The starry night was mesmerising and tranquil across Beacon's vast skies. The entire student body was slumbering blissfully... All but the three shadows roaming through the academy's corridors.
Cinder burst into her room without a single knock, closely trailed by Emerald and Mercury. The sudden intrusion startled Neo, who was just lounging inside. Immediately, she stood up on guard. Realizing who it was Neo calmed down but seeing Cinder's expression that appeared to have found a new plaything made her sigh faintly.
Cinder felt like her body had become extremely light, either because of the power or because of the new confidence and the overwhelming sense of control that had arisen within her. It was definitely the latter, in her opinion.
"Aren't you happy to see me?" Cinder flashed Neo a secretive smirk, which had Neo wondering what on earth had possibly happened to her.
Everyone must have known that if Cinder had a smile like this, there were two possibilities. That her plan had gone perfectly or that she had a new favourable strength.
Neo tried to question where Cinder and the others had gone and what had happened through her gestures, hoping they would eventually give her an answer.
Mercury crossed his arms and avoided Neo's eye contact while Emerald leaned her back against the door after gently shutting it and ensuring that no one was watching over them.
Upon receiving everyone's reaction, Neo reluctantly gave up and sat down on her bed. The grim look did not disappear from her face. Neo was deeply irritated by their attitude of leaving her in the dark about what was happening.
"It's lovely tonight, isn't it? So it would be best if you weren't sulking, Neo. How about I reward you with something wonderful to make you feel better?" Cinder says with a coy smile.
That remark left Neo confused, but Cinder merely smiled and sank down onto the dorm's bed next to Neo. Such close proximity made Neo uneasy, especially with Cinder, who seemed relaxed.
The room remained as gloomy as ever, yet compared to before when Cinder was in the midst of trying to refine her plan, now the answer was in sight. She just needed somebody to try it... And she already knew who would get the honour of being the first one to experience it.
“Neo, oh, Neo.” Cinder thought as she looked at the confused girl.
One of Cinder's most prized pawns. But her loyalty? Cinder couldn't afford to believe it too much. Especially with the reason Neo first teamed up with them. She could have stabbed Cinder in the back at any time, but Neo's powers were so valuable in her plans.
Before Neo could distance herself from the woman, Cinder laid her hand on Neo's shoulder to keep her in place. Neo became confused as to whether Cinder was in a delightful mood or in such a terrible mood that she would act without explanation.
"Do you want to know what I discovered today?" Cinder's smile was illuminated by the faint glow of the moonlight, casting an enigmatic and eerie impression. Emerald and Mercury were also extremely intrigued and began to draw closer to the bed in the room. Neo only grumbled, no longer interested in anything she had to say.
A hush fell over the room, which made Emerald grow impatient. What had happened back then? Was the meteorite a blessing or a curse? However, seeing Cinder's expression filled with so much glee made her a tad wary and eager at the same time.
This also puts Neo on guard. She should have known that Cinder would not act out of the blue. She must be up to something, and she would certainly act on it.
That fear was soon fulfilled as Cinder's fingers slid to the back of Neo's neck and stabbed her index finger into Neo’s neck shocking the mute girl with a sharp pain!
As a result, Neo rose up quickly and rushed away from Cinder to the centre of the room with a startled expression, leaving the others taken aback by what had occurred.
Neo clutched the back of her neck as if something was on it and began to show an exasperated look. Meanwhile, the smile had not yet faded from Cinder's face.
And, the moment Neo unexpectedly felt her legs give way as she collapsed on the floor confusing the onlookers.
"W-what?!" Emerald exclaimed. Emerald rose from her seat, along with Mercury, who jolted up in shock.
Neo let out a small whimper having no idea what was happening to her. It was as if her energy was being siphoned off by something intangible while her body began to deflate. A horrified expression was imprinted on her face as if the usual playful smile had been swallowed up. A face filled with dread, in immense agony.
"Neo...?" Mercury was frozen in place, not daring even to move his body an inch. Emerald was equally consumed by the same horror, with her hand over her mouth.
It was the most gruesome expression on anyone's face that they had seen in their entire lives.
Gradually, Neo's body began to lose its shape. It was as if her body consisted of nothing but skin that was leaking the air inside when stabbed by something. Her limbs deflated, with no sign of bone or muscle in them.
If it was possible to scream, Neo might have tried to cry out as she struggled in fear. She was helpless to move her body, and eventually, she couldn't feel her body.
What had happened to her legs and arms!? Why did they just deflate like balloons!?
Everything in her was telling her that this was indeed the end of her. And... It must be because of Cinder!
In Neo’s final fleeting seconds before her entire insides vanished into nothing but her skin, she caught a glimpse of Cinder's features. Cinder was beaming with sheer delight, her eyes narrowing to show the immense pleasure of having seen her become more and more incapacitated in such a way. Dread, rage, and grievance filled Neo before she finished transforming into a skinsuit.
Those few silent seconds seemed to drag on forever, as Neo's physique was now gone. In the center of the room, Neo's empty husk was bathed in the ghastly moonlight.
"Oh, my. This is even more astonishing than I had envisioned!" Cinder says with glee.
Emerald and Mercury didn’t dare to utter a word. Upon catching their reaction, Cinder burst out laughing and was filled with delight, as if she had received such a marvellous gift.
However, in the eyes of the other two, the laughter was not so lovely. To them, Cinder, who was already a monstrous being, would be even more frightening with whatever they had witnessed.
A part of them was in absolute awe of Cinder's unwavering demeanour and the passionate spark within her, a key to accomplishing their plan.
And yet... There was also a part of them that was absolutely terrified to death, knowing that what they had witnessed, happened to Neo leaving nothing but skin, could happen to either of them as well.
By: Arx
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