapped in, it's Purgatory.
Ichabod: Purgatory?
Ichabod looked aside to see those wandering shadows once again. Horror started to rise on his face.
Ichabod: Then those are...
Katrina: Souls... who've been collected here. We're all trapped together, and yet very much apart. Those there are moving on.
Katrina was too afraid to speak Moloch's name since he trapped her for almost 232 years. Seeing his wife's sad face, Ichabod had too much questions in his mind that he felt obliged to ask them.
Ichabod: Why would you be trapped in such a place? What does that "beast" want with your soul?
Katrina closed her eyes and tears start streaming down her face. She did not answer.
Ichabod: Katrina... what is it you're not telling me?
Ichabod looked at Katrina with a serious expression. In the past, she kept hiding things apart from him in order to keep him safe. She was a spy of Washington, she was a witch, she caused the death of Mary Wells... and perhaps many more. However, Ichabod knew that it was not the time to hide any secrets.
Ichabod: What is it you're afraid to say?
As a response, Katrina slowly opened her eyes.
Katrina: I believe I know why I am here... and why I cannot leave...
Ichabod: Why? Tell me.
Before Ichabod could finish his word, he was dragged away suddenly from Katrina. Katrina saw this and yelled in sheer desperation.
- Katrina: ICHABOD!!!
Ichabod kept breathing and shivering before he looked back for a while. Far away, he saw a diabolical shadow, the same shadow he saw in his last dream. It was none other than Moloch. Ichabod was slowly being dragged to Moloch as the mist appeared again, blocking his eyesight. He could only heard Katrina's screaming
Katrina: YOU FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE! YOU FIGHT BOTH OF US!!! YOU FIGHT FOR HUMANITY!
- Ichabod: (!!!)
Outside a building
Ichabod's eyes widened and opened as he awoke suddenly from horror. In the blurry sight, he saw a blurry face and heard someone talking to him in a low and gentle voice.
Sister Mary Eunice: Try not to move. You'll be in terrible pain.
Ichabod finally saw the face of Sister Mary Eunice clearer as she continued.
Sister Mary Eunice: You two have got the quite the adventure. The car accident was horrific... but you and Abbie are safe now... Looks like I was not too late. You need a rest so that you can tell me what happened later.
Ichabod went silent and closed his eyes once again.
Ichabod: Thank you... Sister...
"........................................"
Sister Mary Eunice: (narrator) The car that Ichabod and Abbie took had lost its control and crashed near the Hudson River, and if I did not interfere to save them, they would soon found themselves near the site of once an unknown facility, a forgotten game site that was yet just another one of Christine's playground... and we will soon be in it...
"........................................"
Opening - Jillian[]
Within Temptation Jillian Lyrics
Act 1 - Selina Strawberry[]
10 minutes later
After Ichabod managed to recover, he then told Sister Mary Eunice about everything he knew. She went silent and was thinking about this.
Sister Mary Eunice: Maybe Colin could not bear the fact that his sister was dead, and soon he went mad from loneliness.
Then, Sister Mary Eunice lowered her head and was thinking about the true reason behind the imprisonment of Katrina. However, she had no idea what it might be.
Sister Mary Eunice: As for Katrina... I am sorry for what was happened to her.
Ichabod: Serilda told me that Katrina was chained in "World between the Worlds". Was it Purgatory?
Sister Mary Eunice: Yes, and she once invited me to Purgatory, seeking for my help, and that is why I know about you. I will help you to save her.
Ichabod covered his head with his hand. There were so many dreadful things occurred in just one day.
Ichabod: How was Abbie?
Sister Mary Eunice: She is fine, Ichabod. My friends are taking care of her.
Ichabod then noticed that behind Sister Mary Eunice, there were two men talking with her and bringing her water. Then, Ichabod sighed with relief.
Sister Mary Eunice: I apologize if I did not come here in time. I am sorry of being so late. Those days are very, very busy for me and for my friends...
Ichabod: No, I am not here to blame you.
While talking, Sister Mary Eunice then looked at the Tweedles standing beside her.
Sister Mary Eunice: Ichabod, those two had found you after they lost for almost 81 times, and they immediately called me. Why don't you ask me for assistance?
Ichabod shook his head and signed.
Ichabod: It was Abbie, Sister. She wanted to go alone to seek out the truth, and I had managed to persuade her... just a little bit. She only want me to follow her.
Sister Mary Eunice's eyebrows twitched and she turned to Abbie before pacing towards her.
Sister Mary Eunice: Abbie, are you feeling well now?
Abbie: I do. Thank you, Sister.
Abbie smiled to Sister Mary Eunice, and the latter smiled back. However, she then returned to a serious expression. She was dissatisfied by Abbie's movement.
Sister Mary Eunice: Abbie, you are too reckless. You have no idea what Colin was capable of, and now you made him enraged.
As Sister Mary Eunice was talking, Ichabod stood up and looked at a building right in front of him and his friends. The building was made of brick and it was very large, like some building that was built in the streets of 18th centuries' London.
Abbie: Anyway, I had managed to discover the truth and now, we will pack up ourselves and beat that guy to half-dead.
Tweedledee lowered his head and began to talk.
Tweedledee: Now, we must hurry up. Colin must have coming for us now. We are now all in trouble if Colin carry on his sister's work. We must leave this place.
Suddenly, Ichabod raised his right hand and showed his index fingers to his friends, much to their surprise.
Ichabod: No, not now.
Hearing this, Sister Mary Eunice's both eyes widened in surprise.
Sister Mary Eunice: What happened? Is there something wrong?
Ichabod turned his head and looked at her as she walked a bit closer to him.
Ichabod: I think this is Colin's plan all along bringing us in front of this strange building. This is the estate of Van Bilj in London... or it looks like that.
Sister Mary Eunice: Oh?
Shocked, Sister Mary Eunice and Abbie looked at each other. It was obvious that those days were full of surprises.
Sister Mary Eunice: Another... Van Bilj Facility? That is marvelous.
A bar
Albany
Captain Frank Irving's Current Location
Harvest Festival Scene
At the same time
The Harvest Festival of Hudson River opened as usual, and even though Captain Frank Irving was trying to do his job on duty, he was obliged to join the fun though he did not fancy the idea.Irving arrived at the bar after a long time of working, and he was wondering whether Abbie Mills was telling the truth about Ichabod Crane and the recent events that happened in Sleepy Hollow.Irving tried to trust Abbie, but he could hardly believe it since he himself did not see the so-called Horseman with his very own eyes.
Just at this time, a female voice came from not far away that caught Irving's attention.
???: Captain Irving?
Irving turned his head and saw a slender woman sitting at the pub and wore a red hood and an eye-patch. Irving did not feel strange, since almost everyone presented in this place dressed costumes, but Irving is perhaps the only one who was wearing his suit.Irving recognized the woman since he saw her in some news. She is the maid of the mayor. Irving was very confused.
The woman named Selina Sarandon turned back and looked at Frank Irving with some mild surprise.
Selina: You know my name?
Selina was confused at first, but soon she realized that there was no need to be confused, since she was already a well-known figure in the town of Sleepy Hollow for being the maid in service of the current mayor.
Selina: I... thought I won't be recognized with this eye-patch. I recently suffered from an eye injury and therefore... Ahem, by the way, captain, why are you here?
Irving chuckled sarcastically.
Irving: I am here to do my job, but I just don't know how I am inside this festival.
Selina drank a cup of drink inside her cup. It was not wine, but strawberry juice. She then turned back and chatted with Irving, but Irving remained distressed.
Selina: Oh, captain, life is too short for regrets. You should feel relaxed yourself. The mayor himself had complimented about your efforts during the recent events, and um, not to be rude, but... I am really curious about the recent events in Sleepy Hollow.
Irving turned back to Selina, and the latter became serious.
- Selina: Detective Luke Morales was hospitalized.
Hearing this, Irving was surprised since he did not expected that it happened. Selina sighed and then continued.
Selina: Please... don't look at me like that, captain. I will be embarrassed.
Irving: What the Hell is happening here?
Looking at the serious captain, Selina shrugged her shoulder as she put her glass back to the table with a calm expression on her face. She soon sighed in sheer distraught.
Selina: The Hell? The Hell is everywhere... Fortunately, Morales is recovering and is fine. However, he is not the first victim... Just before Detective Morales was suffered from an unknown disease that was currently disappearing, two victims had already died. Also, there was a supernatural event occurring on one of the guests in this festival, and I heard Lt. Abbie Mills was investigating this case.
Hearing that Abbie was investigating the case, Irving was both relieved... and surprised.
Irving: So you are here to investigate those cases as well?
Selina nodded her head with a smile.
Selina: You know what people talked about me - a maid who can do everything almost in a matter of minutes... but they flattered me. In fact, once one of my clients made a request to make me bomb a city, but I refused. That is against my own rules. However, since this case is concerning everyone's life, even though no clients ordered me to do so, I came here myself.
Irving heard the words of Selina silently, and after she was finished, he asked her once again.
Irving: Who is the name of that guest?
Selina put her hand inside her pocket and took out a paper before revealing a list written on it to Irving.
Selina: Here, captain, a woman named Vivian Apfel, who is a potter that worked beside Hudson River, and I just found out that another woman named Hannah Schneider failed to present on the festival. I assume she was missing for now.
Selina then put the list back to her pocket.
Selina: Look, captain, I am on your side. If anything happens to this town with no explanation, the mayor may ask for my own resignation.
Then, she shrugged her shoulders with a cryptic smile.
- Selina: However, not everything is hard to explain, Captain Irving. Believe me.
Irving remained silence and thought about Selina's words, when suddenly, Irving's phone was rang, and he immediately answered the phone. Selina's smile faded as she heard the words of Irving.
Irving: Captain Irving here. What's it?
Then, Selina noticed that Irving's face turned into a facial expression of surprise, and soon the police captain widened his eyes. Then, Irving hung up the phone as Selina leaned forward immediately.
Selina: What happened?
Irving: There are something happened in the precinct. You told me about the woman named Vivien Apfel is in the station, right?
Hearing this, Selina suddenly widened her eyes as she bit her lips in a glimmer of horror.
Selina: What happened?
- Irving: She broke out.
Irving then stood up and was about to leave, and it was apparent that it was not a small case.
Irving: They said the woman was getting monstrous as she stretched her limbs and attacked the police guards before she made her way escape, and I must go back to deal with this.
Suddenly, Selina grabbed the wrist of Irving.
Selina: Please, no, captain. You don't need to do this on yourself.
Irving turned back to Selina with confusion, and Selina blinked her eyes.
- Selina: Ichabod Crane can manage this.
Hearing this, Irving was utterly confused and surprised, since he did not know that Selina knew about the man known as Ichabod Crane.
Irving: How do you know that? Who... the hell are you?
As a response, Selina looked at Irving with calm on her face as she narrowed her eyes.
Selina: I am from one of Sleepy Hollow's oldest families, and I'm part of a group which... oversees things.
As Irving looked at Selina with skepticism, Selina then whispered to Irving in a deeper voice.
Selina: Evil is the source of this plague that haunted this town since its foundation, and I am secretly one of those people who confronted those malevolence.
Irving only looked at Selina and did not responded, as Selina continued with a smile.
Selina: You may think I am crazy, captain, but please beware of the fact that demons are all around us. Do something to prevent this, captain, please... before it's too late for that.
Despite not believing in Selina's strange words since it was too weird for him, Irving then nodded.
Irving: It seems unbelievable, but I will soon find it out. Leave this to me.
Then, Irving looked aside and turned back to Selina.
Irving: What we discussed in today... I will keep them as secrets, and also I will not reveal about your secret group to the town. I give you my words.
Hearing this, Selina widened her eyes first and then, she smiled as if she was warmed in her heart.
- Selina: Many thanks, captain.
Suddenly, as Selina was about to leave, a crash could be heard not far away.
Selina & Irving: ?!!
Hearing all of this, Selina and Irving both looked aside and saw several citizens at the scene began to rant savagely, as they swayed their own arms and screamed in great fervent, all the while crashing the tables and started to terrorize the entire scene.
Shocked, Irving and Selina were shocked and stood up, and Irving started to fire at the arm one of the rampaging citizens, but that citizen immediately grabbed the bullet. Selina seemed to be quiet enraged by what happened, through unknown means.
Selina: Captain Irving!
Selina immediately yelled as she quickly pushed Irving out, with Irving widening his eyes.
Irving: Ms. Sarandon?
Selina: Run, captain! Those people were affected by the colleagues of the Headless Horseman, and I promise you that we can handle this!
At this time, Irving was surprised to hear Selina talking about the Headless Horseman, and it was very obvious that she was one who knew the darkest secrets of Sleepy Hollow, but Irving did not ask more. He then retreated and soon went away back to his office.
At this time, the terror still risen as Selina tried to evacuate screaming citizens from the deranged situation, and she narrowed her eyes and thought bitterly.
Selina: (think) * That Melancholia deceived me! She said she will work in overthrowing Moloch, but now his vileness had spread into innocent citizens! *
Selina then clenched her fist as she turned to look at those monsters, and she bit her lips.
Selina: (think) * There must be some kind of new evil pushing this... I am going to seek it out! *
Then, Selina immediately rushed away with the citizens, and the Harvest Festival havoc had caused several people injured on different scales. Fortunately, no one had died. Then, Selina knew she had to do something.
First, she decided to contact Melancholia.
Act 2 - Terror[]
Meanwhile in Sleepy Hollow
Westchester County Police Department
At the interior of Westchester County Police Department, things get vicious.
Police 1: What is that? What is that? Somebody do something! Stop her! Stop her and find out the reason--!!
As the police officers were berating, a long tentacle came and whipped towards him and threw him on the floor. People were frightened and started to escape.
There were also several police being severely injured, but fortunately, none of them were killed.Who they were attacking... or "what" they were attacking... was Vivian Apfel, but somehow she was different.
Instead of being human-like appearance, she turned into a monstrous human abomination with long arms like tentacles. She used it to break out the cell before berating in sheer rage.
Police 2: Someone call for reinforcements!
As the police were calling for reinforcements, Apfel immediately escaped through window and soon sunk into the ground, disappeared.
Police officers: (?!!)
The police department soon went quiet... as if nothing have ever happened. The police officers were all shocked.
- Police 1: What the Hell is happening?
They looked at each other and could not figure out the answer. However, they did not know the fact that it was merely a beginning... of another chain of horror...
Selina's car
10 minutes later
3km away from Sleepy Hollow
At this time, Selina was sitting inside a car and tried hard to contact Melancholia, but soon she failed. Selina was frustrated since she, Melancholia and Michael Langdon once made a deal in order to destroy Moloch.
Selina: (think) * I sensed Serilda's likeness inside those rampaging citizens... Maybe it was caused by her or her remnants... *
Unbeknownst Selina was serving a secret council that secretly ran the whole thing in Sleepy Hollow and was one of the organizations that was carrying on everything that the Sisterhood of Radiant Heart was left behind.
Selina Sarandon, code named Selina Strawberry, is its second in command.Selina believed in Melancholia since she really wanted to wipe the minions of Moloch and tried to save the whole town. Serving as the current mayor's personal maid, Selina was known to many as the Supreme Maid since she was talented and could solve plenty of problems. In reality, Selina was the de-facto mayor of the town since the seemed mayor made her to deal with many problems.
At this time, Selina was frustrated since she could not contacted Melancholia with her own magical phone.
Selina: (think) * That wretched Melancholia... *
Selina slowly hung up the phone when she pretended to be calm, but in fact she was very angry.
Selina: (think) * I have called her three times and yet I received no answers... What happened? Can it be... She betrayed me? *
Selina then bit her lips. She looked through the window and saw some police cars coming towards the Festival scene.
Selina: (think) * I must return back to Sleepy Hollow as soon as possible! One day, I... I will ask Melancholia in her face! *
Then, Selina stopped thinking about her further plans and finally spoke out.
Selina: Driver, please, faster.
The car ran all the way back towards Sleepy Hollow, to the town where Selina belonged. Selina was now sweating nervously, wondering what happened in all the time.
Selina: (think) * Dang it... It seemed that the precious holiday I was expecting fell into ruins. However, since it's time to work, I need to work hard. *
(- Narrator: Still, she is a workaholic...)
- Selina: Sleepy Hollow, I am back.
Pandora's lair
At the same time
Hidden One: [Pandora!]
The Hidden One's sudden bellow caused Pandora being shocked from her illusions. Pandora was looking at the water to see what happened in Sleepy Hollow now, and now the Hidden One's face surfaced on the pool.
Pandora: Yes, My Lord?
The Hidden One seemed frail and darkened, since he lost his power and it made him looking like an old man.
Hidden One: [The Order of Blood Moon itself seemed to make their moves. You told me that you were gathering enough fear to open the portal towards the Catacombs.]
Pandora nodded her head in confidence.
Pandora: Master, I promise to you... I am now doing what I should do. I won't fail you.
Obeying the Hidden One very deeply, Pandora lowered her head and did not talked back to her master and husband.
Pandora: I am currently tracking down the Witnesses, and I found out that Colin, the only known living member of the Van Bilj Family was currently trying to cause more harm by summoning a replica of one of their mansions in the woods of Sleepy Hollow. I think in order to achieve our own utopia, the first thing we need to do was to clean those trashes.
The Hidden One's face seemed relent after hearing the words of Pandora.
Hidden One: [Very well, Pandora, you've done well in this mission, and I think it's the time for us to release our power above humanity that betrayed me and berated me for my so-called sins. Our own justice will prevail... as long as we establish our own New World Order... Our own Illuminati...]
Then, the Hidden One narrowed his eyes as he looked at Pandora.
Hidden One: [Now, Pandora, track down the Two Witnesses, and bring me the results I want. Gather more fear in this mess, and find out the secrets behind the Van Bilj Family, so that we could seek out a way to destroy Moloch. They fear the Headless Horseman? Michael Langdon? Serilda of Abaddon? Moloch? Colin Van Bilj? Christine Van Bilj? Hmm, don't let them make me laugh...]
- Hidden One: [I am the most fearful of them all!]
The face of the Hidden One soon dissolved into the water as Pandora deeply bowed in front of the pool.
Pandora: I will follow your orders, My Lord, like always.
Soon enough, Pandora immediately put up another dress almost immediately with magic, just before she walked towards the door. Mr. Gold was standing right beside it.
Mr. Gold: So, how did it go?
Pandora looked at Mr. Gold, with her common face of aloof.
- Pandora: I think it went... rather well.
Pandora then turned back and was trying to leave, and Gold walked after her.
Mr. Gold: Well, I am glad to hear it. However, how do you define the ambiguous relations between us and the Witnesses? Partnership... or friendship?
Pandora stopped and she turned to look at Mr. Gold apathetically.
Pandora: Did I not tell you to remain calm and silence, Gold? Don't forget the fact that your wife, Belle, is under my protection... even though she is not on my side.
Pandora then turned back and continued to walk. Mr. Gold smiled cryptically before following Pandora out.
Mr. Gold: Whatever.
Van Bilj Facility
10 minutes later
Sister Mary Eunice's face was pale due to the shock. She heard something from Ichabod just now as she lead the Team to delve into the mysterious facility.
Sister Mary Eunice: Wait a minute, Crane.
Sister Mary Eunice fell her head was going to burst and then she took a deep breath and felt better.
Sister Mary Eunice: You mean Betsy Ross...
Ichabod and Abbie looked at each other before they nodded in agreement.
Ichabod: I know this is hard to believe, but that monster was indeed saying that she was Betsy Ross and called for help.
Abbie nodded as well.
Abbie: We recorded the audio files as well and eventually we suspected the monster is the real Betsy or it was trying to trick us to fall into its trap.
While gathering information inside her head, Sister Mary lowered her head as Abbie sighed.
Abbie: Indeed, it was a crazy day for me. Captain Irving will say I am crazy if he heard me talking to him about this.
After hearing this, Tweedledee and Tweedledum then spoke together as a response to Abbie.
Tweedledee & Tweedledum: Well, anyway, this is Gotham... We mean Sleepy Hollow.
Sister Mary Eunice ignored the Tweedles and she looked up, looking at Ichabod.
Sister Mary Eunice: Crane, what kind of monster is that?
Ichabod sighed as he closed his eyes. The Tweedles tried to say something, but they do not dared to interrupt him.
Ichabod: It was an abomination made of branches and maggots, with white body and swirling face. It seemed aggressive even though it could let out some human languages...
Sister Mary Eunice suddenly widened her eyes, as she was recalling about some events that made her appalled.
Sister Mary Eunice: I may saw this kind of monster before...
Then, Sister Mary Eunice widened her eyes as she immediately looked at Ichabod. She then created a paper and a pencil.
Sister Mary Eunice: Crane, here is a paper and a pen, and would you please draw a simple sketch of this monster?
At this time, Sister Mary Eunice's reaction had caused everyone's surprise, but Ichabod still promptly draw the monster's appearance in a matter of one minute.
Ichabod: Here you are, Sister.
Ichabod gave Sister Mary Eunice the sketch, and Sister Mary Eunice looked at it... as her face turned pale.
Near the very place where Ichabod Crane once gave his life 230 years ago, the members of the Team Witnesses had been searching through Sleepy Hollow Woods for half an hour, but they found no trace of Nevins anywhere.
Katarina:How much do you really think that Nevins is lurking here?
Sister Mary Eunice were looking around while answering Katarina's question.
Sister Mary Eunice: 70%... Well, maybe 60... No, I mean, 65...
Katarina was surprised.
Katarina: I thought you were 100% sure.
Sister Mary Eunice: I am 100% sure that there is a dark presence near this very place, where the late Captain Ichabod Crane had given his own life to defeat the Horseman of Death.
Katarina: Really?
Suddenly, Katarina had a vision of seeing Ichabod being killed by the Horseman. Just two seconds later, she returned to reality.
Sister Mary Eunice: But the thing I am not sure is that... whether this dark presence is Nevins.
Katarina: You mean there is something else hiding in this place?
Sister Mary Eunice had stopped looking around and looked at Katarina.
Sister Mary Eunice: Katrina Crane told me that she was the one with an ancient order fighting against the darkness within Sleepy Hollow, so Nevins must be only a pawn of the darkness. There is something else hiding inside the place... Maybe I should use "are" instead of "is."
Katrina felt her head hurt while trying to gather all of this information, but she came through it not long afterwards. Suddenly, a yelling noise could be heard as Katarina and her friends had turned around.
La Folia: What is that? Is that an animal?
Sister Mary Eunice shook her heads.
Sister Mary Eunice: I don't think so...
Suddenly, a white creature had jumped out and attacked Katarina. Seeing this, Katarina tried to attack it with the fake Spear of Virtue, but she was pushed onto the ground before she can pierce it through. The monster knocked Katarina unconscious.
Seeing the monster attacked Katarina, Sister Mary Eunice and La Folia rushed to the scene, and the former used light coming from her hand to scorch the monster, and it did work a bit.
The monster then turned back and attacked La Folia, but Sister Mary Eunice kept scorch it and Mana keep punched it in order to keep it away from La Folia, while Asuha was pointing a gun to the white creature, but she could not have a clear shot.
Mana: Sister, what is it?
Sister Mary Eunice: I don't know, perhaps some hostile and demonic creature, the one with the Horseman of Death's army.
La Folia then tried to dodge the monster as it summoned white vines from the ground, but she was tied up. Mana and Sister Mary Eunice tried to save La Folia and Mana even tried to cut the vines, but they cannot cut it through...
Nowadays[]
Sister Mary Eunice: Oh, dear Lord...
To Ichabod and Abbie's surprise, Sister Mary Eunice was a bit of startled when she looked at the monster's face.
Abbie: You've met it before?
Sister Mary Eunice nodded.
Sister Mary Eunice: It was during that time... when Katarina Couteau and her friends were still in Sleepy Hollow... We were trying hard to race against time in order to rescue Sheriff August Corbin, but that monster blocked our way.
Then, Sister Mary Eunice bit her lips until she finally sighed and continued.
Sister Mary Eunice: We wounded the monster successfully, but at that time I was suspecting that I felt this monster was in fact someone very close to Ichabod Crane, yet I do not know why... However, if that is Betsy Ross, and then all of the mysteries would be made clear. It will make more sense if...
Just then, Sister Mary Eunice widened her eyes and immediately turned to Tweedledee and Tweedledum.
Sister Mary Eunice: Speaking of Betsy Ross... Did you both find the secrets hiding inside the fake flag?
Tweedledee shrugged his shoulders as he revealed a book inside his coat.
Tweedledee: We thought you forgot to ask about us.
Sister Mary Eunice lowered her head as she was feeling embarrassed. She was curious about the facility and forgot to ask about the most vital problems.
Sister Mary Eunice: Oops, my bad. By the way, what did you find?
Tweedledum: We found the national anthem of the USA.
Ichabod: Hmm?
The Team looked at the Tweedles with confusion, and it took almost three minutes to let the Tweedles to explain the whole thing...
3 minutes later...
Tweedledum: ... Francis Scott Key wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner" during the War of 1812, decades after the crossing of Delaware.
Tweedledee: Right, so there was no way that he could have been involved with the journey towards Trenton, but here... is a thing about Key.
Tweedledee opened his book and turned to a page with Francis Scott Key's portrait on it, and pointed at a silver ring that key was wearing. Ichabod soon had his gaze widened as if he was familiar with it.
Tweedledum: That's right. Now, during the war, the British were invading the country and ransacking artifacts everywhere. They hit the Capitol, the White House, and they were targeting other important sites...
Abbie: Like Paul Revere's House.
Soon, everyone in the scene were all realized the whole thing. Ichabod and Sister Mary Eunice looked at each other and realized they had found a vital missing piece of this puzzle.
Ichabod: So, rather than risk Betsy's flag falling into the wrong hands... Key secured it elsewhere.
Sister Mary Eunice: But he left behind a clue as to where he put the real flag.
Abbie sighed as she lowered her head.
Abbie: But we were late. We found a note that was written by Colin, who claimed he found the real flag though it was indestructible.
All of a sudden, all people except Ichabod fell into the great distraught. Sister Mary Eunice lowered her head.
Sister Mary Eunice: I don't think so. I believe it was a lie. Who would received the letter?
Abbie immediately sighed and answered.
Abbie: It was Colin's "master", though the letter did not show us the name of this mysterious master... Crane?
Abbie suddenly noticed that Ichabod was not worried at all. She was confused.
Abbie: You don't believe it?
Ichabod shook his head.
Ichabod: No, I don't. Judging by what I have know from Colin himself, I assumed that he lied about the flag in order to keep his own life. He tracked us down the house of Paul Revere, and it is highly possible that he did not know the fact as well.
Abbie: What if Colin went for the false flag and tried to take it to read the code?
Ichabod: Colin was bad on music despite his own intelligence, and so I rather believe that he mistook the wrong flag as the real flag, without knowing about Key's own message from it.
Ichabod then sighed as he looked aside. He know as more they delved deeper into the facility, the more dangerous it might become.
Ichabod: Fortunately, it was not his sister. If the false flag was found by Christine, she may find the truth behind the code, and we will all be put into danger.
Even though Abbie still could not totally agree with what Ichabod had said, she found that made much more sense. When Tweedledee gave her a print of lyrics, Abbie widened her eyes as she spoke about the lyrics as she and Ichabod looked at the lyrics printed on the paper.
Abbie: "Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light..."
Hearing this, Ichabod was mildly frustrated.
Ichabod: Anapests. I cannot abide anapests.
Tweedledee: Crane.
Tweedledee immediately turned the paper into the next page with some amusement on his face. Ichabod looked at the lyrics which caught his attentions.
Ichabod: "Gave proof through the night... that our flag was still there."
Tweedledum then explained as Ichabod stared at him. Tweedledum turned unexpectedly resourceful, since he had no problems gathering information despite his clumsy behavior.
Tweedledum: Key wrote those words at Fort McHenry in Baltimore.
Abbie then widened her eyes as she smiled.
Abbie: Road trip?
Sister Mary Eunice took a glance at the broken car right outside the window.
Sister Mary Eunice: But the car seemed smashed, and I cannot take all of you people to the place with flying. By the way, is there something else on Colin's notes that may affect our actions?
Abbie then took another look at the note of Colin which she took it with her.
Abbie: Oh, bad luck... A snowstorm is coming!
Ichabod and Abbie were all had their gazes widened. Sister Mary Eunice and the Tweedle Brothers were astonished as well.
Sister Mary Eunice: Snowstorm... that is such a bad luck. I am afraid we have no time rushing towards the town.
Then, Sister Mary Eunice narrowed her eyes as it glowed in golden light all of a sudden. She was very upset at this very moment.
Sister Mary Eunice: (think) * Thinking all those bad luck made Nevins' return seemed much better... Oh, no, what should we do to get out of this kind of situation? *
Then, suddenly, Sister Mary Eunice had her eyes widened.
Sister Mary Eunice: By the way, Ichabod, how did you two come to this place?
Ichabod turned to look at Sister Mary Eunice before he gave his answers.
Ichabod: We were dragged by an unknown force and the car lost control.
Sister Mary Eunice lowered her head. She had now figured out something disturbing.
Sister Mary Eunice: Hmm, I assume this is a set up of Colin van Bilj since the very beginning, and I think he was trying to hunt us down here.
Sister Mary Eunice then clenched her fists. The problems of the wasp were solved for now, but if Colin was not defeated, then the whole situation could not become better.
Abbie: So what is your plan?
With no hesitation, Sister Mary Eunice lifted her head and widened her eyes. She showed a look full of confidence and bravery.
- Sister Mary Eunice: I will help you to find Colin first before he find the flag!
Suddenly, a strange roar and screaming, like something from Hell, had interrupted Sister Mary Eunice's word. The scream could be heard throughout the place and it made all of the Team Witness startled.
Hearing this noise, Sister Mary Eunice widened her eyes all of a sudden.
Sister Mary Eunice: There is something else in here.
Act 3 - Vanifer VS. Valindra (in Faerun)[]
Thay
Valindra's Tower
Valindra's monologue[]
Valindra Shadowmantle: (narrator) * I'm Valindra Shadowmantle, a proud Moon Elf, and now Queen of Specters. *
Sitting inside her throne, Valindra felt it was good to be alive. After her previous defeat, Moloch gained her essence and brought her back to life once again, and it was the second time of her resurrection since she was brought back by her former lover, Arklem Greeth, who was only using her as a tool.She was thinking about her childhood, her former life... inside of a church.
She was praying to the sun God when she was a teenager, a kind, sweet and benevolent child. A nun wearing black habit were lying in front of Valindra.
Valindra: (narrator) * My respected sun God... Amaunator... You were my only faith. I prayed to you sincerely, to save my only redemption in this world. *
In the memories, the child Valindra prayed for the nun, days after days, very sincerely. Tears started to stream from her eyes.
Valindra: (narrator) * I was willing to sacrifice my soul... to honor you as my God. *
Soon, the child Valindra's arm started to shatter and the skin started to fell from her arms as she continued to pray. Soon, the nun's arm that was once lifted fell down on the ground.
The origin was all because of a magic disaster... which wiped out Valindra's clan.
Soon, the dark presence surrounded the Church as the sky began to fill with dark clouds, with thousands of crows gathered around the church. A dark ghost soon surfaced beside the church and looking at it.
Then, the child Valindra almost lost her consciousness all of a sudden, out of no reason. She looked at the dead nun with tears in her eyes. The very first time in her life, she swallowed the bitter pill of despair for losing someone she loved...
- Valindra: (narrator) * But you ignored me... as nothing! *
The current adult Valindra raised from her throne, as tears started to stream down her cheeks. She was mesmerized in sheer pain and sadness. She remembered the day when she first met the nun. Valindra wandered beside the river and looking at it with loneliness, but then, a nun arrived and smiled at her, staying with her...
Valindra: (narrator) * You let my only relative leave me... *
Then, the adult Valindra tearfully saw her child self crying in front of the lifeless corpse of the nun as she started to sob in rage and sadness.
At that time, she felt the cruelty from Gods. She saw the nun as her only family, and she could not bear the fact that she lost her. Soon afterwards, she lost her faith in Amaunator.
Valindra: (narrator) * It made me understand... only power can make me immortal. *
The child Valindra turned dreadfully insane as she cried and roared out in despair, as a spiral of darkness started to surround her. Soon afterwards, Valindra seemed to see that nun raised from the dead, smiling at her.
However, it was only nothing but an illusion.
Who, or "what" was smiling at her was, in fact...
...was none other than Arklem Greeth.
Soon, the black mists disappeared as Valindra was changing. She was covered with necklace, crowns and armor pieces made out of bones and iron. Holding her staff given by the God of Spectre, Valindra's eyes was fueled with anger and hatred. She was no longer the happy child she was before...
Her voice was also distorted and became more like the voice from Hell itself.
- Valindra: (narrator) * Fragile people... God has abandoned you. Your humble beliefs... will be rebuilt upon my strength. I, Valindra Shadowmantle, will be your faith. *
Reality[]
???: VALINDRA SHADOWMANTLE!
Valindra was awakened from her own memories when she heard a sudden bellow coming out of her tower. She was immediately alarmed and turned at the door, only seeing the outside had light of red flame.
Valindra: Vanifer?
It was indeed Vanifer, the Prophet of Fire, who was attacking the Red Wizards of Valindra and started shouting again and again.
Vanifer: Come out and face me, coward!
Valindra bit her lips in bitterness, since it costed her too much time to rebuild her own Order of Red Wizards in a place like Thay, and she could not bear that someone was trying to ruin it.
Valindra: She dares to...
With no hesitation, Valindra immediately closed her eyes and then, when she opened her eyes, it was pale blue, with the power of specters inside her eyes.
- Valindra: I accept your challenge!
In the same time
Outside of Valindra's Tower
Vanifer's position
At this point, Vanifer was still attacking Valindra's underlings, the Red Wizards of Thay, with resentments.
Vanifer: Valindra, where are you!? I had enough from you! Show yourself!
Valindra raised her hand and summoned another gigantic fire sphere before slashing it towards the Red Wizards as well as the zombies and wights they summoned. Valindra reduced several life-sucking wights into ashes before they could sucked her life span.
All of a sudden, the door opened and a gust of wind blew out, and every candles beside Vanifer was blown out. Vanifer lifted her head and saw Valindra wrapped in her bandages, with a face hollowed and hideous like some sort of menacing zombies.
Valindra: Vanifer, what are you doing? I didn't try to offend you in any way.
Valindra then knocked the ground angrily with her staff, twice, as a sign of warning.
Valindra: Please, leave now!
Vanifer stopped attacking the Red Wizards as soon as she saw Valindra, and she chuckled sarcastically soon after she heard Valindra's words.
Vanifer: You did not offend me? Your power and rights beyond me was formed just because you had a petty connection to that dreadful Matron Malice Do'Urden, and I just found out. You lowlife, I cannot bear that you are now trying to push me into your own plan to conquer Neverwinter. The Neverwinter is mine!
Menacingly, Vanifer then raised her hand as a fire ball was formed on her hands.
Vanifer: You may be one of those who had started the eruption of Mount Hotenow so many years ago, yet the fire lord Maegara was inside the volcano even longer than one century, may be even longer than you lived!
Valindra interrupted Vanifer as her eyes narrowed in sheer menace.
Valindra: What do you want from me, then?
Vanifer merely scoffed.
Vanifer: What do I want? I want you to either stop telling me what I should do...
- Vanifer: ... or to be burned alive!
Vanifer's fireball started to expand until it started to form a large burning book with smoke and heat coming out of it. Valindra looked at the burning book... or the book made out of fire, before it stopped burning and turned into a real book, with red cover. Vanifer then held the book in her hand.
Vanifer: The choice is yours.
Valindra looked at the book with curiously, and then she held her staff and was ready to attack.
Valindra: That is a book, not a dagger. That is made of fire, not paper.
"............"
"............"
- Valindra: You summoned the Book of Imix! How could it ever happen? ...
Hearing this, Vanifer scoffed as she sensed Valindra's shock. The Red Wizards began to feel uneasy heat and started to stay away from Vanifer.
Vanifer sensed their fear and then she started to gloat in sheer pride.
Vanifer: You think I became the ruler of my Empire of Fiery Pit only because of egotism? No, you are wrong. I gained this power after I traveled to the Elemental Plane of Fire itself! Ha, with this book full of spells of Imix, along with the dagger, Tinderstrike, which is strapped on to my belt, I can easily burn the entire Thay to ashes!
Valindra, however, soon calmed down herself as she lowered her own head and laughed out loud. Vanifer was confused by this and narrowed her eyes. She didn't know that Valindra was thinking about Vanifer's past - a dancing beggar at Baldur's Gate asking for money.
Vanifer: Huh, what is so funny?
Valindra blushed as she covered her face that was like a terrifying skull with blue eyes.
Valindra: I just can't hold my laugh when I thought about your past and present.
Vanifer: Hmm?
Valindra: Huh, can't you see the difference between me and you? My underlings followed me because I truly cared for them, and I earned their loyalties. However, your followers followed you only out of fear.
Vanifer was still relentless when she heard Valindra's words.
Vanifer: Hmm, well, fear with respect is important within my clan. As long as there is fear, there will be respect. That is all.
Valindra grinned horribly.
- Valindra: They never respected you. I bet that in their mind, they only saw you as a little beggar who danced for money at the Baldus Gate.
Hearing this, Vanifer suddenly became more and more incensed as she leaned forward, with smoke coming out of her body.
Vanifer: I dare you say it again.
- Valindra: A little dancing beggar. A dancing beggar! A BEGGAR!
Soon, the word "beggar" echoed all over the entire square... and Vanifer clenched her fist...
"........"
"........"
- Vanifer: Alright, Valindra...
- Vanifer: I AM GONNA BURN YOU TO THE GROUND!!!
Vanifer was so enraged that she immediately cast a spell on her Book of Imix, and soon, her body was covered with rock and lava, and the lava was glowing orange aura on Vanifer's body.
Valindra: Ha, it's great to see you enraged!
Vanifer: Silence! You dare to say my most troubled past in order to tease me? I will teach you some manners in a matter of minutes!
As a response, Valindra immediately raised her staff as it glowed blue light.
Valindra: Ha, you may say this to other enemies of yours, but for me, a Queen of Undead, it is useless!
Then, all of a sudden, several zombies, skeletons as well as wights started to crawled themselves out of the ground, and some dead Thayan soldiers started to turn into zombies and rose from the dead as well. Vanifer, however, did not fear this at all.
Vanifer: I will reduce you all to ashes, and so there will be no more undead to be formed! I am tired of you!
Vanifer immediately stroke a fire fist towards one of the wights, and soon the flame had struck through the wight as well as several skeletons behind Vanifer, and Vanifer started to tear more and more undead monsters with her magma claw. When a hulk zombie tried to smash her, Vanifer leaped above the air and started to kick the zombie's head with her leg surrounded with flames, kicking it several times and finally reduced it to ashes after giving it a final punch. After that, Vanifer had cleansed all of the zombies Valindra summoned, and soon she faced her enemies who was floating at the air.
Vanifer: Is that what you got!?
Valindra then lowered her head and summoned a skull with purple aura right in front of her, and the skull flew towards Vanifer after Valindra pushed it.
Valindra: Die!
Vanifer immediately drew Tinderstrike out and sliced the skull, and Valindra summoned other skulls and leap on the air, summoning purple dead-lights as her eyes flashed in chromatic auras.
Valindra: You can't beat me with such a ignorant trick! I am more powerful!
As Vanifer leaped and sliced to defend herself from Valindra's attack, Valindra seized the chance and leaped herself towards Vanifer, before tried to attack her. However, Valindra noticed this and immediately grabbed the face of Valindra with her heated claws, just at the same time Valindra punched Vanifer's stone helmet with her staff.
Vanifer: What are you doing!?
Valindra: YOU DIE NOW!
The helmet of Vanifer was broken by Valindra's staff, where as Valindra's face was scorched by Vanifer's claw, and they were forced to separate!
Vanifer: CURSE YOU!
Sighed, Valindra then leaped back as she touched her scorched face with her hand, and then it slowly started to regenerate itself.
Valindra: Hmm, not bad. I broke her rock helmet...
Then, Valindra looked at Vanifer as the latter started to shift the shape of Tinderstrike as it turned into a staff with small streams of lava coming down from it.
Valindra: (think) * I will find out whether her interior is made of fire, lava or flesh! *
Then, Valindra shouted out.
Valindra: Hey, you want another strike?
Vanifer: Such insolence!
Then, the two started to clash once again and they fought together at the midair, and soon the two staff started to hacked clashed each other and soon they confrontation began to be more and more intense.
Vanifer: This is my war, not yours!
Valindra scoffed as she narrowed her eyes.
- Valindra: It became mine when your master called me here!
Valindra then raised her staff once again and slashed through the stone armor on Vanifer's arm, revealing its fiery interior.
Valindra: Can't you see that, Vanifer?
Valindra then summoned another enormous skull to attack Vanifer, and Vanifer immediately blew the skull apart with her fiery fist, shattering it into pieces.
Vanifer: What can't I see?
However, as Vanifer was questioning her enemy, the pieces of the skull had turned into more and more skulls. Vanifer noticed this and was alarmed. However, as she was about to strike again, the skulls attacked her and bit down many other parts of her armor.
Vanifer: AHHHH!!!
Valindra: Even though you think you can become a Dark Empress and build another Dark Empire, you are still someone who listened to another person's order, because you are grateful to him - to Vizeran DeVir!
As Valindra was shouting, the two were fighting at 1,000 meters above the ground. Valindra's armor began to shatter even more and her torso was soon burst into flames, revealing her fiery interior after her transformation. Vanifer bellowed as she soon burned down the skulls into ashes, making them unable to regenerate.
Vanifer: How dare you! I am the only mistress in my order! Lord DeVir only game me suggestions, but he never interfere my own business! However, you are not like him! You put your nose in everything! I don't like this!
Vanifer then had her armor shattered, and revealed her body which was covered in to cloth made of lava and hair made of flame. She managed to stand tall even after Valindra's efforts to destroy her.
Vanifer: YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THE TRUE MEANING OF POWER! YOU UNDERSTAND NOTHING! BECAUSE YOU ARE NOTHING! I HAVE NO FEAR! I NEVER AM AFRAID OF YOU, AND NEVER WILL BE!
At first, Valindra was a bit of relent when she first saw Vanifer's fire form, and then there came that attack. Valindra then realized that she must to it in a hard way. Enraged, she raised her staff as her body started to surrounded by darkness. Her face was covered in darkness as well, as she was offended by Valindra's challenging.
Valindra: Oh, really?
- Valindra: I will show you nothing!
- Vanifer: Stop resisting! You never make me scared!
- Valindra: Then, I will teach you how to fear me!
As the two started to clashed each other and strike each other down, suddenly, another attack came out from nowhere had came from the sky in a form of lightning and cast the two fighters down on the ground, as the two fell on the ground. Valindra had her face returned back into her face of beauty as Valindra's flame disappeared, and she returned back to her Tiefling form, with her clothes on her as if they were regenerated. They had used all of their power.
Vanifer: Who? Who is there?
Vanifer and Valindra both stood up as they heard a menacing laughter coming not far away. They all turned to look at one direction, a church. Standing atop the church, there was a woman with a slender female figure, a red armor, and legs as thin and long as legs of spiders. She narrowed her eyes and looked at Valindra and Vanifer.
Indeed, it was Jasmine Porcelain, the traitor of Aquatic Elves who turned to worship the ideology of Lolth. Her presence had caused great chagrin to both Valindra and Vanifer.
Valindra: Why is she here?
Vanifer: I don't know. However, this woman is nutty as... no, I mean nuttier than a fruitcake.
Valindra: So, that is a truce?
Vanifer: Yeah, I suppose so.
The two then looked at Porcelain as she grinned deviously.
Porcelain: I have been watching you two fighting against each other for a long time... and I think it was very amazing to see. I have tracked down Vanifer in order to seek vengeance upon her for making me back from Sleepy Hollow, and yet I never expected that she was fighting with you, Valindra Shadowmantle!
Matron Malice looked at the face of Jasmine whose smile had all ready replaced by terror.
Jasmine: Please, allow me to explain...
Malice: [Silence, I want no explanation.]
Jasmine turned to Vanifer, but Vanifer only looked at her, amused. It was very clear that Vanifer did not want to help Jasmine through this. As the current leader of House Do'Urden, one of the most powerful Drow families alongside Xolarrins and Baenres, Matron Malice Do'Urden was infamous for her cruelty and of course, as her own first name implied, malice. No drows will not be afraid of her as well as her ruthless children (with the exception of Drizzt).
Malice: [I told you to capture my son and bring him to custody, as he disgraced our family's name, and he was a traitor that made our family lost the favor of Lolth herself.]
Jasmine was very curious after hearing all this, since even though she was working for Malice and knowing a lot about House Baenre and House Xolarrin, she didn't know much about the House of Do'Urden.
Jasmine: Why is that?
Malice scornfully looked at her and then she sighed.
Malice: It was a long story.
Then, Malice started to tell her family story to her rookie servant. Turned out that Drizzt was never in the favor of his cruel mother. 400 years ago, when Drizzt was born, Malice used the agony of childbirth to increase her clerical power in an attack against House DeVir, which was destroyed. The infant Drizzt was to be sacrificed as the third living son, but Dinin Do'Urden's assassination of elder boy Nalfein Do'Urden fulfilled that sacrifice and Drizzt was permitted to live.41 years later, House Do'Urden and Matron Malice first fell out of the favor of Lolth when a member of her house displeased Lolth.
Malice cried a scene between Drizzt and his father Zaknafein Do'Urden and discovered that Drizzt refused to kill (and indeed saved) an elven child during a surface raid, thus drawing Lolth's wrath. Malice planned to sacrifice Drizzt, but Zaknafein offered himself up instead. Drizzt subsequently killed Masoj Hun'ett and Alton DeVir, triggering a decade war between House Do'Urden and House Hun'ett, and departed the city altogether.Malice never regained Lolth's favor after Drizzt's actions.
Ten years later, in 1338 DR, the two houses finally ended their covert war when House Hun'ett attacked and were defeated by House Do'Urden. Yvonnel Baenre forced Malice to "adopt" SiNafay Hun'ett as Shi'nayne Do'Urden, her eldest "daughter" recently returned home.
Malice: [Now, you can see why I want my useless son to die, Porcelain. He is such a disgrace to me.]
Jasmine Porcelain then smiled in relief, believing that the matron had not being angry with her anymore.
Jasmine: Phew, well, I thought our Mistress merely lost the favor on House Do'Urden, but turns out there was such a hidden information!
Hearing this, Matron Malice immediately glared at Jasmine angrily. This sudden change immediately scared Jasmine.
Malice: [What did you say?]
Behaving like a mouse who was trapped in a dead end by a cat, Jasmine was so horrified that she immediately pleaded for mercy, as Vanifer looked beside them while feeling some amusements from it.
Jasmine: Sorry, nothing! Matron Do'Urden, please never feel worry about me, since my loyalty is with no bounds! My trustworthiness is a lot more than all those matrons added together! You can rely me on anything! About your son, I shall take him back to you no matter how!
Hearing this, Malice Do'Urden then looked at Jasmine with sheer scorn in her eyes, as if Jasmine was nothing but a mere piece of pathetic waste.
Gromph Baenre
Malice: [I tell you this... You must bring Drizzt back after leaving this town. The searching of the Two Witnesses is nothing compared to searching my ridiculous and pathetic son! Leave Sleepy Hollow at once or I shall order your own execution!]
Fearing of being executed, Jasmine sweated heavily as she felt that she lost all her temper. Her original plan was almost to a breaking point after such a sudden event. Jasmine knew that before she became a matron herself, she cannot disobey Matron Malice's order. Therefore, she agreed.
Jasmine: Yes, yes, of course, My Mother Matron...
Malice: [Also, find Gromph Baenre at once and do not go to the Raven Cliff Beach for one month. If Gar Shatterkeel questions about this, he is free to challenge me and I, as the Matron of House Do'Urden, shall be ready as usual!]
Jasmine nodded in horror as Malice turned to Vanifer with scorn. Vanifer was still smiling but when she saw the elderly drow was snarling at her, her smile fade almost immediately.
Then, Matron Malice spoke something to humiliate Vanifer, and it indeed worked...
Malice: [What are you looking at, you nasty, inferior Tiefling? Don't you think reporting to me about my minion shall earn you my respect. Wrong, Vanifer, since you are serving Vizeran DeVir, that piece of pathetic trash. However, you still granted yourself as a so-called empress.]
Vanifer: Huh?!
Malice: [You are a beggar, and you'll always be a beggar in my mind. Do you know how a revived Valindra came to Vizeran's own encampment? I suggested her to do so, and soon, I shall use her as a pawn while you are the pawns of that pawn. I, officially, am the chess-master here. I worked with Houses Banere and Xolarrin, not you! Vanifer, you want to outwit me? In your dream.]
The words full of insult made Vanifer incensed, and she began to regret what she did to call Matron Malice, an awful and sneering woman who judged people by their faith and parentage.
Malice then disappeared as Vanifer almost broke into rage. She bit her lips and controlled her anger. Jasmine, however, was much less angry, and then she promptly took her suitcase and went towards the door of the room. Before that, she turned back with a horrid grin.
Jasmine: Ha, now, this is exactly the punishment for you to call whom I feared. I thought we can work together temporarily, but sadly, you gave the chance up. However, there will be the time when I return to this place and you shall never ever outsmart me!
Vanifer: I outsmarted you this time, Porcelain. See you never.
Jasmine: That is just what you think.
It was Vanifer's turn to become upset as she watched Jasmine went out of the room and walked away. Vanifer could not believe all her setbacks on her road towards the Empress were all set by Matron Malice, and then she closed her eyes before she disappeared instantly.
- Vanifer: One day, I'll bury you all and dance on your graves.
Nowadays[]
Hearing this, Valindra was greatly dismayed as she walked towards Porcelain, as Vanifer looked at Porcelain with hatred in her eyes.
Vanifer: You wicked witch...
Valindra narrowed her eyes and shouted out.
Valindra: Porcelain, answer me! I have been doing whatever the Matron told me to do, and after I gained my position in Thay, you said you will not interfere with my plans anymore!
Porcelain chuckled deviously and soon enough, she became serious once more.
Porcelain: The Matron of Do'Urden ordered you two to cease fire, since she wanted you two work together to hunt down her son, Drizzt Do'Urden, instead of just whining and babbling like some ignorant children!
Valindra heard the name "Drizzt Do'Urdern" and bit her lips as she had hatred inside her eyes. Vanifer was surprised by what she said.
Valindra: You are right. Cease fire. Vanifer, I apologize that I forgot my ultimate mission. You are free to do whatever you want.
Surprised, Vanifer widened her eyes and asked out just as Valindra went back into her castle.
Vanifer: Cease fire? She had resentment towards Drizzt, but what about me? That witch almost made me torn apart!
When Valindra vanished from the plaza, Porcelain then narrowed her eyes as she had a mild glimpse of pride in her eyes.
Porcelain: Why don't you ask Matron Malice once again, Vanifer?
Porcelain asked Vanifer in a sarcastic tone.
- Porcelain: Like how you interfered my arrangements to slay the Witnesses.
Enraged, Vanifer looked at Porcelain with full of resentment inside her eyes.
Vanifer: You are worse than Valindra. No doubt.
Porcelain only grinned wickedly to Vanifer.
Porcelain: I can be even worse than now.
Slowly, Porcelain turned back to leave Vanifer as she continued to speak.
Porcelain: However, this is not over. Vanifer, you will one day learn the fact that you are just a pawn, and soon enough, I will use the power of elementals to fulfill my dearest wish. The Matron said this to me, "You shall never make plan. You do not have rights to serve yourself, Porcelain. You need to follow every pace of mine." However, as soon as the plan was set into actions, I will show no mercy overthrowing her... All I need to do is waiting.
- Porcelain: Therefore, be prepared.
Soon enough, Porcelain disappeared in the wind, and Vanifer lowered her head in shame and resentment. Then, Vanifer summoned a spiral flame and soon disappeared as well.
- Vanifer: Suit yourselves.
Act 4 - Caspar's Atonement[]
Sleepy Hollow
Van Bilj Facility
5 minutes later
Sister Mary Eunice: There is something else in here.
The words immediately caused instant panic upon the Team Witness, and Ichabod and Abbie looked at each other with alarm.
Abbie: That white creature again?
Sister Mary Eunice, however, shook her head as she tried to delve herself deeper to the tunnel.
Sister Mary Eunice: No, I don't think so. It's more like another sound, like...
- Sister Mary Eunice: ...Like a bee.
Just at this time, Sister Mary Eunice walked past a iron door with an empty window, and then she turned to look at it. The iron door seemed so old that it was covered in dirt as well as rust.
The screaming was apparently coming from the door. Sister Mary Eunice leaned on the door and heard it carefully.
Sister Mary Eunice: It was coming from this place.
At this time, Tweedledee and Tweedledum were both frightened when they heard the word "bee".
Tweedledee: B-bees again?
Tweedledum: There was another... hive?
Hearing this, Sister Mary Eunice bit her lips before she pushed the door. The door was easily opened and Sister Mary Eunice saw a stairway all the way down to the underground.
Sister Mary Eunice: Another hive means another danger. I assume it was contained underground in a proper temperature. You all must follow me.
Abbie: OK.
Then, Sister Mary Eunice led the team towards the room underground. Although Abbie felt that she had no idea what she was doing, she felt that the thing was something she must do.
Abbie: (think) * Hmm, I must never ever fail Sheriff Corbin... *
All of sudden, Abbie fell sorrow thinking of the kind Sheriff's words, "I'm not asking if you can qualify. I'm asking if you are running away."
Abbie: (think) * I will not run away. Not in this time so crucial...*
At this time, Sister Mary Eunice had already reached the stair, and soon she found a hole inside the room. She felt upset, and she felt more and more upset as she walked deeper and deeper into the dungeon.
Sister Mary Eunice: Here we are...
Sister Mary Eunice then walked towards the hole and looked at the thing inside the hole from above.
Sister Mary Eunice: GASP!
With a frightening gasp, Sister Mary Eunice stepped back with a glimmer of horror on her face.
Sister Mary Eunice: I do not know whether it was another insane production made by that Christine Van Bilj, but I assume this will be the strangest thing I have ever seen.
However, Sister Mary Eunice's voice was covered by the berating of the monster underneath the hole, and neither Ichabod or Abbie could hear what she said, but they find that Sister Mary Eunice was frightened.
It was very rarely to see.
Abbie: What is it, Sister?
Sister Mary Eunice did not hear Abbie's words either, but she knew Abbie's meaning by the movement of the latter's lips. She merely pointed at the hole, and spoke something like the word, "this".
Abbie: Hmm?
Abbie looked down at the hole and widened her gaze with shock on her face.
Abbie: Oh, my God.
There was a monster right under the hole, which was now apparently a human and wasp hybrid. Fortunately, it was tied up and struggling, seemly wanted to escape.Ichabod looked down at the monster as well, and soon he widened his gaze.
Ichabod: I think this was another creation of Christine, to combine human with bees, but I do not know why she put that into such a cage.
Sister Mary Eunice immediately bit her lips and fell sweating.
Sister Mary Eunice: I felt scared, not because it was horrifying-looking... but because I saw some agony and madness inside its berating. It was like something that caused... by the betrayal of family.
- Sister Mary Eunice: It could be Colin and Christine's relative of some sort.
Sister Mary Eunice did not see such a kind of monstrosity with such a feeling inside its heart ever before, and she quickly assumed that it was once a family member of Van Bilj Family, but which member it was?
Sister Mary Eunice: (think) * This seemed quite impossible to comprehend... If Katarina was here, maybe she will destroy this monster at once due to her reckless personality... *
Just then, Sister Mary Eunice saw a lifted lit beside the hole and then she immediately shut the hole off. She was feeling more and more upset for the monster.
Sister Mary Eunice: Another poor soul...
Just then, Tweedledee went to take a look at the table and then he widened his eyes when he saw a book on the table.
Sister Mary Eunice: Well, I guess we need to find some more secrets to destroy all of those monsters and...
Sister Mary Eunice immediately took a look at the watch. Her eyes suddenly widened.
- Sister Mary Eunice: It is almost 2 hours left to sundown.
Tweedledee: Sister? There are still some information. Look what I have found.
As he was speaking, Tweedledee took something which is seemed to be a large book and then he put that book in front of Sister Mary Eunice.
Tweedledee: It is Caspar Van Bilj's journey.
Sister Mary Eunice suddenly feel shocked and she and Ichabod both looked at each other with surprise. They were both shocked when they heard Caspar's name.
Sister Mary Eunice: He is Colin & Christine's father!
Tweedledee then opened the journal as he showed them to his friends.
Tweedledee: Now, you take a look at this.
Sister Mary Eunice then opened the journal as she widened her eyes and read it.
Caspar: * note * [The year was 1776. It became obvious that my daughter was obsessed with producing the Bee Elixir. She even went to the point to experiment it on her own body. I had contacted General Washington since I realized what happened to her.]
Sister Mary Eunice was startled when she read this part, but the feelings soon over and she continued to read Caspar's note.
Caspar: * note * [Years ago, I enhanced my children's own intelligence in order to make them my tools, but now I found out that I was wrong. I will now become the subject of that elixir, and I believe it will turn human into nothing but monsters. I could only pray to God that someone helps Christine to leave her insanity, but I took actions to make Betsy Ross sewed the flag. I do not want to do this, but I have no choice. Since what I had done was wrong, then I hope Ichabod Crane would fix it for me.]
Sister Mary Eunice immediately closed the journal.
Sister Mary Eunice: This is Caspar's note, but it was in Christine's possession...
- Ichabod: Then, that bee monster was...
All of them were startled as they looked all towards the locked underground chamber...
Abbie: It was Caspar.
Sister Mary Eunice immediately turned away, as she was trying to leave.
Sister Mary Eunice: This place is unsettling. We must leave for Baltimore now!
Before she could react, a human laugh could be heard, as Colin Van Bilj suddenly appeared at the staircase with his rifle.
Sister Mary Eunice: Oh...
Colin's laugh and Sister Mary Eunice's reaction made Ichabod and Abbie turned back.
Abbie: No way... Him again!
Colin grinned deviously as he widened his eyes.
Colin: Ha, not so fast to leave. Please stay a while, and I have another special entertainment presented for this game, since there are three more participants!
Tweedledee crossed his arms in anger.
Tweedledee: I am not participant, and I have not even one glimpse of interest in your so-called entertainment or your twisted game!
Tweedledum: Me neither!
Colin chuckled bitterly as he narrowed his eyes.
Colin: Sure you will. If you win, you can enter the next Boss level, but if you lose, you would either become just like my father...
Before Colin could finish, a strong bellow came from the ground and a white creature rose from the ground and had appeared itself in front of the Team Witness, and Ichabod, Sister Mary Eunice and Abbie were all startled. It was the very same white creature who claimed to be Betsy Ross.
Abbie: What? It's still alive?
Colin grinned maliciously as he stepped back and left.
Colin: Good luck.
Colin instantly went upstairs.
Meanwhile in Sleepy Hollow
Mayor's Office
Selina: Mr. Mayor?
Upon her return in the Mayor's office, Selina rushed into the mayor's office anxiously, but she found him not inside the room. Selina was confused and she looked around.
Selina: Mr. Mayor, there is something you need to know...
Just at this time, a male voice had came from Selina's back.
???: The Mayor is not here.
The mysterious male voice was spoke by a man with white and blue hood as well as blue cloak. He was wearing a black mask and hid his face beneath it.Selina turned back and looked at the man with scorn.
Selina: You again, Gregory Grape.
The man named Gregory Grape did not respond Selina.
Selina: Where is the mayor, then?
Gregory Grape sighed as he turned back.
Gregory: He had his own deal concerning several cases, which he explained to media that it was caused by mere tramps and animals.
Gregory's words made Selina clenched her fists in anger, she bit her lip so hard that it almost bleed.
Selina: Ha, I suspect whether those citizens would ever buy it at all... but even so, it is indeed hard to believe. Fortunately, I can take care of those things as much as possible. Where are the others?
Gregory lowered his head.
Gregory: Some of us were inside the secret chamber, while others were absent. However, we cannot have a meeting without your personal participation.
Nodded with confidence, Selina then nodded as she walked towards a large bookshelf and clapped her hands, before the bookshelf had moved itself aside automatically, revealing a large door.
Selina: I will have some urgent things to tell them.
Selina had the door opened and revealed a corridor. At this time, when stepping herself into the corridor, Selina heard loud cry inside the black corridor it revealed. Selina was disturbed by the noise and was noticeably sad about this.
Selina: Helene is still crying?
Gregory: She cried for days, and we cannot stop her from crying.
Selina covered her face with her palm. Helene Hawthron, Selina's adoptive sister, was born to be hideously disfigured. She did not know about her deformity until she looked at herself in the water when she was a child. Helene then suffered a mental breakdown, and Selina gave her a mask to cover her face and put her inside the basement, fearing that she would be abused by others and feeling distraught about keeping her away from the outside world.
During her isolation, Helene cried and cried every day inside her chamber, and people who did not know the truth believed a ghost had haunted the mayor's office building. Selina felt torn about this.
Selina: What should I do? I am afraid that no one dare to place a surgery on her face... It was all my fault to make her cry inside the place...
Gregory looked at Selina with no emotions, since Gregory was an emotionless sociopath who only cared for his own good, including his projects. Even so, he still understood Selina's feeling, since it was hard not to feel sorry about the disfigurement of Helene.
Gregory: I know what you feel, but I think our priority was to do the right thing.
Hearing this, Selina then stopped before she turned back and angrily looked at Gregory.
Selina: The right thing?
Gregory suddenly noticed that Selina's words and tones became more menacing, since she had another darker personality that was far from a saint. Gregory was always feeling uneasy by Selina's bitter side.
Selina: I listened to your advice to work with Michael Langdon and Melancholia, even if the former caused my own misery!
Selina then bit her lips angrily. Gregory realized that he would receive criticism.
Selina: Then, we got nothing! They promised us to destroy Moloch, but now I can see Moloch's purpose behind this whole evil plot that raised panic all over the town. Michael Langdon is not trustworthy since as far as I know, he almost brought down the entire town some days ago! Therefore, I'd not deem him trustworthy.
Gregory merely blinked.
Gregory: Did you contact them?
Selina shook her head in frustration.
Selina: They didn't answer me and I do not know where they are but I know they are now planning something that would bring down my beloved town, our Sleepy Hollow!
With a menacing manner, Selina then walked forward to Gregory as the latter stepped back.
Selina: Tell me, is it you who want to take over my place that our Father gave it to me? Are you trying to take over my authority for yourself? Maybe for that wicked Pedro Pineapple or that fool Phyllis Peach?
Gregory did not answered and looked at the neck of Selina. At this time, Selina's eyes were glowing unnaturally green due to being enraged, since the normal eye color for her was tangerine red.
Selina: Why are you looking at my neck?
Gregory: According to our agents, some people recently went mad due to being stung by some kind of insect. I was looking for---
Selina: All right, stop it! I am fine!
Selina then slowly calmed herself down after taking a deep breath and then her eyes returned back to red. She smiled at Gregory.
Selina: Sorry about this. I lost control once again.
Gregory: That's fine.
Then, Gregory and Selina walked further into the gate. Selina could still hear Helene crying in despair, and she was very sad about this.
Selina: God's creation is not always that perfect, if I may say, but God loves us all.
Just then, as Selina was mumbling, Gregory opened his eyes wider and asked another question.
Gregory: By the way, Selina, did you really in league with that man?
Selina closed her eyes in aloof.
Selina: Which man?
Gregory: Ichabod Crane.
Selina brushed it off with a smile. She was currently supporting the Witnesses from the dark, though they never met. Selina did not want to talk about this.
Selina: Man, he barely knew I existed, and we never met. How can me and him in league? All I knew about is this...
Gregory silently nodded his head. The two then reached the secret meeting room. Selina walked into the room and faced several masked people in front of her.
- Selina: The judgement is imminent.
Sleepy Hollow Woods
Van Bilj Facility
3 minutes later
Ichabod: Betsy... is that really you?
Ichabod was trying to spoke the word as he tried to defend himself from the monster with an old sword he found in the room, but he did not attack the monster.The monster itself, did not answer Ichabod. It only roared, which sounded agonized instead of angry. At this time, Sister Mary Eunice was trying to get close to the monster.
Sister Mary Eunice: Ichabod, I heard Betsy crying inside that husk... crying for our help.
Abbie: No, don't let me do this...
At this time, Abbie had picked up a dusty steel spear on the ground, and she pointed it at the monster.
Sister Mary Eunice: Abbie!
Before Sister Mary Eunice could react, Abbie pointed the stick at the monster and pricked the monster's arm with it. It worked to poke into the arm, but suddenly, the wound itself suddenly bursted and several red bees had swarmed out of them.
Sister Mary Eunice found it an immediately transformed into her angel form and summoned a light beam. The light beam had struck down the bees before they could attack Abbie.
Abbie: Sister Mary Eunice?
Looking at the monster, Sister Mary Eunice bit her lips and narrowed her eyes. She clenched her fist in anger as she thought about Betsy.
Sister Mary Eunice: (think) * How horrible... to think Betsy's soul was tormented inside such a shell filled with bees and grubs... *
At this time, Sister Mary Eunice immediately spoke out as she bit her lips.
Sister Mary Eunice: Allow me to do the job.
Sister Mary Eunice immediately raised her hand and summoned several light beams that formed a large whip, and she then bit her lips and looked at the monster.
Sister Mary Eunice: I order you, infernal filth from Hell, leave the soul of Lord's child alone. Now, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, I demand you to return back to your true self - Elizabeth Griscom Ross!
As Sister Mary Eunice was enchanting the spell, a horrendously strong storm soon bursted out from the monster's body, and soon the monster transformed back into a black-haired woman with Colonial Army Uniform. The woman soon collapsed on the ground, and Ichabdo immediately leaned forward.
Ichabod: Betsy!
At this moment, Betsy was inanimate, lying on the ground. Ichabod tried to move forward but Sister Mary Eunice and Tweedledee immediately went forward to stopped him.
Sister Mary Eunice: Ichabod, watch out. This purification could only lasted for two hours at best, and I need to check her in order to assume your safety.
Tweedledee: We need to take down Colin and went to find the flag, so that we could truly purify the evil that those demons from Hell planted inside her.
However, Abbie soon stood forward and took a closer look at Betsy.
Abbie: Look, she was still breathing.
Utterly surprised, Ichabod and others heard this and immediately went forward, and they saw Betsy immediately opened her eyes and looked at Ichabod in panic. She was still alive.
Ichabod: Betsy?
The first person Betsy saw was none other than her old friend, Ichabod Crane, much to her surprise.
- Betsy: Ichabod... is that you?
Abbie, Sister Mary Eunice and the Tweedles could only had their jaws opened...
Act 5 (final) - Colin's Last Words[]
Betsy slowly stood up with the help of Ichabod, and then she immediately hugged him with a smile.
Betsy: You made it, Ichabod... You saved me... Oh, Ichabod, you are always a sight for sore eyes.
At this time, Ichabod was both surprised and glad. Realizing that he was facing the real Betsy Ross, Ichabod hugged Betsy in his arms as he whispered to her.
Ichabod: It's all right. We need to do more works so that we could finally save everyone.
Betsy then stopped hugging with Ichabod and looked at him. Ichabod had a lot wanted to ask Betsy, but at this time, he knew what was the most vital one.
He wanted to know how Betsy turned into a creature like that.
Ichabod: Betsy... the last time I saw you, you were questioning about my suspicion on Katrina, and then you tried to save her from Lady Van Tassel...
As Betsy was ready to answer, she suddenly noticed Abbie not far beside her, as well as Sister Mary Eunice and the Tweedle Brothers. She turned her head and looked at them with confusion.
Ichabod turned as well, as he looked at Abbie who took an innocent glance to Betsy. Ichabod soon realized that he was yet to introduce them to Betsy.
Ichabod: Oh, my apologies. Allow me to introduce you Ms. Abbie Mills, Sister Mary Eunice and the Tweedle Brothers. They helped me in the latest actions.
Ichabod then introduced Betsy to his new partners.
Ichabod: This... is Ms. Elizabeth Ross.
Although Abbie and the Tweedle Brothers did not react, Sister Mary Eunice smiled as she turned back to her nun form and curtsied in front of Betsy Ross.
Sister Mary Eunice: It is very nice to meet you in the eyes, Ms. Ross.
Sister Mary Eunice's demeanor had reduced Betsy's alarm, and she sighed.
Betsy: Maybe you want to ask me how I became that... but that was such a nightmare...
Betsy grabbed her arms as she try not to recall all those dreadful events that turned her into a monster, but the memory soon reappeared in her mind.
Flashback[]
September 21st, 1798
A day after Jeremy Crane's apparent death
Just at this night, the elderly Betsy dreamed herself falling into a bottomless hole and fell, fell and fell until she eventually fell into a cave which was very horrid for her. She heard wind blowing outside the cave and she saw candles brightening inside the cave. A large star which was upside down was on the stone wall of the cave. The cave was filled screaming of agony.
Betsy: What happened?
Betsy could not believe her eyes. She looked around with horror as she stood up. She hit herself to see if it was a dream, and she felt the pain. Soon, she deduced in horror that it was completely real.
Betsy: Where am I? What is this place?
No one answered her until 30 seconds later...
???: Welcome to Purgatory, Betsy... You are welcomed in here
A dark, bitter and cold female voice came from behind, and to Betsy, she felt that it was even colder than the harshest winter in Canada. Betsy heard the strange voice and turned back to see who was behind her. To her surprise, she saw a slender humanoid figure was not far away from her.
Betsy: Show yourself!
???: It is such a shame you are not so young anymore, Betsy.
While talking, the "person" entered as Betsy looked at her. She was a demon with pale skin and spiky purple hair. A large purple halo was above her head and her right eye was blocked by her hair. Her head was surrounded by a crown made by darkness with pale blue aura. She was also wearing an armor with white, gold and purple in its color.
Betsy did not expressed any fear on her and glared at her.
Betsy: Who are you?
???: My name is Kaysie Virgo, a Demon Princess and one of the demons with Lord Hubert Zodiak. People called me the Unholy Pupilla of Blackness. Welcome, Mrs. Elizabeth Griscom Ross.
Hearing the demon's self-introduction, Betsy looked at her with full of alarm. She was surprised that this mysterious demon had acknowledged her full name even if they never met before.
Betsy: How do you know my name?
Kaysie: I know everything about you. You sewed the first flag of the Stars and Stripes. You participated the protest committed by Patriot scums. You lit up the Great Fire of New York 22 years ago, and with that, you made me totally impressed. Therefore, I am here to represent the group you ask to speak with.
Betsy was ready for her blade as well as gun and tried to point them to the strange "woman" named Kaysie.
Betsy: Katrina told me about you, about you 12 demons representing Zodiac. You are also known as the 12 Zodiac Demons.
Kaysie: We are preferred to be called the 12 Nethers, but that was okay when human called us so. We are born from different types of evil and have different moral codes. For me, I am the creation of Lord Moloch, therefore his own daughter. He created me... from the death of children, martyrs and innocence.
Betsy narrowed her eyes. She was now looking at one of the 12 demons that dealt with and assisted Hubert Zodiak, one of the most infamous supporter of Satanism as well as the former assistant of Casper Van Bilj.
Betsy: What about the others? There are still 11 of you, aren't you? How do they call themselves?
Kaysie let out a cold, grim smile.
Kaysie: Their names are unimportant. Betsy, do you know that... why Ichabod Crane bears importance to my father's rising? You shall tell me where you buried him... and then I will make you die with no pain.
Betsy was ready to charge towards the Demon Princess, but the latter had stopped her.
Kaysie: I know you have a lot in your mind, Betsy. However, at first, I am here to show you someone you may like to see her being... hmm, tortured.
Betsy: Her?
Kaysie: Follow me, please.
Walking down a long stairway, Kaysie led Betsy into a place deep below the cave, and soon they walked closer towards a room with its door closed. Kaysie opened the door of the cell, and Betsy saw someone tied inside it, being tortured by several demons. Betsy immediately recognized who the prisoner was.
Betsy: Lady Van Tassel? Why is she here?
Kaysie took a look at the tortured Lady Van Tassel not far away, and then she scoffed. Without letting Betsy in, Kaysie turned back to close the door.
Kaysie: Oh, Lady Van Tassel? Father ordered his minions to torture her day and night for burying the son of Ichabod Crane alive for eternity unless she confess her crime. It serves her right. Our master was never been tolerating towards someone like her. No discipline, unlawful, planning against my father's will... people like that... they will all die.
While Kaysie spoke those things to Betsy, she was walking back to the lair of Moloch and behaved like a friendly neighbor instead of a menacing demon.
Kaysie: What is more, despite I dealt with Zodiak, I might destroy him if he messed up with my father... as a last resort. He knew this and he would not cross my own line.
However, Betsy had found something vert strange.
Betsy: Wait a minute. You are serving both Zodiak and your father?
Kaysie nodded as she stopped walking, since the two had returned back to the cave of Moloch.
Kaysie: Yes, I serve them both, but my father knew this... since it was his plan.
Hubert Zodiac
Betsy's eyes widened. Kaysie smiled in satisfaction.
Kaysie: Ah... you seemed to understand now, Mrs. Ross. Father created me and some of my other siblings. It is our duty here to obey him. Zodiak's actions - as well as his followers - will fasten my father's rising, and all shall bow before him.
Betsy: Then, the world will end...
Betsy looked at the demon princess miserably.
Betsy: Never expect that your father will rise, Kaysie, not while I am here.
With a hump, Kaysie kept her poker face while looking at Betsy.
Kaysie: Really? My father have been planning everything connected to this apocalypse all along... since the birth of your foundation.
Then, Kaysie calmly paused for a while and then she glared at Betsy.
Kaysie: For the bright side, you are not dead yet.
Just then, Kaysie had felt some dark, horrid and sinister power presented beside her... and then she turned back in deep awe. She saw Moloch's blurry shadow not far from the cave.
Kaysie: Well, there he is.
When Moloch entered the cave, Kaysie immediately lowered her head and bent her left knee in front of her father as a sign of respect.
Kaysie: Father, this is Betsy Ross. I had just brought her here under your request. However, I could not find the flag she sewed for George Washington.
The Betsy Ross flag is an early design of the flag of the United States, attributed to Betsy Ross, using the common motifs of alternating red-and-white striped field with five-pointed stars in a blue canton. The first documented usage of this flag was in 1792. The flag features 13 stars to represent the original 13 colonies with the stars arranged in a circle. It is the earliest design of Stars and Stripes, the national flag of the United States.
Betsy: Why are you looking for my flag, anyway?
At this time, Betsy was looking at Moloch with full of anger. She was trying to encourage herself to be brave because she could hardly control her fear when looking at the demon king, and not even herself could explain why. The fear came out of nowhere.
Moloch: Your flag has the power to expel the power of my dark coven and would be a setback for my future plan... just like the late Ichabod Crane as well as his wife. You probably don't know that... I chained Katrina inside the Purgatory, do you?
However, instead of fearing Moloch, Betsy only widened her eyes and looked at Moloch with rage as her response.
Betsy: Screw you!
Betsy aggressively glared at Moloch, but soon she felt that she was stung by something sharp. It was none other than a violet lightning bolt.
Another demon with feathers was behind Betsy. It was like a humanoid bird with a human face, and he had a pair of large purple wings. A red mark of bolt on his head. It was glaring at Betsy while menacingly yelling at her with a thick masculine voice.
???: Be careful to choose the words you are about to say, woman! You are going to hurt the heart of somebody badly... like me!
Kaysie looked dismayed when she saw the male demon. She sighed in deep dismay while shaking her head.
Kaysie: Huh... You again... Interfering my precious fun, my dear brother... my dear Nether Esolendy Capricorn.
Kaysie looked at the demon whom she referred as her "brother", Nether Esolendy Capricorn, another Zodiac Nether who represented Capricorn. This demon prince was known to the Hexenmeister Community as the Black Lightning, and he was also the de jure leader of 12 Zodiac Demons.
Esolendy: This woman who befriended Crane was humiliating our father as well as master. She dishonored our might. How could you stand by and watch?
Kaysie: Father won't be pleased to see you torture her, Esolendy... Right, father?
Moloch didn't comment this, however. He only walked towards the center of the cave and then chanted a spell.
Betsy: (think) * What is he speaking? Why am I feeling so awful? *
The spell was spoken in an old language. Since Betsy was not like someone knowing numerous language, not like Ichabod... so she could not understand one single word. However, she had a feeling full of distraught...
Then, the bad feeling came realistic when a bellow appeared from the deepest abyss. Then, a monstrous, hideous and white creature full of menace had appeared in the lair of Moloch.
Esolendy was surprised.
Esolendy: Now, I see.... Here comes our shell of a... "false devil".
Seeing this disfigured creature, Betsy's eyes widened in great shock and terror. Even Esolendy and Kaysie seemed to despise the creature.
Betsy: What is it?
In contrast to Betsy. Moloch calmly responded.
Moloch: It is you, and you are it. You two just need one last process to become one and the same... if Crane still accepts you in this kind of form.
With no hesitation or wasting time, Moloch then lifted Betsy with telekinesis promptly, and then Betsy felt herself being choked by an unseen power. She tried to speak but she could not, and soon she felt that she was ripped apart.
Then, after hearing a bumping noise in all of a sudden, Betsy saw her body collapsed on the ground... before she finally realized that her soul was separated from her body. With a menacing growl, Moloch then grabbed the soul of Betsy before pushing her inside the body of that white monster and disappeared slowly...
Esolendy and Kaysie was horrified to see this, and they dared not to go away.
Moloch: How do you feel... my servant?
Betsy: Ahh...
Betsy could not speak a word as she was slowly swallowed by the demonic body... Eventually, she fully disappeared and was replaced by that horrid and disgusting white creature made of white vines.
Moloch still looked at the monster with coldness in his eyes before turning to his "children".
Moloch: Esolendy, you can go. Kaysie, you need to stay for a while.
Esolendy: Yes, father. *sigh* Good luck, sister.
As Esolendy disappeared all of a sudden, Moloch then walked closer to the white creature.
Moloch: Tell me how you feel, my servant.
Soon, the demonic monster opened its eye and its jaw. It then looked at its hands and torso. At first, its eyes was filled with sheer horror and fright. However, the soul of Betsy was soon fully overwhelmed by the mind of the demon. It grinned to Moloch demonically.
Monster: Thank you, my mighty master, for bringing me back to life...
Moloch nodded in pure satisfaction, but Kaysie started to shiver in disgust.
Kaysie: With all due respect, father, you told me to bring her here so that we can kill her, not just putting her inside such a demonic body...
However, she went quiet when Moloch glared at his daughter in anger.
Moloch: Never doubt my decision. If I tell you the full thing, you may not catch her or kill her. The priority was that I need to know if this demonic body made by Christine Van Bilj was stable enough to seal a mortal soul and controlled its mind, making it to believe it is my servant.
Kaysie's eyes widened as she heard the name "Christine Van Bilj".
Kaysie: Father... you mean that... it is an invention of the late Christine Van Bilj, who is the former adviser of General Howe?
Moloch: Indeed it is.
Hearing this, Kaysie bit her lips, but just then, she took an unintentional look at the corpse of Betsy that was lying on the ground. She then changed the topic.
Kaysie: Uh... what about that?
Without saying a single word, Moloch raised his hand and soon a grey smoke came into the body of Betsy. The Betsy's body rose "back from the dead" - though Kaysie knew that she never was the real Betsy.
This "Betsy" who stood up had a pair of eyes that was void of emotions and had no empathy. It was almost like she was mentally "dead". In fact, she was possessed by a condemned soul who was a puppet of Moloch.
Satisfied, Moloch looked at the body of Betsy with a grim look. The eyes of "Betsy" had became vacant and indifferent since her soul did not belong to her anymore.
Moloch: Don't worry about her. This "Betsy" shall lives on as a living dead until her body became old and frail, and thus she died. The real Betsy shall lives inside the body of until the time came for her to be freed.
Moloch then sent "Betsy" back to her world where she will live on until her recorded "death" in 1836. The Demon of Virgo nodded to Moloch's words and she was so afraid that she dared not look at her father. She bit her lips as she was shivering in fright. However, Moloch sensed this.
Moloch: Is there something else you want to say, my child?
Kaysie's eyes widened.
Kaysie: Uh... nothing... but what about Colin Van Bilj? I thought...
Moloch closed his eyes in calmness.
Moloch: He shall be fine, and I assume he will return to his place or became a solitude. Many assumed that he was dead, but... I had make him alive with full of loneliness. Because of the death of Jeremy, the release of the Horseman of War shall be delayed. However, one day, Death shall roam across the land once again, and shall War, Famine and Conquest. They will all be put into the action one by one as long as I live.
Suddenly, a large cocoon started to tremble and drew the attention of the two demons almost immediately. Trembling, Kaysie pointed at the cocoon. It broke a hole as a large stinger came out of it.
Kaysie: Father...
Moloch: I know. I know this day will come after 22 years of preparations. Rise, the best creation of Christine Van Bilj.
As Moloch was speaking, a large yellow claw had torn the cocoon apart, and soon, a hideous monster had appeared which looked like a humanoid bee with that large stinger on its right wrist which it used to impale the cocoon.
Kaysie: That's the... !
Kaysie could hardly see its body since it was surrounded by mist and was really cloudy.
Kaysie: That's a... bee?
When finally seeing the face of this insectoid monster, even someone like Kaysie could hardly believe her eyes. However, Moloch was still calm.
Moloch: Mostly a bee, partly a human. The creature is one of the most perfect creature I have ever seen... and I am glad that Christine Van Bilj was once one of my most vital assistant. Sadly, she died in an young age...
Kaysie: ......!!
Moloch's words made Kaysie shivered in horror. After a while, the monster turned to Moloch who looked at it with cold indifference.
- Moloch: It is good to see you in your new form, Caspar van Bilj... I hope you like your children's "gift". It is a retribution for you to make them a pawn for Howe in order to raise your fame. Well, above all, I will one day set you out when situation needed.
The creature that was once Caspar Van Bilj roared at Moloch like a total animal.
Betsy lowered her head, being too afraid to talk about her experiences, and Ichabod was surprised, as he never saw Betsy so afraid before.
Ichabod: You don't need to tell the whole thing.
Betsy then sighed as she bit her lips. She began to walked upstairs as Ichabod and others followed them all the way to upper floors.
Betsy: Years after your death, Ichabod, I was transferred into Purgatory, and I saw Lady Van Tassel there, trapped for some crimes that I could hardly know. I assumed Katrina was inside, but then, "he" came to me... and I caught mainly bad luck.
Betsy then sighed as she lowered her head. She tried to tell Ichabod the name of the demon, but she could not, since she somehow became afraid of that name.
Betsy: There is always a bigger enemy behind all those wicked evil, Ichabod. Lady Van Tassel sold her soul and made a pact with the Horseman of Death, but I did not do those things... and I got the worse torture. I was trapped in that body, rumored to be designed by Christine, and could not speak or turn back to my human form... Even so, the situation changed when I was attacked by a red haired girl...
At this point, Betsy entered a large room, with numerous glass windows as well as a large chandelier hanging on the ceilings. Then, Betsy turned to Sister Mary Eunice with calm expressions.
Betsy: I remember it. You were there, Sister.
Sister Mary Eunice immediately widened her eyes as she started to recall what had happened during the last days, and then, she finally realized something.
Sister Mary Eunice: (think) * That white monster was indeed Betsy Ross... So that explained all those great mysteries... *
Then, Sister Mary Eunice turned to look at the locked-up hole where a mutated Caspar was held prisoner.
Sister Mary Eunice: What else did you see in Purgatory, Ms. Ross?
Betsy Ross heard the strange screaming as well. Despite the lit had reduced the sound, it could still be heard.
Betsy: I saw...
Seeing Sister Mary Eunice looked at her with some encouragement, Betsy soon lowered her head and answered.
- Betsy: I saw a transformed Caspar Van Bilj. He was transformed into a bee.
Hearing this, all of those people had their mind wandered into the lit that covered the dungeon... Hearing this, the face of Sister Mary Eunice went pale, and even Abbie felt disturbed.
Sister Mary Eunice: So this is where the Van Bilj siblings had made their father suffer from a fate worse than death for more than 2 centuries.
Betsy nodded and sighed.
Betsy: Yes, it is. To my knowledge, they tried to made an amalgam of human with bee, a horrid abomination...
Sister Mary Eunice: With their father as their first test subject...
Abbie: And yet they failed. Their father became an amoral, mindless and malicious abomination.
Looking at the corpses on the ground, Abbie's face went into a shocked expression.
Abbie: Why their father?
Hearing this, Sister Mary Eunice sighed helplessly when she covered her face.
Sister Mary Eunice: I suspected that they were setting an revenge story since they found themselves being tools of their father to raise fame in his mad "experiments".
Ichabod: Yes, Caspar was the Hessians' pet madman driven by the lust for power and fame... which brought himself to such a horrid fate worse than death.
Betsy nodded as she looked at Ichabod.
Betsy: Fortunately, we had raised an attack upon Trenton and defeat them. Honestly after all these trials, you would think we were due some decent fortune. By the way, Ichabod, did the slavery against African-Americans being abolished?
Hearing all of this, Ichabod suddenly widened his gaze as he looked at Betsy.
Ichabod: Betsy... you don't know which year it is, right? How long have you been inside the husk... in your mind?
Betsy shrugged her shoulders as if there was nothing to bother at all.
Betsy: Well, maybe months? I am not sure. Maybe we have been through New Year now.
Abbie: Which year?
Betsy looked at Abbie, and this time, she had confusions in her eyes.
Betsy: 1800?
Ichabod, Sister Mary Eunice, Abbie and the Tweedle Brothers all took a deep breath when they heard the words. Betsy certainly had no sense in what this meant. She did not realized that it have been 232 years from now.
Betsy: Is there any problems? Maybe we can return back to Washington and allow Revere to help us take care of this.
Ichabod heard the words and was mildly sad. He lowered his head.
Ichabod: Betsy, we are not coming back... with you...
At this time, Ichabod found he was speaking something very heartbreaking, since he and Betsy developed a friendship during their time in war, but now, he could hardly tell the fact that how many years it had past and how the world was changed.
Betsy: You are not that Crane I know.
Betsy looked at Ichabod with disappointment in her eyes, as Ichabod find it sad.
Ichabod: Betsy, believe me. I am telling the truth in that I... cannot tell you the whole truth.
At this time, Ichabod felt strain inside his throat. He could now understand how hard Katrina was hiding things from him, just like how hard he was trying to hide the truth from Betsy. The truth was in fact unimaginable.
Betsy: Only one truth matters.
Betsy shook her head in disappointment. She once thought Ichabod would save her, and they will return and save Katrina from Moloch's imprisonment, but Ichabod was making her disappointed.
Betsy: Your heart belongs to Abigail Mills.
Ichabod silently looked at Abbie before he turned back to Betsy. Other people - including Abbie - were looking at each other with great distraught.
Ichabod: She is my partner, Katrina is my wife, Christine is my nemesis, and you are my friend. However, things were different from before.
Betsy heard Ichabod's words, and she seemed to relent, and then she lowered her head, thinking for a while and looked up.
Betsy: Very well... What goes on in your head, I'm not really always understand... but what goes on in your heart never let us down.
Ichabod went silent, and soon Betsy spoke out.
Betsy: If I was right, this room led to a secret tunnel that would make you out of here. Colin had shut down other entrances, all but this one. It was the only way that you can leave here.
Tweedledee then looked at Ichabod.
Tweedledee: Crane, the time is running out. If we met Colin here or in that tunnel, we are all doomed!
Suddenly, Ichabod and others had a bad feelings about this, and Tweedledum immediately covered his brother's face.
Tweedledum: Hey, brother! Don't you know it might come true?
???: It is true! Now, prepare yourselves!
Colin's voice suddenly bursted out as he suddenly appeared, and now he not only wielded his rifle. A dark purple aura started to surround him as he grinned. Sister Mary Eunice widened her eyes as soon as he spotted the ring on Colin's index finger, while others were shocked by Colin's presence...
Sister Mary Eunice: He had enhanced himself with that ring!
Colin then turned to Betsy Ross and then raised his hand to her, and soon he fired a purple aura string at Betsy and tied her up, and Betsy fell on the ground and could barely moved.
Colin: Get into your cage, my prey.
As Colin tried to teleported Betsy, Ichabod tried to save Betsy, but he was shot at the leg by Colin's rifle. Abbie Sister Mary Eunice immediately went towards Ichabod who collapsed on the ground, trying to remove the bullet and heal his wound. Tweedledee and Tweedledum glared at Colin, infuriated.
Tweedledee: How could you!
Tweedledee and Tweedledum was furious, and then they held their swords and tried to attack Colin, but Colin raised his hand, and soon, the Brothers were rendered frozen at the midair.
Tweedldee: Eh...
Tweedledum: What have you done to us?
Colin merely looked at them with scorn.
Colin: Enough, both of you. I don't care who you are, but why don't you get back to where you came from?
With a cold smile, Colin's eyes turned inhumanely red and soon he made a finger snap. All of a sudden, Tweedledee and Tweedledum disappeared in puff smokes. Seeing all of this, Abbie glared at Colin as she helped a recovered Ichabod to get up. Colin immediately raised his rifle at the Witnesses with a gleeful grin.
Colin and Christine as children
Colin: And now, Witnesses...
Abbie: Wait, stop! You are insane... What do you want?
Colin coldly grinned at Abbie, Sister Mary Eunice and Ichabod as a response.
Colin: I am preparing for a noble war with my sister ever since I was a child. I'm calm, I know the secret. I know what's coming and I know no one can stop me, not even myself. I kill people because I like. Some of them beg for their life. I don't feel sad. I don't feel anything.
At this time, Sister Mary Eunice saw an enormous chandelier above Colin's head, and she lowered her head. An idea was formed and then, she knew what to do.
Sister Mary Eunice: That'll do it...
She whispered at Abbie first and drew her light sword before shouting at Colin...
Sister Mary Eunice: You are wrong, terribly wrong. The world still has its brightened side, and yet you failed to admit it.
Sister Mary Eunice went out of her hiding place and confronted Colin. Interrupting the words of Sister Mary Eunice, however, Colin immediately glared at her while shouting.
Colin: Admit it? Admit it!? How could I, you sad Catholic? Do you know that how your God treated me and my sister? From the time we were children, our father saw us not as family, but as tool to raise his fame in his mad experiments.
Sister Mary Eunice then looked at Colin with a calm expression.
Sister Mary Eunice: Is that God's purpose to make your sister abuse you?
Without any remorse inside his eyes, Colin bit his lips as he answered.
Colin: You can't understand, and you won't understand! My sister may abused me, but it was her largess to keep me alive! She still treated me as her family, and now I will carry on her legacy! I will take you down, first, Sister Mary Eunice, before I slice those Witnesses bit by bit... very slowly.
After hearing this, Sister Mary Eunice then narrowed her eyes. She grabbed her sword and attempted to draw it as she looked at the masochist with scorn in her eyes..
- Sister Mary Eunice: Then, I have no choice but defeat you!
Sister Mary Eunice then released a blue magic aura and fired it to Colin, but Colin raised his index finger and fired a purple beam to Sister Mary Eunice, the two auras clashed together.
Sister Mary Eunice: (think) * He's buying it... He is buying it! *
At this time, Colin perversely grinned.
Colin: Do you know what will happen next, Sister? You will be a beholder of something that will happen not long afterwards!
Sister Mary Eunice: What?
While clashing with Sister Mary Eunice, Colin spoke something in great obsession and it made Sister Mary Eunice once again alarmed.
- Colin: The Queen will return... The Queen's awakening... Yes... it's getting closer! I'll see the Queen very soon.
While Colin was obsessively speaking, Sister Mary Eunice immediately took a closer look and watched the large chandelier right above Colin.
Sister Mary Eunice: Abbie, shoot down the chandelier!
Seizing the chance, Abbie immediately went behind the angel and aimed for the chandelier. Colin tried to stop Abbie, but Sister Mary Eunice seized the chance and sliced off his hand before dodged away. Then, the large chandelier fell towards Colin.
Colin: NO!!!
In great terror, Colin immediately dodged the chandelier but then he got slipped under his feet accidentally. Soon, with a painful scream, he fell from the window...
- Colin: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
Then, Abbie walked towards the window and looked down before she saw Colin, who was severely injured after his fall, had struggled himself to escape, but chances for his survival was not that much.
Abbie laughed confidently before she went to untie Ichabod.
Abbie: How do you like that, huh!? I finally took out the BOSS!
Sister Mary Eunice walked towards the window as well after returning back into her nun form, but she was not happy at all. Then, she mumbled something with a worrying face.
- Sister Mary Eunice: The Queen...
thumb|340px|link=Abbie looked at Sister Mary Eunice with confusion.
Abbie: What?
To Abbie's surprise, Sister Mary Eunice bit her lips with sheer worry on her face.
Sister Mary Eunice: He said more than once, "The Queen will return. The Queen's awakening." What does that mean?
Abbie shrugged her shoulders.
Abbie: I don't know. This guy was insane.
Sister Mary Eunice: Surely, he was, and yet... Why do I had a very bad feeling about this?
Even so, Sister Mary Eunice turned to see Ichabod who was still unconscious.
Sister Mary Eunice: Maybe we'll discuss about this later...
Then, she walked towards Ichabod managed to awakened him one minute later and then they started to leave the old building. After they left the room in a nearby door, they saw another large room and had a long ladder not far away, leading to some sort of secret tunnel upstairs.
Ichabod: Colin must had come this way.
Abbie: Let's go. It might lead us out of this facility.
Then, the three had climbed on the ladder to the upper stage, and soon they found another ladder not far behind before a demon appeared to attack them. Abbie immediately shot the demon dead. Even though Sister Mary Eunice still had a bad feeling inside her, she looked around and hear no scream of Colin.
Sister Mary Eunice: There is no more screaming.
Abbie: Huh, well, I guess he was tired of chasing us.
Ichabod: I hope so... We need to find a way to save Betsy out from that situation.
Climbing towards the third stage follow by the two women, Ichabod saw a door at his right side and tried to open it, but unfortunately it was locked. Abbie then noticed another ladder on their left side after getting on the stage.
Abbie: Maybe we will go to that way...
Ichabod then stopped opening that door as he climbed the third ladder with his friends. Soon, they went to the third stage and walked towards the door beside them.
Suddenly, the door was opened by brute force. A monstrous demon came towards them and Ichabod immediately shot at the demon, wounding it and eventually killing it. Then, another demon came out and Sister Mary Eunice immediately turned into her angel form and struck it with her holy sword.
After this mild conflict, Ichabod led his friends carefully towards the opened door and got into a corridor. By the end of the corridor, there was another door. Ichabod immediately went towards the place and opened it. However, after they opened the door, they felt the wind which was howling outside had came into the corridor. The Two Witnesses could barely moved because of this strong wind...
Ichabod: A snowstorm!
The three walked out of the door and was standing on a metallic floor ten feet above the ground. There were snow piled across the forest. While defending herself from the snowstorm, Sister Mary Eunice surveyed the ground while shouting.
Sister Mary Eunice: We need to find whatever Colin used to get here! Let's keep looking!
Abbie: Look! A snowmobile! That's our way out of here!
Ichabod and Abbie then found a snowmobile 400 meters away from them. However, Ichabod did not know what it was.
Ichabod: Are you sure we can escape this place with that machine?
Abbie: This machine can cross through the blizzard like this and it will keep us safe.
Ichabod: Very well, then...
Ichabod then nodded in agreement. Seeing Ichabod agreed with Abbie, Sister Mary Eunice bit her lips.
Sister Mary Eunice: Let's go!
The three found a ladder leading down towards the ground and then they went down to the ground by using it. After that, Ichabod slide himself down a pile of snow and eventually went down to the ground.
However, things started to change when they heard a strange noise like a insect humming, but it was much louder and it was so loud that it was like coming from a trumpet. Hearing the strange noise, Abbie was quickly alarmed.
Abbie: What is that noise?
Ichabod's eyes narrowed.
Ichabod: Be careful...
All of a sudden, a roar like thunder could be heard and then the three turned to the place before they saw an enormous humanoid monster like a bee had jumped towards them.Ichabod, Abbie and Sister Mary Eunice's eyes went widened into astonishment as they recognized the monster was that bee monster that was once chained in the basement.
Ichabod: Isn't that...
Abbie: THAT'S THE GUY WE SAW IN THE ROOM!
Sister Mary Eunice: No way...
The monster that was once Caspar Van Bilj shouted in fury and charged at the Team Witness.
Abbie: Out of the frying pan...
Sister Mary Eunice: ... and get into the fire. Run... RUN!!!
The Team Witness attempted to escape, but then the bee monster had blocked their way after flying towards them. Knowing a fight was inevitable, Sister Mary Eunice turned into her angelic form once more and drew her sword.
Sister Mary Eunice: Fine... I don't think he wants to be left alone anymore! Then, let us free him from his misery before he hurt anyone else!
The monster roared to the three in fury, this time in English...
Severely injured yet survived, Colin crawled himself towards the Trout Lake, not far away from the place where the bee hive once stood.
He shivered in pain and terror as he mumbled. He was looking at a tree with a painful look. That was the very same dead tree which Sister Mary Eunice sensed and saw some horrid... life... sealed within it.
Now, it was going to reveal what or who was inside the tree... and the truth was about to be uncovered.
Colin: Ahh... I am sorry, Christine... Forgive me. I thought... I thought I could finish them alone...
With his last breath, Colin crawled towards a place when a large coffin surrounded by red aura had surfaced from the tree, floating in front of him. Colin smiled maliciously while mumbling something like a spell.
As he was mumbling, the coffin in front of him had appeared opened on its own. Water start flowing out of the coffin. After some time of silence, Colin struggled to stand up and almost gave up hope... but then, much to Colin's delight, a woman in her twenties with white dress and black hair had rose from the coffin.
Colin: Christine... My dear... The King asked you for his service once again.
It was not a split personality anymore. It was the real Christine Van Bilj, who looked around in confusion and then, she look at her dying brother with confusion in her eyes.
Christine: Where am I?
Colin delightfully answered his sister's question despite his injury.
Colin: You are in... Sleepy Hollow... and it's 2013.
Suddenly, without warning, Christine summoned a shadow blade and pierce through Colin's chest, making him to bleed violently. Colin screamed in terror and pain as he looked at his sister with full of shock in his eyes.
Colin: AHHHHH!!!
Ignoring his brother's screaming Christine then ripped a large hole in Colin's chest. A twisted, bratty and inhumanely sarcastic smile had appeared on the pale face of Christine.
Christine: Why did you break your promise, my poor dear brother?
Blood kept flowing from Colin's mouth, making him unable to speak. To his sheer horror, Christine's face became menacing like a horrid demon in his eyes.
Christine: It was 237 years ago when I fell into this slumber so that I can become the ultimate Queen of Humanity myself! You did not wake me up on time, you slob. Now, how shall I face this world I do not know anymore? How shall I fill the fun I missed for so many years? How shall I? Answer me!!!
As Colin fell dying, Christine summoned several hands made of shadows and grabbed the neck torso, as well as the limbs of her brother.
Christine: Say hello to our father for me in Hell, Colin.
Then, after Christine finished her selfish words, those hands made of shadow ripped Colin apart, and then Christine burned the fragments into ashes. All of Colin's dream of being reunited with his beloved sister, all of his efforts to raise the name of his family once again... had died with him because of Christine's brutal act.
After killing her brother, Christine's eyes widened as she start gloating with an inhumane smile...
Christine Van Bilj's Message[]
Christine: So, how long have I take this slumber? Two centuries, I think? It is tortuously long, but when I awakened once again, I feel like dreaming. The world must be different, but I am not worrying about it. I have another mission to do before I blend myself into this world.
Christine: Colin was such a pathetic man. He should be freed from misery, and I never regret what I was doing. Family? Only tools towards my success. If my father can do so, and so can I. However, at first, I need to do something else.
Christine: There is someone I need to kill... no matter what its cost will be.
Christine: Now, let's see... I need to raise my fame once again, needn't I? I will rise to power once again, and one day... I will exceeded the glory of Serilda! People will remember me for all eternity! I will rule the world and spread the name of my master everywhere!
Christine: This world will be full of worker bees working for one single queen! This queen of the enormous hive. This queen of this world! HER NAME WILL BE QUEEN CHRISTINE VAN BILJ, FIRST OF HER NAME!!!
CIS Production Presents
LOTM: Witnesses of Sleepy Hollow Horseman Saga
Episode 17 - Colin's Death
Third Episode of Season 2
By Officer Candy Apple
To be Continued...
MAD - All About Drinking[]
Bandages[]
Sword Coast
Spinward Rise
Nimbus Tower
Aerisi Kalinoth, our good Prophet of Air, is angry, very angry.
However, it's not because anyone denied her whim this time or someone tried to make a fool out of her... Otherwise, she will kill that person immediately.
In fact, she had just found that one of her subordinates had been found drinking wines last night. In Spinward Rise, drinking alcohols with no permission was banned strictly among the air cultists. Anyone who broke the rule will face punishment.
Aerisi put that air cultist in front of her throne and controlled air itself around him to make him float and had a feeling of suffocate... without killing him. In fact, that air cultist broke the rule for several times before and Aerisi immediately doubted him after she found something was wrong.
After ten minutes of this kind of torture, Aerisi fell tired and released the man, and the air cultist fell on the ground.
Air Cultist: Please, milady! Have mercy on me...
Aerisi stood up from her throne and her wings started to fan the air. She started to float at the midair.
Aerisi: I won't have mercy on anyone who dare to break my rules. Do you want to know what had I found?
Air Cultist: Yes, please?
With anger, Aerisi glared at the cultist before telling him what she found out.
Aerisi: You were drinking wine last night and you were drunk. Then, you cut yourself when you broke the glass by accident, and you tried to deal with the wound by wrapping bandages on it. You also stole my mirror to look at the reflection in order to make sure your wrap was on the right place. Am I right?
The air cultist swiftly shook his head in denial.
Air Cultist: No, milady.
Aerisi: Really?
Hearing this, Aerisi was even more angry when the cultist tried to deny once again, to the point she immediately showed him her mirror before bellowing at him with sheer rage.
- Aerisi: Then, why is my mirror wrapped with bandages!?
Chatting in the Bar[]
Bar
Two bar customers, one man and one woman, both dressed in white attires in same style, were chatting in the bar and they were both drunk.
Man: Where did you live?
Woman: I live in Spinward Rise.
Man: Me, too. Let's drink to this.
"......"
Woman: Did you marry?
Man: Beg your pardon?
Woman: I ask if you are married.
Man: No, I am not.
Woman: Me neither. Let us drink to this.
"......"
Man: My family name is Breezing. What is yours?
Woman: What a coincidence. My family name is also Breezing.
Man: Great! Let's drink to this!
Beside them, Jasmine Porcelain was seated and drank beer, and she took a scornful glance at that two customers. The bar patron beside her was confused.
Bar patron: This is impossible! What is going on?
Jasmine Porcelain took a sip on her beer and gave a cryptic smile.
Porcelain: Oh, there is nothing strange. It is just those twins from Spinward Rise are getting drunk.
Climb the "Pillar"[]
After the fight was resolved, Valindra mended with Vanifer and they went to a restaurant and drank wine, but due to the two ladies inability to stand the alcohol, they got drunk easily. Just then, Valindra had an idea in her mind.
Valindra: V... Vanifer?
Vanifer: What is it?
Valindra: You SEEEEEEEMED drunk... I could see it. I bet YOOOOOOOU will fall after drinking this cup...
Vanifer shook her head while looking at Valindra with her drunker eyes.
Vanifer: NOOOOOOOO way... I can still drink two more cups of wine... and LOOOOK at the way you speak. IIIIIIS there a PROOOOOOBLEM with your T-T-TOOOOONGUE?
(- Narrator: Both of them seemed to have a problem in their tongues...)
Valindra: F-Fine, Vanifer, if I CAAAAAAAN'T make you admit that YOOOOOU are drunk, then I shall DOOOO this... to see if you are... drunk.
Valindra then lifted a torch and opened the switch and a pillar made out of light started to rise.
Valindra: You... climb this PIIIIIIILAR... towards the... sky.
Vanifer stood up from her chair and looked at the "pillar" with scorn in her eyes.
Vanifer: Do not PLAAAAAAAAAY this trick with... me! I... know it! When I climbed up... and if I climbed up... You turn off the switch... and I fall down!
Endings - Chou[]
Tsukiko Amano - Chou (Butterfly) -louder version-
Lyrics[]
Going underground, I continued to dig a hole
Without knowing how far it would go
My scoop, wet by the earth in one hand,
I searched for your arm.
Patching together a patchwork happiness
As I sowed the seed, I was crushed by your strength.
Burning hot, burning hot
The marks your palms left behind can't be removed.
I rip a whole through the clouds dyed red by my torn wings
Look for me, flying with ease
Where will this eternity I envisioned, secluded within my cocoon
Take seed and blossom into a flower, I wonder?
Soon the morning will bring back the dark night
And take my eyes.
Feeling my way on top of you, by the moonlight.
Tangled up, I believed I could be your resting place.
Burn out, burn out
No going back to the place I promised
Running across the earth stained black
by the pain of being torn apart
look for me, flying with ease
If you can't hear me screaming, destroy me by your hand
While I can still be called "me".
Your arms that catch me, turn to a peaceful dust
And again I look quietly to the heavens.
Burning hot, burning hot,
The marks your palms left behind can't be removed
I rip a whole through the clouds dyed red by my torn wings
Burn out, burn out no going back to the place I promised.
Running across the earth stained black by the pain of being torn apart
Look for me, flying with ease
On the Next Episode...[]
- Christine: According to my Master, if you want to truly hurt someone, you should not just simply torture them. The best way of this is to make them feel the pain in their mind... by making them to watch as their beloved friends to die in a tragic death... and had no hope of saving them. I truly want to prove it.
- Sister Mary Eunice: This is horrid... but I can't hurt those innocent citizens!
- Michael: Unexpected, Atticus... Now, time to take Christine back to our order. My plan needs her.
- Christine: You want it? YOU ARE NOT WORTHY OF ITS POWER!!! AHAHAHAHA!!!
- Moloch: [CHRISTINE! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? DO YOU NOT WANT TO OBEY MY ORDERS!?]
- Sister Mary Eunice: There must be some secret hiding within Caspar's jewlery...
- Christine: It is the time to see the death of you two inferior creatures! HAHAHAHAHA!!!
- Pandora: Christine Van Bilj, you are horrible... Are you someone who was born for inducing pain?
- Christine: I AM A QUEEN NOW! A QUEEN WILL DO WHATEVER SHE WANTS!
Afterwords[]
From Officer: Well, the whole Sub Arc is now coming towards an end after Christine Van Bilj, the true main antagonist of this Sub Arc, had revived and tried to raise her sheer cruelty once again upon Sleepy Hollow, marking the beginning of a Sub Arc Showdown. Originally, I was trying to introduce Ichabod's fight with Caspar before Christine was revived, but it was moved to the next episode due to lack of time.
Sorry for making you wait for so long, since I just finished my test and had to busy myself with a cartoon story synopsis concerning 24 solar terms.
Fortunately, now it is summer vacation in Beijing, so I have more time to contribute on my stories on this wiki as long as I keep my good work on the homework. By the way, this episode marks the debut of Selina Strawberry, and it is the first episode of the story to formally introduce the Order of Florish.
From CIS: This episode also dedicated to the Lugou Bridge Incident (aka Marco Polo Bridge Incident) 80 years ago in Beijing, which marked the second Sino-Japanese War waged on completely. Remember, the nowadays' peace is build on the price of war, and we need to cherish it without forgetting about the dark past, so that we will prevent the tragedy from happening again. To the martyrs.
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