The ascent to the clocktower had been in a word; nightmarish. Countless abandoned souls wandered through the facility, their wailing echoing through the abandoned halls. Yet this was still not the source. No. This was merely the gate that stood before it. If the nightmare were to end, truly end, Apscon would need to delve deeper.

There was woman slumped sideways in an ornate chair. She was beautiful, despite the alarming paleness of her face, and somehow she seemed familiar. Blood stained her dress and pooled at her feet. Apscon reached towards her so that he might check her pulse, when a strong hand latched onto his wrist.

"A corpse...should be left well alone," said the corpse.

"Not when it's been left to rot." The grip softened and Apscon pulled back his hand.

"Oh I know very well. How the secrets beckon so sweetly." The corpse, Lady Maria, was rising from her chair. Slowly. Delicately. Deliberately. Like a predator trying not to scare of its prey.

"I fear the dreadful wailing has the bulk of my attention. This has to end! Surely you must know that." Apscon's grip tightened around his cane but he would not strike. Not yet. There had to be a plea for reason, at the very least. She deserved that much.

The lady paused, if only for a moment. A history of emotions echoed behind her face. Fear, shame, rage, guilt...but all of that submitted to an insurmountable conviction. She raised her weapon.

"Only an honest death will cure you now. Liberate you from your wild curiosity."

A flash of metal and she lunged. Yet her target dissapeared into a cloud of smoke and shadow. Her feet planted into the warped floor boards beneath her and she turned, gaze driven up by a blue glow coming from above. High in the rafters the intruder waited suspended on wings of light. The countenance of his mask did little to hide the grief in his voice.

"I could say the same of you..."

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A nightmarish piece by a fellow BloodBorne fan,  xxsparcoxx